Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 167

Eveleen's heart skipped a beat, a sudden jolt that seemed to echo the hollow drop of disappointment within her.

What on earth did Hamilton mean by that?

Was the necklace-her last card-not enough to sway him?

Had Natalia become so indispensable in his life?

"Hamilton, are you really going to wash your hands off me?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Hamilton lounged on the couch, his eyes resting on Eveleen's tear-streaked face, his mind involuntarily drifting to the image of Natalia sprawled on a rocky shore. A leaden weight settled in his chest, unspoken and heavy. "Actions have consequences, Eveleen. It's as simple as that."

"Hamilton! Have you forgotten..." she pleaded, her face ashen.

"You mean what happened when we were young? Eveleen, do you really think that I can really tolerate you forever because of our childhood?"

Eveleen turned pale.

The tension in the room was palpable.

The onlookers exchanged confused glances, unable to fathom what could have led Hamilton to treat Eveleen with such cold indifference.

Victor, aware of some of the undercurrents, chuckled lightly. "Hamilton, ease up, will you? Look at Evi, pale as a sheet."

"Don't worry, Eveleen. Hamilton's just pulling your leg. He wouldn't let you suffer like that."

Victor's words seemed to relax the room slightly.

But before anyone could further the conversation, Hamilton's scoff cut through the tentative calm.

"Mr. Henkel, if you want to help, go ahead. Leave me out of it."

Eveleen's fury flared at his response. Hamilton was serious about abandoning her.

"Hamilton, you're serious about this?"

Victor's brow furrowed in concern.

"Because of Natalia?"

He knew the story that others didn't. The day Natalia nearly died was linked to Eveleen, though Victor had also felt a twinge of anger. But to him, Natalia, while tragic, wasn't as vital as Eveleen. And if that was true for him, it surely had to be for Hamilton. Hamilton remained silent, his expression unreadable.

Victor's face grew stern. "Are you really falling for her? Hamilton, are you in love with her?"

Because only true feelings could explain why Hamilton was willing to push Eveleen aside for Natalia's sake.

Hamilton snorted. Love or not, what did it matter?

His actions were driven by one fact-Natalia was his woman, and he was intent on winning her back. That was all.

Casting a wary glance at Victor, Hamilton retorted, "Are you out of your mind?"

then turned to Eveleen, his stance softening just

find one for you. And as for everything else, I'm done intervening. Eveleen, no one can indulge

those final words, Hamilton stood and left the room, plunging it once again into an

death,

worried glance at her.

glared at him.

his own concern

Club, he ran into Elliott, who had arrived

already?" Elliott

Hamilton ignored him.

his arm. "Natalia's father made a scene at the hospital today. It's a good

brow furrowed deeply. "Did

I only helped her because

him a look.

How had he become

Hamilton was already walking away, leaving Elliott to

club, just in time to catch Dr. Scarlett returning from work and spotting him

disdainfully

gesture and

turned, her expression one of irritation. "What do

for me," he said,

think

don't you

was wearing thin. Natalia might reject him, but that didn't mean

won't deal with you just because you're Natalia's friend, Scarlett," he

to give in to a man she considered a

suffered for you? When she miscarried, you were heartless. When she fell from the cliff, you were with Eveleen. And now you have the

Scarlett ran into the building, heart pounding,

in her apartment, she found Natalia setting the

like you've

I just gave him a piece of

her voice tinged with concern, "You don't need to pick fights with him on my behalf anymore. He's got a screw loose. No telling when he

rolled her eyes; it's not like she enjoyed

stand to see

chuckled, "I'm fine. But if you rile up

help but curse

"Jerk!"

was darker than the chilly winter

oblivious to the fact that just about any Tom, Dick, or Harry felt

a moment, sneering before getting

he saw Natalia stepping out of the

wearing just a nightgown, with

wind tousled her

domestic life -

Hamilton's Adam's apple bobbed.

the car