Echoes of a Forsaken Heart (Natalia and Hamilton)

Scarlett's bucket toss was impressively swift, accurate, and ruthless.

Eveleen didn't even have a moment to react before she was drenched from head to toe.

The murky water dripped off her, leaving her a mess, and poor Lucinda standing by her side wasn't spared either.

The once immaculate woman was now the picture of disarray.

Bystanders were frozen in shock at the scene unfolding before them.

Natalia, snapping out of her daze, quickly went over to pull Scarlett away.

Scarlett was still fuming, "You backstabber, always scheming and causing trouble. No wonder Hamilton can't stand you. With your venomous heart, sharing a room with you makes my skin crawl!" Eveleen, already pale from blood loss, now looked even worse with dirty water covering her. Her hands shook with rage.

"You jerk! How dare you splash me!"

"Wasting dirty water on you!" Scarlett added insult to injury.

That's when the room snapped back to reality.

Elliott Lehner, utterly shocked, thought to himself, "Is this woman a bandit or what?"

He'd never encountered such a character before.

Her words, her temper, it was all so...bandit-like!

Lucinda, regaining her senses, let out a shriek.

Victor Henkel watched with a smirk, "Ms. Jenkins' friend sure knows no bounds."

Natalia shot him a look and then dragged Scarlett outside.

Hamilton was leaning against the doorframe, observing the chaos with an inscrutable expression.

Seeing him, Natalia hesitated for a moment.

"Eveleen," Natalia called out from behind, "I'm sorry for what happened in the past, but look at me now, I've received my just desserts. Can you forgive me?"

Natalia scoffed, "Ms. Schafer, this 'punishment' seems rather light. Getting someone to stab you in the chest and that's it?"

Eveleen was taken aback, "Ms. Jenkins, what do you mean? Why would I have someone stab me? Am I suicidal?"

Natalia met her gaze, "Eveleen, some acts are so overdone they're just disgusting."

With that, she didn't spare anyone another glance and pulled Scarlett away.

Hamilton, still by the door, seemed to want to say something but ultimately remained silent.

"Hamilton, you're just going to let them walk away?" Victor taunted nearby.

Eveleen, drenched and desperate, looked to Hamilton for sympathy.

"Hamilton, you're here. I don't know what I did to upset Ms. Jenkins' friend, and she just splashed me with dirty water."

Hamilton's expression darkened, "You really don't know?"

Eveleen was puzzled, "What do you mean by that, Hamilton?"

Without another word, Hamilton turned and left.

Eveleen watched him go, her face draining of color.

"Hamilton! You're letting them bully me now?"

Hamilton didn't stop, not even for a moment.

Despair flashed across Eveleen's face.

Victor's eyes twinkled with intrigue.

"It seems Hamilton's truly fallen for her," he mused, then turned to Eveleen, "Are you really going to give up just like that?" Eveleen looked pitiful, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of malice.

Outside the hospital, Natalia finally exhaled deeply, fearing those people might have gone after Scarlett.

"Will Hamilton hold this against you?" Scarlett asked, regretting her impulsive action but acknowledging her fiery temper.

Natalia reassured her, "I know you were just looking out for me, but let's avoid such extremes in the future. Eveleen's the kind of person to hold grudges, and who knows what she might plot next?"

Scarlett, feeling guilty, worried she'd dragged Natalia into her mess, but Natalia dismissed it, focusing instead on ensuring their safety and dealing with the immediate fallout of their confrontation.

As they parted ways, Hamilton's car pulled up beside Natalia, offering a silent invitation to confront the situation together. Despite her reservations, Natalia knew she had little choice but to face what came next with Hamilton by her side.

Once they were in the car, Natalia noticed that Hamilton had changed his suit at some point. Back at the café, he was still wearing the one from the previous night. It seemed he had rushed back last night to stay over at Eveleen's and hadn't had the chance to change. Now, after presumably taking a shower, he had switched outfits. He looked completely refreshed, even opting to wear the sandalwood cologne she had custom made for him by a perfumer, something he had long abandoned.

Natalia's thoughts drifted. Hamilton used to never bother with scents. He seemed disinterested in any of life's pleasures. The man was always so stern and unfeeling. The dark, rich aroma of sandalwood was something she had specially tailored for him, never really expecting him to actually use it. Yet, to her surprise, he did.

There was a time when she secretly delighted in the fact he used the cologne she gifted. But now, as the scent filled her nostrils, and she thought of a vulnerable Eveleen in the hospital, she almost wished she could take it back.

"Natalia, the bandage on my arm is getting damp again. Let's stop by a pharmacy up ahead so you can help me change it," Hamilton broke her train of thoughts.

Natalia looked at him, and after a moment, let out a cold laugh, "Can't your Eveleen do that for you?"

Hamilton's face stiffened instantly, "Natalia, you know there's nothing between her and me."

"I wouldn't know, Hamilton. I'm not privy to the ins and outs of what goes on between you two," Natalia's response was dripping with sarcasm. She was well aware that there was nothing romantic between Hamilton and Eveleen. Despite their long history, he had never made a move on her, and it was unlikely he ever would.

Hamilton was seething internally. Was it so hard for her to say something pleasant? He pulled the car over and fixed her with a deep, intense gaze.

"Natalia, can't you see that you're the only one I want?"