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 adorn your face forever. Don't waste medical

Hamilton

disconnected call, her face twisting from

was Hamilton

he condemning her to

inflicted

was it because

It must be Natalia.

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

for Natalia, he'd let her live with this disfigurement

Eveleen hurled her

darkened on witnessing the scene. She had overheard

in its grimness. Never had he imagined Hamilton would actually fall for Natalia, the daughter he'd cast aside, now climbing

said as he dialed out, confident in his connections within the medical community. Eveleen was the Schafer

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

pale with anger,

to drive you

doing. I hope she rots for

off at Scarlett's before heading to the hospital. Her

pause, she answered the

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

be

Jenkins, if you

Mason her word, and it

Silkwood City branch, where Mason was overseeing the setup. Upon seeing Natalia,

"Thank you, Mr. Joyner."

settled, Mason didn't waste time. "Ms. Jenkins, I still

the opportunity, Mr. Joyner, but it seems

of his son,

a spot at the State

a nod

at such a young age, Ms.

recognized the pleasantries for what they were and returned a few

Mason's tone

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.

Natalia's brow furrowed slightly.