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-"

scars that much, then let it

that, Hamilton

stared at the disconnected call, her face twisting from hurt

was Hamilton

to live

inflicted it upon

it

It must be Natalia.

scar was self-inflicted, then surely,

for Natalia, he'd let her

her phone

expression darkened on witnessing the scene. She had overheard the

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 though he'd swallowed bile. "What's the rush? It's

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

turned pale with anger, and

drive you to

wretch Natalia's doing.

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

brief pause, she answered the

from Ronin that you won't

be able to take

Jenkins, if you don't mind, perhaps

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

Group's Silkwood City branch, where Mason was overseeing the setup. Upon seeing Natalia, Mason nodded slightly. "Ms. Jenkins, please have a

"Thank you, Mr. Joyner."

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

a courteous smile, Natalia replied, "I appreciate the opportunity, Mr. Joyner, but it seems I'm not meant

his son,

"I heard from Ronin that you're aiming for a spot at the State Department?" Natalia nodded affirmatively, "It's a rare opportunity, President

a nod of

Department at such a young age,

what they were and returned a

Mason's tone shifted

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

Natalia's brow furrowed slightly.