Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 46

Hamilton cradled Natalia in his arms, striding toward the exit as the hustle of the hospital. buzzed around them.

Natalia shifted uneasily under the weight of the onlookers‘ gaze. “I can walk on my own,” she murmured.

Hamilton glanced down, his voice low and steady, “Are you sure you're up to it?”

“lam.”

He looked at her, but made no move to set her down.

The elevator dinged, and as they moved to step inside, Hamilton paused abruptly. Following his

gaze, Natalia saw Eveleen and Victor standing inside the elevator. Wrapped around Eveleen’s arm was a bandage. Hamilton’s brows knitted together in concern. “What happened?”

Eveleen averted her eyes and said, “It’s nothing.”Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

Victor chuckled, “Hamilton, Eveleen tried calling you all night. Why didn’t you pick up? She got hurt, and it was our gang who had to rush her to the ER.”

Hamilton's eyes lingered on the bandage on her arm. “How did you get hurt?”

Eveleen’s eyes began to brim with tears. “Do you even care?”

Hamilton let out a soft laugh, “Why the temper tantrums now? If you don’t want to talk about it, | won’t push you.” “You can be so heartless!”

As they bickered, Natalia, caught in the middle, felt the sting of awkwardness and a deep sense of alienation. She could see the tenderness in Hamilton's gaze soften for Eveleen, and the fleeting look of pain when he glanced at her injured arm.

Yet, it was she who was in his arms.

At that moment, though, his concern seemed solely occupied with another woman.

Natalia’s heart felt as if it were being torn apart. This, she realized, was the difference between love and its absence/ “Hamilton,” Natalia said, feigning indifference, “put me down, please. | can stand.”

She'd rather exert herself than remain ignored, sandwiched between the two of them.

Hamilton looked down at Natalia, perhaps not wanting Eveleen to see him holding another woman, and finally, he set her down. Standing on her own in the elevator, Natalia remained silent.

12:59

Hamilton questioned Eveleen again, “What exactly happened?”

Victor's eyes sparkled mischievously as he stared at Natalia. “What else? It’s because of Ms. Jenkins here. Eveleen felt so guilty over the incident that left Ms. Jenkins injured, and since Ms. Jenkins wouldn’t accept her apology, she thought to make amends this way.”

He chuckled, “Ms. Jenkins, Eveleen’s hurt just like you now. Satisfied?”

Natalia paled. She had not anticipated Eveleen’s gambit.

“Ms. Schafer’s injury has nothing to do with me,” she retorted.

Victor snorted, “Nothing to do with you? Wasn’t it you who suggested Eveleen incited her fans against you?”

Natalia’s voice was cold, “I merely had my suspicions. If Ms. Schafer is innocent, she need only cooperate with the investigation. Why go to such lengths to prove her innocence?”

“You oversimplify. Do you understand the power of the internet? Some words once spoken can be lethal.”

Natalia scoffed, “Yes, words can kill. So who was it that spread the rumor of me being the

other woman?”

Victor sneered, “So, Ms. Jenkins, are you convinced Eveleen started that rumor?”

“| never said that.”

Victor's gaze turned icy as he said, “Regardless, Eveleen’s injury is a result of your actions; you can’t deny that.”

Hamilton’s expression darkened upon hearing the reason for Eveleen’s injury.

Natalia laughed bitterly, “So, what you’re saying is Ms. Schafer hurt herself, and now | have to deal with the consequences?” “What else?” Victor replied unreasonably.

Eveleen, standing aside with reddened eyes, interjected, “Victor, stop. | did this to quell Ms. Jenkins‘ anger, not to make anyone pay,”

Victor frowned. “You're too good-hearted, Eveleen.”

Eveleen looked at Hamilton with tear—filled eyes and said, “As long as Ms. Jenkins isn’t angry anymore, I’ll do anything.” Hamilton’s gaze was heavy, and his expression remained severe. He looked at Natalia, who showed no signs of backing down. “If Ms. Schafer is so eager to apologize, let her,” Natalia said firmly.

Eveleen and Victor were taken aback by her response.

“What do you mean?” Eveleen asked, bewildered.

12:59

Natalia met his gaze squarely, “Didn’t Mr. Victor just insist that Ms. Schafer wanted to apologize and | wasn’t accepting? Go ahead, apologize. If you do, | won’t be angry anymore.” “You...” Eveleen never expected Natalia to turn the tables on her, “You really want me to apologize?”

“What else? It’s to save you the trouble of hurting yourself again over guilt. Apologizing is for your own good.”

“Ms. Jenkins, I’ve already suffered an injury. What more do you want?” Eveleen’s lips quivered, tears spilling down her cheeks in a pitiful display.

To an onlooker, Natalia seemed almost villainous. Yet, Natalia stood her ground, unwavering. Victor, unable to stand it any longer, turned to Hamilton, “Are you just going to let Natalia bully Eveleen like this?”

Hamilton's gaze fell on Eveleen’s tear—streaked face with a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes. After a moment, he sighed, “Go get your bandage changed, and stop hurting yourself like this. Are you out of your mind?”

With that, he stepped into the elevator, but Victor grabbed Hamilton by the arm. “Aren’t you going to stay with Eveleen?” Hamilton glanced at him and asked back, “Aren’t you with her right now?”

Victor chuckled, “Am | the same as you? Doesn't it hurt you to see Eveleen like this? Besides, Ms. Jenkins said she could walk on her own, didn’t she?”

He then turned towards Natalia. “Looks like Ms. Jenkins is fine; she’s got a sharp tongue, that’s for sure.”

Natalia understood Victor’s sarcasm all too well. It seemed that Hamilton’s neglect of Eveleen had become a victory for her, won by any means necessary. She didn’t want to argue with Victor, nor did she feel like talking to him. She just smiled briefly and looked at Hamilton.

“Mr. Fowler, you can accompany Ms. Schafer to get her wound treated. I'll head back on my

own.

Hamilton’s gaze darkened. A chill passed through his eyes as he looked away from Natalia’s pale face and towards Eveleen. “Go and change your bandage.”

Without another word, he made it clear he had no intention of further conversation.

Eveleen’s eyes reddened, and she swiftly exited the elevator. As the elevator doors closed, Natalia still felt somewhat dazed. It seemed like the first time she had come out ahead in a confrontation with Eveleen, but there was no sense of triumph.

She could sense Hamilton was in a foul mood. Perhaps it was out of concern for Eveleen’s injury, or maybe it was because of her own steadfast defiance, but she wasn’t in the mood to

worry about his feelings now.

She always considered his feelings, but when had he ever considered hers?

Hamilton did look upset. From the moment the elevator doors closed, his expression had been grim. It wasn’t until the doors opened again that he finally looked down at the woman leaning against the elevator wall.

“Feeling better now, Ms. Jenkins?”