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

that, Hamilton hung

at the disconnected call, her face twisting

was Hamilton playing

condemning her to live with this

inflicted

was it because

It must be Natalia.

then surely, he

let her live

hurled her phone

scene. She had overheard

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 fall for Natalia, the daughter he'd cast aside, now climbing to heights his

confident in his connections within the medical community. Eveleen was the

Once doctors heard Eveleen's name, they recoiled as if warned off by a higher power. In mere hours, Eveleen had become persona non grata in the cosmetic surgery world. Patrick

anger, and Eveleen

trying to drive you to your

that wretch Natalia's doing. I hope she rots

apartment to drop things off at Scarlett's before heading

brief pause,

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

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

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

She had given Mason her word,

shop beneath the Ron Group's Silkwood City branch, where Mason

"Thank you, Mr. Joyner."

"Ms. Jenkins, I still hope

opportunity, Mr. Joyner, but it seems I'm not meant to be

a contemporary of his son, yet

that you're aiming for a spot at the State Department?"

a nod of

at

they were and returned a few

tone shifted

still hope to entrust the Silkwood City branch to you. Even if you're with the

Natalia's brow furrowed slightly.