Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 18

hapter 18 The words teetered on the brink of Natalia’s lips before she swallowed them back down.

She knew Hamilton's temper all too well. The fact that he’d said as much meant he was determined to see her today. Natalia wasn’t in the mood for trouble.

“be right there.” The secretary chuckled. “Hurry back.”

When Natalia arrived home. Hamilton had just come out from the shower. The oversized bathrobe did little to conceal his chiseled physique. Settling onto the couch, he lit a cigarette. peering at Natalia through the smoke. After a moment, the corner of his mouth twitched with ambiguous intent.

“| never knew Ms. Jenkins could be so... formidable.”

Natalia didn’t move from her spot, nor did she speak. She knew he was referring to the altercation she had on set, the one where she didn’t hold back in both action and words.

“| can’t just let people walk all over me. Are you here on Ms. Schafer’s behalf to settle scores, Mr. Fowler?” Hamilton's gaze lingered on her, snuffing out his cigarette after a beat.

“Come here.”

“If you have something to say, say it from there.”

But Hamilton just watched her, unmoving.

Natalia had no choice but to walk over.

He slid a box across the table towards her.

“Open it. See if you like it.”

Inside was a necklace, its diamond cut to glittering perfection under the light. —

Natalia was momentarily taken aback. Hamilton had never given her anything before. After all giving gifts meant caring, and he had never cared—not for her, so gifts were out of the question. He would give her money, but never presents.

In the past, it was always her buying him things: clothes, shoes, ties, nothing high-end since she didn’t have much money. Yet he would wear them. Thankfully, he could make even a flea market find look designer.

It made Natalia’s desire to buy him things even harder to resist. Yet he had never reciprocated, probably never even thought to. Today's gift was unusual

“What's with the sudden gift?” She looked at the man in front of her.

To say her heart didn’t flutter at the sight of the necklace would be a lie. Natalia admitted she was materialistic. Any small kindness from Hamilton could keep her elated for days.

His lips curled slightly and said, “It suits you. Try it on.”Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

She did so in front of the mirror. The radiant diamond enhanced her delicate complexion, making her look even more stunning. Hamilton wrapped his arms around her from behind, his lips tracing the line of the necklace.

Natalia turned to him and asked, “Why the sudden gift?”

He kissed her, “Are you sure you want to discuss this now?”

Her heart chilled at his words. “Because of Eveleen?”

“Let's not bring Eveleen into this anymore,” Hamilton’s voice was tinged with desire, but his words were devoid of warmth. Natalia’s heart plummeted. “So are you convinced I’m the troublemaker?”

His lustful gaze faded to indifference. “Whether you’re stirring trouble or not isn’t the point. Just steer clear of her.”

It hurt, wave after wave. She maintained her composure with difficulty as she asked, “And if she provokes me?”

“Avoid her.”

Two words, enough to shred Natalia’s heart to pieces.

This baseless favoritism reminded her of her childhood back in Silkwood City — a stranger in town with no friends, while Eveleen was the renowned high school queen bee. Under her influence, Natalia was constantly harassed by bullies who would pelt her with stones and mud, sometimes even dead animals.

Once, unable to bear it any longer, Natalia fought back against Eveleen. Their father Patrick showed up at her doorstep, belt in hand, and whipped her without a word.

Even after she told him about Eveleen’s bullying, Patrick had said, “Even if she kills you, you’d better endure it!” Now, Hamilton’s words cut deeper than Patrick’s ever could.

Suppressing the bitterness rising in her throat, she asked, “Why should |?”

Why should she avoid Eveleen?

Why was she always the one to step aside?

She wasn’t the other woman. She had done nothing wrong—why should she hide?

Hamilton met her gaze and answered, “Because she’s Eveleen, and you're just Natalia.”

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14:26

The words plunged into Natalia’s heart like a dagger.

She forced a smile. “And if | refuse?”

His eyes darkened, “Ms. Jenkins, I’m just advising you. Playing nice saves you trouble. It’s for your own good.” Natalia laughed bitterly.

What difference did it make, being obedient or not?

The outcome was always the same.

“Fine, whatever you say.”

Hamilton nodded, satisfied. “Now make me some tea.”

He never drank coffee and was fussy about his tea.

Natalia had learned the art of tea preparation for him, even carrying a tea set on trips. But tonight, she felt less than willing. “I'm not feeling well; | don’t want to make it.”

Aknowing smirk played on Hamilton's lips, as if he could see right through her.

“Ms. Jenkins, you seem to be growing bolder by the minute.”

Natalia faced him and asked, “Why not have Ms. Schafer serve you? Can't bear to ask her?”

Hamilton’s expression darkened instantly. Natalia knew she was walking on thin ice, but she asked anyway.

“I'm just wondering.” Natalie said, her voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and frustration, “if your old flame is back in town, why on earth would you bother keeping me around? Can't you see she can’t stand the sight of me? You tell me to steer clear of her, but don’t you realize the best way to avoid trouble is to just let me go?”

Hamilton’s smile was ice cold. “So, Ms. Jenkins, are you eager to leave? Have you negotiated at better deal with Victor? Or perhaps found a new place to roost? You think my home is some sort of hotel with a revolving door policy?”

Anger flared in his eyes.

Natalie swallowed her words. Provoking him now was not the wisest move. “I was just asking. | haven't lined up anything new, no deals, nothing.”

Hamilton’s expression remained stormy. “Go get the tea set.”

Obediently, Natalie turned on her heel and left the room. Returning with the tea set, she found Hamilton had settled himself in the study. As she entered, he gestured to a spot beside him.

Natalie took her seat. The scent of tobacco wafted through the air as Hamilton held a cigarette between his fingers. Chapter 18

The smell hit her like a wave, nausea threatening to overpower her self-control. Clenching her teeth, she managed to serve Hamilton his tea before excusing herself to the bathroom.

Once the bathroom door was safely closed behind her, she lurched to the sink, her stomach heaving, but nothing came up.

Bracing herself against the basin, Natalie took a moment to recover. When she turned around, there was Hamilton, casually leaning against the door frame, a lit cigarette hanging from his lips. His gaze was inscrutable as it enveloped her.

“If | hadn’t seen your medical report with my own eyes, | might have started to suspect you were pregnant.” he said, a hint of mockery in his voice.