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

that, Hamilton

face twisting

Hamilton

her to live with this

inflicted

was it because

It must be Natalia.

had discovered the scar was self-inflicted, then surely, he must suspect

let her live with this disfigurement

hurled her phone across

darkened on witnessing the scene. She

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

connections within the medical community. Eveleen was the

he had been naïve. Once doctors heard Eveleen's name, they recoiled as if warned off by a higher power. In mere hours, Eveleen

anger,

to drive you to your grave?" Lucinda

all that wretch Natalia's doing. I

to drop things off at Scarlett's before heading to the hospital. Her phone rang unexpectedly-it was

brief pause, she

Jenkins, I heard from Ronin that you won't be joining the Ron Group anymore. Is

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

"Ms. Jenkins, if you don't mind, perhaps we could meet

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

the Ron Group's Silkwood City branch, where Mason was overseeing the

"Thank you, Mr. Joyner."

Mason didn't waste time. "Ms. Jenkins, I still hope you'll consider joining the Ron

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

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

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

a nod of

the State Department at such a young age, Ms. Jenkins.

recognized the pleasantries for what they were and returned a few

tone

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 the State Department, you just need to strategize for me a bit, and delegate the rest to Ronin. A little consulting on the

Natalia's brow furrowed slightly.