Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 197

No sooner had they stepped out of the diner than Debby's call came through, her voice laced with panic, "Ms. Jenkins, you better come quick. It's absolute mayhem here." Natalia hung up, and Hamilton took her wrist, guiding her to the car with urgency.

"I've got the local police on their way, and Elliott's got the security team deployed. It'll be under control, don't worry."

Yet Natalia's face remained ashen, her mind racing with a singular, torturous thought.

She had dragged Tatiana into this mess.

Eyes shut tight, her heart was a storm of sorrow and rage.

Maybe she should never have tried to compete with Eveleen.

But she refused to be cowed. Why should she, Natalia, be bullied by Eveleen?

Why should it matter that she was the cherished first love?

Eveleen and Hamilton, perched upon their high pedestals, their relationship ambiguously competitive.

Was Natalia destined to be their collateral?

Hamilton, seeing her distress, chose silence over words.

His grip on the steering wheel tightened, tendons standing out. He knew that if anything happened to Natalia's mother this time, whatever chance he had with Natalia would likely vanish. Upon arriving, Natalia dashed to Tatiana's floor. The elevator doors slid open to a scene of chaos.

Her photographs were strewn across the floor, turned into slanderous flyers by frenzied fans. The words "homewrecker" and "mistress" seared into her eyes.

The fans had been cleared, but onlookers still crowded the hallway, whispering and pointing as she passed.

Ignoring them, Natalia made her way to Tatiana's room, Hamilton trailing with a darkening expression.

approached them, and Natalia immediately

need to beef up hospital security from

relief, managing to muster a "Thank

command.

voice soft, "Thank you," before heading straight

her gratitude but

I bet Natalia will face whispers and stares for a long time. And I

in her eyes, "Hamilton, do you see this? Your precious first love's

grim, "I'll handle

it? How? This isn't the first time, is it? What's your plan? Keep indulging her, or is your so-called detachment already your benevolence to Natalia? Or perhaps, a stern warning to Eveleen

overstepping, or did I hit a nerve?" Hamilton was

He would protect Natalia.

insulted her, and

But Eveleen?

could only promise detachment, treating her as a

couldn't guarantee anything

"Natalia's blind for loving you for a decade. Hamilton,

that, she hurled the flyers at Hamilton, inadvertently hitting Elliott as

struck squarely, protested, "This has nothing

look, "Anyone who

was taken aback, "What the hell does this

at Scarlett's words, "What did you

but her sympathy for

Hamilton remain clueless to all of

a decade! Hamilton, what have you given her in return? For your so-called first love, what have you done to her? Hamilton, people have hearts, why can't you see Natalia's pain?"

he finally asked, "You're

welled

made her heart ache, not to mention what

you really think you're the only one in this world with a bit of cash? Or did you think, if she really wanted to, she couldn't find someone who'd truly cherish her?" Hamilton's face stiffened, and as he looked up, he saw Natalia standing just a