Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 87

Natalia really didn’t want to ask anymore. The moment the question had left her lips, she regretted it. Even if Hamilton had indeed slept with Eveleen, what could she do about it? It was nothing but a source of unnecessary discomfort.

She sat on the couch, her gaze lowered. After a while, she ventured, “Do you know what happened today?” Hamilton lit a cigarette.

“Yes.”

“Will you help me? Will you help clear my name?”

Hamilton took a drag and said, “I'll handle it.”

Natalia looked at him and asked, “It was a setup today, wasn't it?”

Hamilton didn’t deny it. “It was Giselle’s doing.”

Natalia’s brows knitted tightly. “Does Giselle really have that much clout?”

If she did, she wouldn’t have resorted to spewing nonsense in the alumni chat from the

get-go.

Hamilton’s expression darkened instantly. “And who do you suspect?”

“Don’t you find Ms. Schafer more suspicious?*

Hamilton scoffed, “Do you have evidence, Ms. Jenkins?”

Natalia’s lips were a tight line. She had no evidence, but anyone with half a brain could see it was Eveleen’s doing. “Because only she has the motive.”

“And Giselle doesn’t? After the scene you made with her at the company, you think she wouldn't hold a grudge?”

Natalia let out a bitter laugh, realizing that once again, Hamilton would probably stand by Eveleen. She felt a sharp pain in her heart.

“Fine, then enlighten me, Mr. Fowler. How do you plan to deal with it? The same way as before? The nurse speaks out, you fire the nurse. Giselle speaks out, you fire Giselle. Now what? Who will you fire next? With so many people online, how do you plan to shut them all up?”

Hamilton's face turned to stone.NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.

“Natalia,” he said sharply, “I told you I'd handle this. Is that not clear?” She looked at the man before her, feeling an acute sense of injustice. 115

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It was he who had stood her up today, and upon his return, he had the audacity to accuse her of betrayal. Despite the truth storing them in the face, he continued to defend, time and time again, without principle.

Her eyes began to mist. “I just want to clear my name, Hamilton. I’m tired of being labeled. the other woman!” Hamilton's gaze fell on her now watery eyes. Her beautiful eyes seemed even more

captivating through the veil of tears. He gently rubbed the corner of her eye. His eyes were tender, but his voice was devoid of emotion.

“Natalia, if you can clear your own name, then do as you wish, | won’t stop you. But if your come to me for help, then how it’s handled is my business.”

Natalia looked at him squarely. After a moment, she gave a wry smile. Hamilton’s words indeed left her with no way to refute them.

He once said that power and influence trump intentions. She had always scoffed at that, but now, she felt the weight of his words.

She stared at Hamilton and asked, “Is Eveleen really that important to you?” Hamilton was ruthless and cold-hearted, yet he was never one to dismiss the facts, but Eveleen kept making him the exception. Natalia wondered what kind of affection it was that could lead him to these lengths.

Hamilton’s brow furrowed slightly. He looked down at the cigarette in his hand. The smoke curled up, obscuring his expression, making it hard to read.

After a long silence, he spoke softly, “Yes, she’s important. Without her, | might not have made it this far. So Natalia,” He paused briefly, “don’t cross Eveleen. If it comes down to choosing between you two, Ill probably never side with you.”

Asharp pain lanced through Natalia’s heart. She had always known this, but hearing Hamilton confirm it was excruciating. At that moment, she finally understood that there was no place for her between Hamilton

and Eveleen.

Eventually, she nodded. “Okay, | get it.”

With that, she wobbled to her feet and headed for the bedroom, but after a few steps, her legs gave out.

Hamilton caught her swiftly, his hand checking her forehead. His brow knitted with concern.

“You've got a fever again?”

Natalia didn’t know why she was sick again. She used to be so resilient. Now, it seemed a simple rain shower could knock her down.

Hamilton moved to carry her out. 12 “Don't take me to the hospital,” she protested, gripping his arm with clear resistance,

Hamilton’s eyes narrowed slightly, probably recalling the last time at the hospital when Eveleen’s fans had cornered her, especially now with the ongoing scandal

He didn’t insist, carrying her to the bedroom instead

“Take some medicine first, see if it helps. If not, Fl call the doctor over

After saying this, he left the room and returned shortly with medication.

Natalia swallowed the pills and tucked herself into bed while Hamilton watched her with furrowed brow

“How are you doing? Still hurt?”

She shook her head without speaking.

He pinched her cheek affectionately and said, “Get some sleep. I'll go sort out the mess online.”

As Natalia watched Hamilton leave, she let out a bitter chuckle and closed her eyes. Maybe it was exhaustion, or perhaps the medicine’s effect, but she drifted off quickly. She was awakened by Scarlett’s call.

“Natalia, you gotta see this. All those videos are gone, and Giselle has apologized. She claimed her accusations were out of spite because you took her job. That bastard Hamilton actually did something right this time. Word has it, he’s suing everyone who badmouthed you online. Not one was spared. Millions of subpoenas were sent out overnight, and now they're all apologizing to you!”

Natalia listened with a calm that belied her turmoil. So, was Giselle the scapegoat after all? After a long silence, she simply responded, “Really?”

“Of course, you better check it out,” Scarlett said, pausing for a second, “But in the end, it didn’t even faze Eveleen. If you ask me, Hamilton's got it bad for her.”

Natalia chuckled. Yeah, he was really smitten. After exchanging a few more words with Scarlett, she ended the call.

Natalia tapped open her Twitter, the controversial video that had been trending was long gone. In its place was a new trending topic proclaiming the internet was not a lawless place, with a million users issuing apologies.

Curious, Natalia clicked to see the details.

Just like Scarlett had mentioned, all those who had slandered her, mocked her, were now apologizing to her. And the most viral of them all was Giselle’s apology video.

In the video, Giselle was a hot mess, tearfully explaining why she had maligned Natalia, the

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whole ordeal, and expressing her regret

Now, beneath that video, the comments section was full of backlash against Giselle Hamilton had made good on his word, he really did shut up the entire internet

This time around, it seemed unlikely anyone would call her a homewrecker again. He could make a million users apologize simultaneously, yet he still wouldn't confront Eveleen.

Natalia couldn’t quite describe how she felt. Maybe, like Hamilton said, Eveleen really did mean a lot to him. That’s why he couldn't bear to lay a finger on her. Somehow, this thought. made Natalia feel a bit better.

And yet, it hurt more too.

Scarlett dropped her a message in the WhatsApp group: [Check out the alumni chat.]

Natalia closed Twitter and tapped into the group chat. To her surprise, it was filled with people calling out Giselle. [Natalia never struck me as that type. Can’t believe Giselle would spread rumors just because she got expelled.] [Exactly, | never bought the whole Natalia—-as—the—other-woman story.]

[It's all on Giselle, really disgusting.]

Natalia read the messages with a wry smile.

When Giselle had been bad—mouthing her, they joined in, and now they were all turning against Giselle.

After a while, Natalia left the chat.

The fever might have subsided, but her belly ached even more. She lay in bed restless, unable to sleep.

Getting up, she thought to look for some painkillers.

Stepping out of her room, she saw Hamilton leaving his study. He frowned slightly as he approached and touched her forehead. “Why are you up? Still feeling feverish?” he asked.

Natalia shook her head. After a pause, she looked up at him. “Hamilton, thank you.”

Regardless of everything, he had helped her. She wouldn't foolishly insist on Hamilton taking action against Eveleen anymore. She didn’t want to put herself in that position again.

Hamilton chuckled softly as he looked at her, reaching out as if to playfully tug at her earlobe, but Natalia instinctively dodged his hand.

Watching her pull away, Hamilton’s face turned sour in an instant. 15:47 Chapter 87

“What's the matter? Don’t want me to touch you?”