Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 165

Hamilton picked up the call with unusual haste.

He sat on the couch, his face clouded with brooding shadows.

The housekeeper approached with a cotton swab soaked in antiseptic.

"Mr. Fowler, perhaps you should tend to that bite before it gets worse."

Blood still stained Hamilton's arm from where Natalia had sunk her teeth into him.

He glanced at the wound with detached indifference and muttered, "Leave it."

It was a mark from Natalia, a debt he intended to repay in kind.

Eveleen, on the other end of the line, overheard the housekeeper and felt a surge of hope.

Was Hamilton's injury the reason he hadn't shown up?

"Hamilton, are you hurt? Is that why you didn't come? I'll wait for you, we can postpone the surgery until you're better."

Hamilton took a drag from a freshly lit cigarette before replying, "No need to wait. The surgery's off."

Eveleen's heart skipped a beat, panic rising in her voice.

"Hamilton, you promised you wouldn't abandon me! You can't go back on your word!"

A scoff escaped Hamilton's lips.

"Eveleen, I did promise to help you with the surgery, and I said I wouldn't leave a scar. But if you're the artist behind your own scars, then it's a different story altogether." Eveleen choked up, her anxiety intensifying.

"What do you mean, Hamilton? How could I have done this to myself? I'm not crazy."

Silence was his only response, and in those moments of quiet, Eveleen's panic soared.

"Hamilton, I-"

Before she could finish, Hamilton cut in, "How many times have I warned you, Eveleen? Do you take my words for wind?"

"I didn't, Hamilton, I really didn't-"

it adorn your

Hamilton

face twisting from hurt

was Hamilton playing

to live

because she inflicted it upon

was it because

It must be Natalia.

then surely, he must suspect her involvement

let her

hurled her

scene.

her change her name. Look where that's gotten us-stuck with a ticking time bomb!" Patrick's face matched Lucinda's in its grimness. Never had he imagined Hamilton would actually fall for Natalia, the daughter he'd cast aside, now climbing to heights his own pampered daughter could

as he dialed out, confident in his connections within the medical community. Eveleen was the Schafer family's prized jewel; he wouldn't let her future be marred by

if warned off by a higher power. In mere hours, Eveleen had become

anger,

drive you to your grave?" Lucinda

Natalia's doing. I hope she

left her apartment to drop things off at Scarlett's before heading to the hospital. Her phone rang

a brief pause, she

Ronin that you won't be joining

it. "Unfortunately, I won't be able to take the

deepened with seriousness. "Ms. Jenkins, if you don't mind, perhaps we could

silence, Natalia agreed. She had given Mason her word, and it was only right to

Mason was overseeing the setup. Upon seeing Natalia, Mason nodded slightly. "Ms. Jenkins,

"Thank you, Mr. Joyner."

Jenkins, I still hope you'll

the opportunity, Mr. Joyner, but it seems I'm not meant to be part of the Ron Group after

of his son,

for a spot at the State Department?" Natalia nodded affirmatively, "It's a

a nod

bad, to get into the State Department at such a young age, Ms.

pleasantries for what they were and returned

Mason's tone shifted

Department precludes you from joining the Ron Group? Ms. Jenkins, I'll say it again, I still hope to entrust the Silkwood City branch to you. Even if you're with the State Department, you just need to strategize for me a bit, and delegate the

Natalia's brow furrowed slightly.