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.

the hospital entrance, the picture of distress. "Ms. Jenkins, I'm sorry, I just missed Hamilton so much. I didn't mean anything by

words. Too tired to engage,

"Natalia!"

relationship, but her demeanor remained frigid. "You saw her. She hugged me

looked down and chuckled. She had seen, alright. But the fact that this man had never set clear boundaries with

hurt me. Isn't this what you wanted? Spare me the act. You should be out celebrating with bells on, shouldn't you? I've stepped aside. The field is yours, Ms. Schafer. Why don't you go

that, Natalia left them behind

the second. Eveleen, trying to salvage some dignity, whispered, "I'm sorry, Hamilton.

what you wanted, isn't it?" he said

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

some childhood affection for you, but it's not an inexhaustible resource." Eveleen went pale, her bandaged forehead standing out in the harsh light, evoking a fragile image. "Hamilton, are you really willing to throw away our childhood bond over Natalia? Is she worth it? She doesn't care about you at all! Hamilton, please, don't leave

redemption. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally 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.

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, apologized profusely, but she remained unmoved. Feeling suffocated, he considered just driving away. But eventually, he rolled down the window,

ready to get

the passenger door. "Sit in

was taken

getting in? Or should I call someone

seething with indignation, reluctantly climbed into the

Tatiana's condition, Scarlett was so 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.

flickered briefly,