Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 78

Scarlett could finally tell that something was off with Natalia’s mood the moment she heard her voice on the phone.

“What's up, girl? Something wrong? Did that jerk Hamilton mess with you again?” she asked.

Natalia’s nose was feeling sour. She really wanted to open up to Scarlett, but the crappy relationship was such a shame to voice. In the end, she managed only a weak remark, “No biggie; just a bit of a cold.”

Scarlett clicked her tongue sympathetically, “The weather’s turning chilly, babe. Layer up, will ya? You're not back to full strength yet, and you gotta take care of yourself.”

“Okay,” They chatted more before hanging up.

The doorbell rang again. Upon opening the door, Natalia found the executive secretary, Linda, standing there with a shopping bag and a box in hand.

“Mr. Fowler asked me to bring you these clothes and jewelry, said you'll be starting workCcontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

tomorrow.”

Natalia glanced at them, took the items with a half-hearted thanks, and set them aside, “Appreciate you coming by.” Linda hesitated, clearly having more to say.

“What is it? Something else on your mind?” Natalia inquired.

After a moment's pause, Linda spoke up, “Ms. Jenkins, the person currently in your position isn’t the easiest to get along with. Just...be careful when you return.”

Natalia paused, then offered a thin smile, “Thanks for the heads-up.” 3 With a nod, Linda left.

Natalia closed the door; her gaze fell upon the clothes and jewelry. Perhaps this was just another one of a man’s tricks to woo a woman.

If it hadn’t been for tonight's events, she might have been charmed. But now, she didn’t even want to spare those clothes a glance.

She tossed them onto the couch and poured herself a glass of wine downing it in one gulp.

The bottle was empty in no time. As Natalia reached for a second bottle, the bedroom door swung open. She turned to see who it was, and a wry smile played on her lips.

“Back already?” she quipped.

Hamilton stepped inside and immediately noticed the woman by the bar, whose cheeks were flushed pink from drinking. An empty bottle stood witness to her indulgence.

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She had Vodka schnapps, and had already finished an entire bottle of it. Judging by the new bottle in her hands, she was about to crack open another.

On the couch lay the clothes and jewelry, untouched and carelessly discarded. Hamilton snorted derisively, “What’s the matter, my girlfriend? Didn’t like the gift?”

Even in her inebriated state, Natalia could still sense the sarcasm in his voice. Her eyes, red. and watery, fixed on Hamilton. And after a long silence, she laughed bitterly. “Like it? Of course | like it. | like everything you give me.”

She reached for the corkscrew but Hamilton’s hand stopped her.

Natalia lifted her bleary eyes to meet his, “Is Mr. Fowler even forbidding me a drink now?” Her eyes blazed with defiance as she stared at the man before her.

He remained cool and detached, “You sure you wanna keep drinking?”

Natalia said nothing, her gaze unwavering.

Hamilton sneered and placed three more bottles in front of her.

“Ms. Jenkins, don’t even think about sleeping until you've finished these,” he challenged, sitting down beside her. Natalia stared at him and remained motionless.

Hamilton’s expression was one of cold indifference, “Need me to pour you one?”

I

Natalia stood up unsteadily, intending to leave. “I’ve had enough. Sorry, | lost my composure.” She claimed.

Hamilton grabbed her and pulled her back, “Natalia, life isn’t always about getting what you want or don’t want!”

With that, he filled a glass and pushed it towards her.

Natalia eyed the drink, then the man across from her.

“Would you force Eveleen to drink like this?” she inquired.

Hamilton's grip tightened on her chin, “Natalia, am | forcing? It was you who decided to drink. Adults need to take responsibility for their choices!”

Her lips quivered slightly as she took the glass and drank down one after another. Hamilton refilled her glass each time until his own brows began to furrow.

Natalia set her glass down in front of him, “Pour, Hamilton. Why have you stopped?” IZ1l

Hamilton suddenly found the game tiresome. He had been angry when he returned home. The woman really didn’t give a damn about him now. She was challenging Eveleen right in front of him and tossing aside the gifts he’d given her.

That was why he wanted to torment har a bit.

that wow Bullena a danken woman seemed pointless. He pushed the bottles aside, scooped Natalia up and camed her to the bedroom.

Natalia was truly toxicated Despite her high tolerance, she couldn't handle drinking like the

ramiton held her to the bedroom, but she rushed to the bathroom and nearly puked her

Esowning, he went to fetch her some water. When she finally stopped retching, he pulled her

Dmk some water” he said.

Natalia refused, her only desire was to vomit again.

Hamilton’s brow creased as he forced the water down her throat. The pain from his grip made her struggle violently.. “Natalia!” he roared, silencing her.

Suddenly, her defiance crumbled, and her tears began to flow.

Hamilton's frown deepened. Before he could speak, Natalia accused him, “Why have you

come so bad? Why are you treating me like this?”

Hamilton’s eyes narrowed, and he let out a cold laugh, “How have | mistreated you, Ms. Jenkins? Please enlighten me.” Natalia’s voice was filled with hurt, “You’re being so cruel to me.”

Hamilton looked at her nonchalantly, “Is that even called cruel? There’s much worse, Ms. Jenkins. Would you like to see?”

With those words, he pulled her close into his arms. Natalia suddenly reached up to touch his face, her voice low, “Why didn’t you come for me? Why did you just forget about me?” Hamilton’s gaze darkened, a surge of anger rising in his bosom as he scowled, “Natalia, who do you think | am?”

Natalia shoved him away with unexpected force. “They all pick on me, and you-you’re just the same. | don’t want to like you anymore. | hate you,” she burst out, tears welling up in her

eyes. A flash of anger flickered in Hamilton’s eyes. He grasped the back of her neck, compelling her to meet his gaze. “Look at me, Natalia! See who | am!” he demanded.

Her eyes were glassy, her gaze unfocused, but she managed to recognize the man before

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her.

“Hamilton,” she whispered, her voice laced with sorrow, “I don’t want to like you anymore.”

Hamilton was fuming, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to reason with a drunk. He swooped Natalia up—from the bathroom floor and dumped her onto the bed.

“You're acting like I’ve done you wrong. Stop crying,” he muttered. But Natalia’s sobs only grew louder.

Hamilton shot her a glance, yanked off his tie, and retreated to the bathroom. He returned shortly with a warm, damp towel in hand.

Pulling Natalia up, he wiped her face with the cloth.

“Still crying?” he asked.

Tears still clung to the corners of her eyes.

“It hurts,” she murmured.

Hamilton paused, his expression a mix of frustration and amusement. “Where does it hurt?” he asked.

Natalia clutched her lower abdomen, her fingers tightly grasping her shirt, “Here, it really hurts. The baby’s gone, Hamilton.” Hamilton's face stiffened, the color draining away.

Time seemed to stand still as he took Natalia’s hand and gently moved it away from her

stomach.

“We can have another in the future,” he said.

But Natalia shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks as she murmured, “No, we can’t,” she sobbed. “The doctor said... I'll never be able to have children again.”

The hand holding the towel clenched tightly, and in that moment, Hamilton felt as though all the air had been sucked out of his lungs, leaving him breathless.