Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Hamilton Fowler froze for a moment. He lifted his hand to wipe away the tears streaking down Natalia Jenkins' face.

"I don't feel right letting you shower alone. What if you slip and fall? I won't do anything, just let me stay, okay? I just want to take care of you. You can boss me around like I'm your servant."

"No, it's fine."

Natalia got up and headed for the bathroom.

Once inside, she locked the door behind her.

Almost instantly, tears began to fall uncontrollably again.

She kept telling herself not to cry since her stomach had already started to feel uneasy.

But the tears wouldn't listen, they just kept falling.

She would have preferred it if Hamilton didn't love her.

That would have been far less painful and humiliating.

They were supposed to be in love, supposed to be happy together.

They could have had a family, with children, and joy.

They could have built a happy life together.

But now, it felt like there was an ocean between them.

Some wounds just couldn't be healed, even though she knew he had mistaken

her for someone else.

Hamilton stood outside the bathroom door.

Separated by just a door, he could hear her soft cries within.

Those muffled sobs tore at his heart more than any loud wailing could.

A heaviness settled in Hamilton's chest, moisture gathering at the corners of his eyes.

He carefully opened the door and stepped inside, pulling her into his embrace.

Then he led her in front of the bathtub, "Let me help you bathe."

Natalia, with red-rimmed eyes, shook her head, "No, it's okay. I'm fine. Please leave."

Hamilton gently grasped her chin, making her look up at him, "Natalia, could you call me 'Ham' just one more time?"

Her eyes reddened further, and after a moment, she brushed his hand away.

"Please leave. I'm really tired. I just want to take a shower and go to bed early, Ham. My stomach is hurting. I want to lie down after the bath."

Hamilton's face turned pale.

"Where does it hurt? Should I call a doctor?"

Natalia shook her head, "No, I just need some rest."

Hamilton was still worried but didn't press further.

He moved towards the door, "I'll be right outside. If anything feels off, call me immediately."

After saying that, he finally closed the door behind him.

Thinking it over, he pulled out his phone and called Caspian Spiegel.

"Could you send a doctor over? Natalia's feeling unwell. Yeah, one from the Spiegel family's private staff."

After hanging up, he exhaled deeply, instinctively reaching for a cigarette but stopped himself just in time.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, then dialed Alden.

"I need you to find me a therapist."

Alden sounded worried, "Ham, are you having some psychological issues again?"

Hamilton chuckled bitterly, "I just... want to remember some things, that's all."

He just wanted to recall the few precious memories he and Natalia shared.

Even just a little bit would suffice.

"And find me the therapist from back then."

Although Alden didn't understand what he was trying to remember, he didn't ask

further, just inquiring, "Is Natalia alright?"

Hamilton glanced at the closed bathroom door.

After a long pause, he replied, "Not really."

If Eveleen Schafer were still alive, perhaps he could have let Natalia vent all her frustrations on Eveleen.

But unfortunately, Eveleen had passed away.

Just as she said, Eveleen remained in his heart until her last breath.

Hamilton's face turned a shade paler.

His chest ached fiercely.

He wondered, how could he ever make up for the past hurts?

After Natalia finished showering, the doctor arrived.

He conducted a check-up and concluded it was stress-related.

"Are you sure she'll be okay?" Hamilton asked, visibly anxious.

The doctor smiled, "She should be fine, but can't perform an

ultrasound right now. If you're net

worried, you might want to take your wife to the hospital for one.

The word "wife" made both of them stiffen.

Hamilton instinctively looked at Natalia, as if afraid she'd deny their relationship.

But clearly, Natalia wasn't in the mood to correct anyone.

She thanked the doctor.

"Ham, could you see the doctor out?"

Hamilton nodded and escorted the doctor out.

But when he returned, Natalia had already locked the door.

Facing the locked door, Hamilton couldn't help but smile bitterly.

He didn't disturb Natalia further, simply sending her a text.

Rest well. I'm right outside if you need anything.

Natalia saw the message, her grip on the phone tightening and loosening, but she didn't reply.

She lay in bed, staring at the night sky through the curtains, her mind in turmoil.

She thought, maybe it was just fate's cruel joke.

Or maybe she was just that unlucky.

That's why this was happening to her.

Natalia didn't know when she fell asleep.

In her dream, she was back in a quaint fishing village.

Surrounded by bellflowers, Hamilton smiled at her from among the blooms.

He said, "Evi, shall I plant a whole field of bellflowers for you?"

Natalia nodded with a smile, "I want a big garden with bellflowers of every color!"

Hamilton's eyes sparkled with laughter.

His world might be dark, but he wanted to give her a garden full of light.

He said he'd treat her like a princess.

He promised her the best in the world.

Yet, a misunderstanding had brought them to this point.

Natalia woke from her dream crying.

Her face wet with tears, causing a tightness in her chest.

But then, a warm hand reached out to her, wiping her tears away.

"I heard you crying and came to check on you."

Natalia suddenly grabbed his hand, burying her face in his palm.

Her tears fell drop by drop.

She whispered his name.noveldrama

She asked him, "How did we end up like this?"

Hamilton's heart clenched.

Holding Natalia's hand, he kissed her eyes and whispered apologies in her ear.

Natalia's tears eventually subsided,

leaving her to utter in a polite yet

distant tone, "I'm okay now," before

she turned away once

Hamilton sat by the bed, watching her back, his eyes filled with a bitter sadness.

Natalia fell asleep again, with the night inching closer to dawn.

Only when he saw her sleeping peacefully did Hamilton gently pull her into his

embrace.

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By the time she woke up again, Hamilton was nowhere to be found. Beside her pillow, there was a of forget-me-nots and a pair of earrings.

"I'll make it up to you, Natalia. I realize my mistake," Hamilton seemed to say through the silent gifts left behind.