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-"

you love scars that much, then let it adorn your face

Hamilton hung

stared at the disconnected call, her face twisting from hurt to a seething

was Hamilton

condemning her to live

she inflicted it upon

it because

It must be Natalia.

surely, he must suspect her involvement in

for Natalia, he'd let her live with this disfigurement for

her phone across the

darkened on witnessing the scene. She had overheard the entire

be so ruthless," she muttered, shooting a disdainful glance at Patrick. "We should have ended Natalia when we had the chance! Instead, you insisted on letting 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

medical community. Eveleen was the Schafer family's prized jewel; he

off by a higher power. In mere

anger, and

trying to drive you to your

doing. I

Natalia had left her apartment to drop things off at Scarlett's before heading to the hospital.

a brief pause, she answered

got straight to the point. "Ms. Jenkins, I heard from Ronin that you won't be joining the Ron Group anymore. Is that

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

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

Mason her word, and it was only

Mason was overseeing the setup.

"Thank you, Mr. Joyner."

I still hope you'll consider

courteous smile, Natalia replied, "I appreciate the opportunity, Mr. Joyner, but it seems I'm not meant to be part of

the woman before him, a contemporary of his son, yet markedly more composed

from Ronin that you're aiming for a spot at the State Department?" Natalia nodded affirmatively,

a nod

Department at such a young

pleasantries for what they were and returned a few of

Mason's tone shifted

City branch to you. Even if you're with the State Department, you

Natalia's brow furrowed slightly.