Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 182

Natalia locked eyes with the man before her, the tension palpable as they stood motionless. Time seemed to stretch on until, with a sudden burst of energy, she wriggled free from the grip he had on her and aimed a kick toward his most vulnerable spot. Hamilton's face darkened instantly as he caught her leg. "Natalia! Are you out of your mind?" he exclaimed.

She shoved him hard. "You're the crazy one, Hamilton. You're a complete lunatic!" she spat back, her voice tinged with anger.

With that, she spun on her heel, climbed into her car, and without a second thought, she fired up the engine and sped away.

Hamilton watched the retreating tail lights, a cold glint flickering in his eyes. Natalia had the nerve to take a shot at him! She really had guts.

He got into his own car and followed her at a leisurely pace.

As Natalia drove, she tried to get a grip on her emotions, but thoughts of Ryan and what might have been with him only added to her frustration. It seemed inevitable that if things kept going, taking the next step was just a matter of time. If Hamilton really...

She couldn't help but rub her temples, taking a deep breath to steady herself. Hamilton was probably just not ready to let go. She figured once he got bored or found someone new, he'd move on.

Natalia didn't return to Scarlett's. Instead, she headed to Graham's place to look for clues.

As she parked, another car pulled up behind her. Her eyebrows knitted together in annoyance as Hamilton stepped out.

"Aren't you done yet?" she snapped.

"I just want to check out Graham's situation," Hamilton replied with a tone of self-righteousness that brooked no argument. "After all, I'm involved in this case too."

Natalia didn't bother to argue with him and made her way upstairs.

The old apartment building's hallways were poorly lit, the motion-activated lights barely functioning. Natalia used her phone to light the way when suddenly someone grabbed her wrist. "You're just going in like that?" Hamilton questioned.

She shook him off and turned on her phone's flashlight. "If Mr. Fowler feels uncomfortable, he's free not to enter," she retorted.

Hamilton scoffed. "Natalia, are you sure you can handle this alone? If what you say is true, and Graham's backer is targeting you, are you sure there's no ambush waiting?"

Her lips tightened. She wasn't sure anymore. She was in the light; her adversary in the dark. Worse, she had no idea what their endgame was.

Hamilton chuckled at her side. "Tell you what, Natalia, I'll be your personal bodyguard for free."

She shot him a cold look and continued forward.

to unlock the door, a neighboring door suddenly swung open, making her tense and almost drop her keys. Hamilton quickly pulled

with

breathed a sigh of

embrace, even brushing herself

watched, his face darkening. This woman sure knew how

is you! I

to Hamilton. "Is this your

cut off

Natalia, but she didn't

"I thought he was your boyfriend.

with a

beamed. "Your mother must

help but interject with a bitter laugh, "Don't celebrate just yet. Who knows, they might break up any day now." "Natalia!" Natalia's shout at Hamilton was fierce. Then she softened her tone for Cora.

frowned at Hamilton suspiciously. Then her expression changed as she remembered something. "How's your mother?" Natalia

get better. But your

her

deepened. "Cora, who has my dad been

racket all night. I don't even let my grandson stay here anymore." Natalia's frown deepened. "Has he been meeting anyone

special, just people from the streets. You'd better disinfect the place when you get back; you don't want to catch anything." Natalia thanked her and was about to enter when Cora added, "There was this one woman, though, looked rich and pretty, came by a few times recently." Natalia

affirmatively, "Yeah, she screamed money. That handbag of hers, my daughter-in-law said it costs a small fortune. I was wondering, how on earth did your dad get mixed up with a woman like that?" Natalia's gaze darkened, and she shot

pensive as

of Eveleen, handing it over to Cora. "Cora,

that woman wasn't nearly

let out a soft

what that chuckle

a look and

thanking Cora, Natalia headed into the

as she entered, she was greeted by

flicked on the light, revealing a scattered array

take a step, Hamilton

starkly in the dingy room, making it seem

he seemed oblivious to the