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.

"Ms. Jenkins, I'm sorry, I just missed Hamilton so much. I didn't mean anything by it. Please don't misjudge him

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

"Natalia!"

softened their relationship, but her demeanor remained frigid. "You saw her. She hugged me and I pushed her

that this man had never set clear boundaries with

didn't respond to Hamilton, instead fixing her gaze on Eveleen. "Eveleen, you've been targeting me for so long, trying everything you can to hurt me. Isn't this what you

that, Natalia left them

watched her go, his face growing darker by the second. Eveleen, trying to salvage some dignity, whispered, "I'm

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

looked even more forlorn, "Hamilton, you've got me

silence stretching before he spoke deliberately. "From now on, keep your 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

with the charade, Eveleen. Do you think I don't know what you're really like?" Eveleen's facade nearly crumbled, her pretense

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 should 'go for it.' Hamilton felt at a loss with Natalia. He'd done everything he could,

up, and she nodded eagerly, ready to get into the car. "Have

he locked the passenger door.

was taken aback.

just looked at her. "You getting in? Or should I call someone to take

with indignation, reluctantly

excited she nearly 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 crush for the past few days. It's that jerk Hamilton putting him up

flickered