Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 104

Hamilton listened as Natalia’s voice uttered a casual “okay,” but he felt no sense of

satisfaction. Still, he didn’t press further, squeezing her cheek gently before he planted a soft kiss on her lips. “Next time something like this happens, don’t engage. Just come straight to me, alright?”

Natalia wanted to ask, “Even if | come to you, will you help me?”

However, she held her tongue. Some hopes are better left unvoiced, especially when you know they’re unfounded. “Sure,” she replied with an air of indifference.

Hamilton ran his fingers through her hair. “Off you go, and don’t work too hard.” He paused, then added, “I won't be home for dinner tonight.”

She didn’t need to ask why; she could guess he needed to play the comforter to his old flame. She felt oddly numb to the news and simply nodded before exiting his office.

After talking to Linda, Natalia threw herself back into the day’s tasks.

After work, she made her way to the hospital her mother was in. It had been a while since her last visit. Tatiana lay there as tranquil as ever. Natalia felt she had a lot to say but was at a loss for where to begin.

In the end, she just sat silently by the bed, squeezing Tatiana’s hand and whispering, “Mom, please wake up soon, okay?”

The nurse, witnessing the scene, couldn't stop her eyes from watering. The doctors had said the chances of waking were slim, but as long as the family held hope, there was little anyone could do.

“Ms. Jenkins, you've lost a lot of weight recently. You must take care of yourself first,” the nurse advised. Natalia offered a faint smile. “Thank you.” She hesitated, then asked, “Has Graham Jenkins been by recently?”

After a confrontation at the hospital, Hamilton had promised to deal with Graham. Since then, there had been silence. She suspected Graham was laying low out of fear of Hamilton, but she couldn't shake the feeling that he might be scheming something new.

“He hasn't been back, but a few days ago, a Ms. Lynd stopped by. | remembered what you told me, so | didn’t let her in.” Ms. Lynd... Lucinda Lynd instantly came to Natalia’s mind. Her grip tightened involuntarily.

After a moment, she instructed the nurse, “Thank you. Keep it up; no visitors, including Graham.”

“Of course.”

Natalia spent a little more time with Tatiana before leaving. The evening had crept up on her by the time she stepped out of the hospital, She planned to grab a bite before heading home but was unexpectedly comered as she left.

Natalia didn’t expect to run into Giselle Lynd here. The woman before her was a stark contrast to the one she had seen over two weeks ago; once poised and confident, now haggard and

worn. “Giselle, what is it?” Natalia took the initiative.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

Giselle mustered a hollow laugh, her face a canvas of misery, “Natalia, I’ve come to respect you in a twisted way. | never imagined Hamilton would go so far for you.”

Natalia’s lips tightened. She had no interest in Giselle’s taunts. “If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving.” She tried to walk away, but Giselle grabbed her arm. “Natalia, did you know | spent 15 days in the detention center?”

Natalia stiffened; this was news to her. She had thought the incident was settled with a mere apology; she hadn't realized Giselle had actually been locked up.

She scoffed. “So what? Giselle, didn’t | warn you? Slander can land you behind bars!”

“It wasn’t me who started those rumors online!”

Natalia’s gaze turned cold with a sneer. Indeed, Giselle was not behind it, but she had caused her harm nonetheless. “You should take that up with Eveleen since you took the fall for her.”

The mention of Eveleen brought a flash of hatred across Giselle’s pale face. “Natalia, let’s talk.”

Natalia shook off her grip. “Sorry, I’m not interested.”

She had no desire to chat with Giselle. Whether it was Giselle or Eveleen, they were unforgivable in her eyes. As she stepped away, Giselle called out, “Natalia, | know what really happened with your miscarriage!” Natalia froze, turning to face Giselle. “What did you say?”

A vindictive smile played on Giselle’s lips. “I know the truth about your miscarriage.”

Natalia’s lips quivered slightly. “What do you mean?”

“Did you really think it was an accident?” Giselle’s face bore a smirk, tinged with schadenfreude. Natalia pursed her lips, silent. But she couldn't deny Giselle’s words. She had always believed the miscarriage was an unfortunate accident.

11:18

When that fan assaulted her, she was certain someone was behind it. However, she had thought that the said fan’s father lost his mind only because she refused to forgive his daughter, leading him to shove her, thus the miscarriage.

At least, that was what she had believed up till now.

“Are you saying that someone set up my miscarriage?” Natalia tried to calm herself down and asked.

“Now, are you willing to talk?” Giselle asked, her voice laced with bitterness.

Natalia stared at her, her hands numb at her sides. “Why should | believe you? After all, you’re Eveleen’s cousin. Would you really betray her to help me?”

After a tense silence, Giselle let out a laugh. “Because right now, | might hate her more than you do. She let me take the fall for her actions! My life is ruined because of her! Do you have any idea what those fifteen days in detention were like? Do you!”

Giselle unleashed a primal scream at Natalia that echoed through the room, her eyes flaring with unbridled fury. Natalia’s lips were pressed together in a taut line, holding back a storm of emotions.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl before Natalia finally broke the silence.

“What exactly do you know?” she asked, her voice measured but laced with trepidation.

Without another word, Natalia whipped out her smartphone and tapped the screen, bringing up a recording app. “You don’t mind, do you?” Natalia said, her tone suggesting it wasn’t really a question.

Giselle glanced at the phone in Natalia’s hand and then let out a derisive chuckle. “Go ahead. It’s not like I’ve got anything left to lose.”

Natalia nodded curtly. “Alright, spill it.”

“The fan that hurt you, it was Eveleen’s doing. She paid them off, hoping they’d cause you to miscarry right then and there. When the fan couldn’t pull it off, she went after their family. Don’t take my word for it. You can check and ask around.

Natalia, Eveleen knew about your pregnancy from the get-go. She’s been orchestrating this whole charade to make you lose Hamilton’s baby!”

With a sardonic laugh, Giselle added, “Now, I’ve told you everything | know. It’s your move.” With those final words, she spun on her heel and strode away.

Natalia stood there, dazed for a long while, until she finally lifted her hand and stopped the recording on her phone.