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

you want?" Natalia's

held

break

he added, "Think before you

or thought, Natalia retorted, "No

seemed to have

you ever

sour sting touched Natalia's

surge of pain welling up

"Never."

dryly,

back to

watched him, puzzled by the two meaningless questions he'd asked in the dead of

didn't press

she thought for a moment before stepping out onto the balcony

was still there, the flickering glow of his cigarette the only light in

didn't hear about Eveleen's suicide

dropping Ryan at the airport early that morning, she headed to the office

entrance, she bumped into

"Rough night?" she asked.

tone reluctant. "Ms. Jenkins, I'm sorry, but this situation

Natalia was puzzled.

"What do you mean?"

the news. "Eveleen tried

unsure of what

she asked, "Oh, did she

The question sounded callous.

the only thing she really

"It's a

then calmly

looked at

and he can't ignore their past. He couldn't just watch her die." Suddenly, Natalia

was giving her one last

he'd keep his promise

him for continuing to protect

known her answer before he even

her response; he was

he couldn't let

didn't regret her

she didn't want to be sucked back into

to get involved, even with Caspian's support, Eveleen was

the only thing that

infuriated her

end, it was Eveleen's life Hamilton

Not hers.

Eveleen forced Hamilton or not. It's that he never

paused, "But, it's none of my

you know better than anyone that if you just go to my brother, he'd give in. Right now, you

seen