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 asked, "How's

need to beef up

with relief, managing to muster a "Thank

cops aren't under my command. Without them, this would've been out of

Hamilton, her voice soft, "Thank

her gratitude but held

Natalia will face whispers and stares for a long time. And I hear it's not just here; fans are spreading these flyers all over town." Hamilton's face darkened. Before he could respond, Scarlett rushed from the elevator,

this? Your precious first

expression was grim,

your benevolence to Natalia? Or perhaps, a stern warning to Eveleen will suffice?" Hamilton's face was a mask of stormy skies, "Scarlett, aren't

did I hit a nerve?" Hamilton was at a loss

He would protect Natalia.

insulted her, and erase

But Eveleen?

detachment, treating her as a

guarantee

aching for her friend, lashed out, "Natalia's blind for loving you

flyers at Hamilton, inadvertently hitting

"This has

him a look, "Anyone who associates with him is

the hell does this have to do with

Scarlett's words,

but her sympathy

should Hamilton remain clueless to all of Natalia's

given her in return? For your so-called first love, what have you done

a long pause, he finally asked, "You're

eyes welled with unshed

of it made her heart ache, not to mention what Natalia had been

of cash? Or did you think, if she really wanted to, she couldn't find someone who'd