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-"

much, then let it adorn your face forever. Don't

Hamilton hung

face twisting from hurt to

Hamilton

her to live with this

she inflicted

was it because

It must be Natalia.

the scar was self-inflicted, then surely, he must

her live with

her phone

darkened on witnessing the scene. She had overheard the entire

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,

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

recoiled as if warned off by a higher power. In mere hours, Eveleen had become persona non grata in the cosmetic surgery world.

turned pale with anger, and

drive you

Natalia's doing. I

Scarlett's

a brief pause, she answered

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

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

Jenkins, if you don't mind, perhaps we

silence, Natalia agreed. She had given Mason her

Group's Silkwood City branch, where Mason was overseeing the setup. Upon seeing

"Thank you, Mr. Joyner."

I still hope

smile, Natalia replied, "I appreciate the opportunity, Mr. Joyner, but it

before him, a contemporary of his son, yet

inquired, "I heard from Ronin that you're aiming for a spot at the State

a nod

into the State Department at such a young age,

the pleasantries for what they were and

tone shifted

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

Natalia's brow furrowed slightly.