Echoes of a Forsaken Heart (Natalia and Hamilton)

Natalia exchanged a fleeting glance with him before turning to head towards the hospital room. Hamilton caught up with her, grabbing her arm. "Natalia, about Eveleen—"

"Is she dead?"

Hamilton paused, his face clouding over. "Once she's recovered, I'll send her abroad."

Natalia nodded. "You could send her to the moon for all I care."

"After all, this is between you two."

Hamilton felt a sting at her words. "Natalia, are you really dismissing everything about us because of this?"

Natalia fell silent for a moment. "Hamilton, I've said it before, no matter what, I'm grateful to you."

Hamilton waited for more, but it seemed Natalia had said her piece.

What did that mean?

Was gratitude all there was left?

Hamilton grew anxious. "Natalia, I didn't do anything with her. I just couldn't stand by and watch her die." "So, Hamilton, you should stay by her side."

Hamilton gave a bitter laugh.

He had gone through hell and back getting to Boria City, explaining things for her, taking hits for her.

And now, because he couldn't bear to see Eveleen die, she was pushing him back to square one! "Natalia, you've got to have some conscience."

Natalia paused before replying, "Then consider me heartless."

Hamilton choked up, pushing down the turmoil inside. He asked quietly, "I heard your mother woke up?" "Yes, she did."

"Congratulations."

Natalia smiled, thanking him, then pulled away to enter the hospital room.

Hamilton quickly stepped in front of her. "I'd like to see her."

Natalia stiffened.

"Forget it."

She really didn't want Tatiana to know how the medical bills had been paid all these years.

After saying this, she turned and entered the room, closing the door behind her.

Hamilton stood outside, growing more restless.

He had watched Natalia rush over here.

He had watched her cry and laugh by the bedside.

He thought, if it weren't for last night's incident, could he be the one by her side, wiping her tears when she cried, laughing with her when she was happy? But now, did he really lose the right to even enter this room?

Such a heartless woman!

Hamilton leaned against the wall, lighting a cigarette.

His somber aura made passersby keep their distance.

Lucinda Lynd approached tremulously, stopping a few steps away.

"Mr. Fowler, Eveleen's awake. She wants to see you."

Hamilton didn't even glance her way. "Awake, so what? What does it matter whether she sees me or not?"

Lucinda's face changed drastically. "Mr. Fowler, after everything that's happened to Eveleen="

"Did I cause this?" Hamilton took a drag from his cigarette, finally looking up. "Or did I hand over the knife to the nurse?"

"Mrs. Schafer, I'll get to the bottom of how that knife got there. Don't play games with me!"

"And, I've never claimed to be a moral man. Don't try to guilt-trip me. Not letting her die is the last of my patience." Lucinda turned pale.

"Mr. Fowler-"

"Leave!"

"Can't you understand? Leave!"

The coldness in Hamilton's eyes seemed to freeze the air around him.

Lucinda hurriedly left, face ashen.

Inside the hospital room, Natalia was helping Tatiana exercise her stiff fingers.

Tatiana's gaze never left Natalia's face. Though her speech was unclear, she was unmistakably calling out, "Natalia."

Natalia smiled, holding her hand. "Mom, don't worry. With some more exercise, you'll be able to speak clearly."

Tatiana weakly pointed towards the door, telling her someone was there.

Natalia's throat tightened suddenly.

She leaned closer to Tatiana, her gaze drifting towards the door.

She knew Hamilton hadn't left.

But what did it matter if he hadn't?

As long as something happened to Eveleen, there would always be a rift between them.

Scarlett rushed in, surprised to see Hamilton still at the door.

She knew about Hamilton committing Eveleen to a psychiatric hospital and, for once, managed a decent expression. "Good to see you, Mr. Fowler."

Hamilton nodded, silent.

Scarlett frowned, wondering why he didn't enter but eventually held back her questions.

Entering the room, she was greeted by Natalia's voice.

Hamilton just stood there, listening to the laughter and chatter from inside.

Alden hurried over, relieved to see Hamilton.

"Bro, Eveleen's awake. She's causing a scene, wanting to see you."

Hamilton looked down at the almost finished cigarette in his hand.

"Cut off Schafer Pharma's funding."

Since Eveleen couldn't repay Natalia, let the Schafer family settle the debt.

Someone had to pay.

Alden hesitated before speaking.

"Bro, Ron Group has been pressuring the Schafer family lately. I wonder if it's related to Natalia."

Hamilton frowned deeply. "Ron Group?"

Alden nodded. "You had me keep an eye on the Schafer family. I noticed their funding getting cut off several times recently. I thought it was Patrick Schafer's incompetence, but further investigation revealed Ron Group's involvement." Everyone knew, at Ron Group's Silkwood City branch, Natalia was in charge.

If the Ron Group made a move against the Schafer family, does that mean Natalia made her move too?

Hamilton, caught in the moment, found himself momentarily stunned.

He had always imagined that this woman would remain under his protection.

But now, seemingly out of nowhere, she had risen to stand on her own.

"So, what about us? Do we still go after the Schafer family?"

Listening to the laughter inside, Hamilton replied, "No need to make a move, but we can cover for her. Just make sure Patrick doesn't find out it was her."

Alden nodded in agreement.

Hamilton extinguished his cigarette, casually asking, "How's the investigation at the psychiatric clinic going?"

Alden had come specifically to talk about this.

But now, he found himself at a loss for words.

Hamilton's gaze fell sharply on him.

"What's the matter?"

After a brief silence, Alden finally spoke, "The attack on Eveleen last night was indeed orchestrated."

Hamilton nodded nonchalantly, waiting for him to continue.

Alden remained silent for a long stretch.

It wasn't until Hamilton's impatience became apparent that he finally spoke up.

"But following the leads, I ended up finding a connection to Scarlett."

"What?" In an instant, Hamilton's expression darkened considerably.

Alden felt a complex mix of emotions.

"Hard to believe, I know, but the clues lead there. Someone made a payment to the nurse, and the name on the transaction was Scarlett."