Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 170

Lucinda was in the midst of a full-blown meltdown, tears streaming down her face like a broken faucet.

Victor couldn't stand idly by any longer.

Rushing over, he helped Lucinda to her feet.

"Mrs. Schafer, please, don't panic. Hamilton didn't say he wouldn't help Eveleen."

Hamilton squinted, a storm brewing in his eyes, but he refrained from speaking.

Eveleen emerged from the emergency room well past midnight.

Only then did everyone disperse, reassured she was okay.

Alden, standing by Hamilton's side, his expression grave, asked, "Hamilton, you're not getting involved with her again, are you?"

Hamilton stared at the woman on the hospital bed, her face pale as death, his eyes a deep well of icy darkness.

It felt like an eternity before he snapped back to reality and left the hospital.

Natalia was deep in slumber when Scarlett burst into the room in a frenzy. Blearily opening her eyes, Natalia mumbled, "What's up?"

Scarlett frowned and handed her phone over, mouthing two words silently. "That jerk."

Natalia's brow furrowed as she recognized Hamilton's number on the screen.

"Hamilton, are you out of your mind? Calling at this godforsaken hour?"

Hamilton's voice came through, terse. "Come downstairs, just need to ask you something."

Then, he hung up.

Natalia stared at the disconnected call, her frown deepening.

"What's with him? Hamilton sounded off."

Shaking her head, Natalia had no clue.

But she wasn't about to indulge him.

Telling Scarlett to head back, she lay down, intent on catching some Z's.

But rest proved elusive; she tossed and turned, unable to find sleep.

Outside, the pop and crackle of Christmas Eve fireworks filled the air.

After half an hour of restlessness, she got up, threw on a down jacket, and stepped out onto the balcony. Below, Hamilton stood in the falling snow, his shoulders dusted white. Hesitating for a moment, Natalia turned and made her way downstairs.

Hamilton looked up as she approached, and suddenly, the weight of Eveleen's troubles seemed to lift.

He forgot about her suicide attempt and their shared past.

If Natalia simply said she was willing, he'd let it all go.

A cold laugh escaped Hamilton's lips, but he knew deep down he couldn't abandon Eveleen.

Because she was Evi.

Anyone could replace Natalia.

was his one and

do you want?"

eyes held

you break up

he added, "Think before

thought, Natalia retorted, "No

to have

hard, bore into hers. "Did you ever have feelings

sour sting

fought the surge of

"Never."

dryly,

go back to

meaningless

she didn't

for a

flickering glow of his cigarette the only

didn't hear about Eveleen's suicide attempt until the

that morning, she

she bumped

"Rough night?" she asked.

sorry, but this situation is going to

Natalia was puzzled.

"What do you mean?"

moment's silence, Alden delivered the news. "Eveleen tried to take

lips tightened, unsure of what to

"Oh, did

The question sounded callous.

thing she really wanted to

"It's a

a hollow laugh, then calmly nodded,

looked at her,

she's forcing his hand, and he can't ignore their past. He couldn't just watch her die." Suddenly,

he was giving her

willing to turn back, he'd keep

him

her answer before

for her response; he was there to

couldn't let go of

regret her answer from last

she didn't want to be sucked back into

so, if Hamilton decided to get involved, even with Caspian's support, Eveleen was likely safe from

only thing that infuriated

her

was Eveleen's

Not hers.

scoffed, "Alden, it's not about whether Eveleen forced Hamilton or not. It's that he never

"But, it's none of my

that if you just go

had always seen Natalia