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

that, Hamilton hung

stared at the disconnected call, her face twisting from

was Hamilton

her to live

because she inflicted

it because of

It must be Natalia.

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

her

Eveleen hurled her

scene. She had overheard the

can 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 fall for Natalia, the daughter he'd cast aside, now climbing to heights his own pampered daughter could not reach. It left him feeling as

said as he dialed out, confident in his connections within the medical community. Eveleen was the Schafer family's prized jewel;

had been naïve. 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

pale with anger,

trying to drive you to your grave?"

wretch Natalia's doing. I

left her apartment to drop things off at Scarlett's

a brief pause,

heard from Ronin that you won't be joining

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

"Ms. Jenkins, if you

She had given Mason her word, and it was only right to explain

City branch, where Mason was overseeing the setup. Upon seeing Natalia, Mason nodded slightly. "Ms. Jenkins,

"Thank you, Mr. Joyner."

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

Natalia replied, "I appreciate the opportunity, Mr. Joyner, but it seems I'm

contemporary of his son, yet markedly more composed

flickered before he inquired, "I heard from Ronin that you're aiming for a spot at the State Department?" Natalia nodded

a nod

the State Department at such a young age, Ms.

pleasantries for what they were and returned a

tone shifted

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

Natalia's brow furrowed slightly.