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-"

that much, then let it adorn your

Hamilton hung

at the disconnected call, her face twisting from

Hamilton

he condemning her to live

because she inflicted it upon

was it because

It must be Natalia.

the scar was self-inflicted, then surely, he

for Natalia, he'd let her live with this

Eveleen hurled her

darkened on witnessing the scene. She had overheard the

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

confident in his connections within the medical community. Eveleen was the Schafer family's prized

call, Patrick realized he had been naïve. Once doctors heard Eveleen's name, they recoiled as if warned off by a

pale with anger, and

Hamilton trying to drive you to your grave?" Lucinda

that wretch Natalia's doing. I hope she rots

Scarlett's

a brief pause,

to the point. "Ms. Jenkins, I heard from Ronin that you won't be joining the

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

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

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

where Mason was overseeing the setup. Upon seeing Natalia, Mason nodded slightly.

"Thank you, Mr. Joyner."

settled, Mason didn't waste time. "Ms. Jenkins, I still hope you'll

the opportunity, Mr. Joyner, but it seems I'm

contemporary of his son, yet

"I heard from Ronin that you're aiming for a spot at the State Department?" Natalia

gave a

bad, to get into the State Department at such a young age, Ms. Jenkins. You're going

pleasantries for what they were and returned a few

Mason's tone

who says joining the State 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

Natalia's brow furrowed slightly.