Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 189

Hamilton's good mood evaporated in an instant.

"What did you say?" he asked, incredulity in his voice.

Natalia looked him squarely in the eye. "Do I really need to repeat myself?"

With that, she shrugged him off and walked away.

Deep down, she knew there was no point in letting these two ruin her mood. Was this kind of drama new to her? Hardly. She'd seen it all before. But still, there was something particularly nauseating about a man who would kiss her one moment and then cozy up with another woman the next. She quickened her pace toward the exit.

Hamilton caught up, his voice low as he tried to explain. "She threw herself at me. I pushed her away."

Natalia didn't even break stride. "Mr. Fowler, you don't owe me any explanations. Hug or kiss or whatever - none of it's my business. But do me a favor? Keep your theatrics away from me, okay?"

Her words once again drew a clear boundary between them.

Inside, Hamilton felt a spark of anger. "Natalia, don't you care even a little bit?"

"Why should I care?" She glanced at him, grabbed her charger, and turned back.

I just missed Hamilton so much. I didn't mean anything by it. Please don't misjudge him because

of revulsion at the saccharine words. Too tired to engage, she breezed past toward the interior. But Hamilton's voice called

"Natalia!"

that the evening's events might have softened their relationship, but her demeanor remained frigid. "You saw her. She

She had seen, alright. But the fact that this man had never set clear boundaries with Eveleen spoke volumes. And if he had really wanted to avoid her,

to hurt me. Isn't this what you wanted? Spare me the act. You should be out celebrating

Natalia left them behind and

watched her go, his face growing darker by the second. Eveleen, trying to salvage some dignity, whispered, "I'm sorry, Hamilton. I didn't think Ms. Jenkins

fell upon her. "It's what you wanted, isn't it?"

more forlorn, "Hamilton, you've got me all wrong.

distance. If you need anything, call Victor. He'll take care of it. I may have had some childhood affection for you, but it's not an inexhaustible resource." Eveleen went pale, her bandaged forehead standing

spoke with detachment. "Stop with the charade, Eveleen. Do you think I don't know what you're really like?" Eveleen's facade nearly crumbled, her pretense hanging by a thread. "Hamilton, I'm not pretending. I do care about you. Please,

ignored her pleas, walking straight to his car. Eveleen's tears kept falling as she clung to his car door, desperate for even a sliver of reassurance. But Hamilton, with a heart of stone, pried her hands loose and slammed the door shut. The car's interior muffled the outside noise, her crying a distant sound. He lit a cigarette, a headache brewing. Natalia's indifferent attitude only added to his frustration. Not caring. She truly didn't care. Even suggesting Eveleen

to get into the car.

the passenger door. "Sit in

was taken aback.

in? Or should I call someone

with indignation, reluctantly climbed into the

caught the next train back. Natalia's mood, initially dampened, brightened at her friend's infectious enthusiasm. "Hey, by the way, Alden has been poking around about your high school

flickered