Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 161 Natalia raced to the hospital, only to find the caretaker, Debby, looking frantic at the door of the hospital room.

"What's going on?" Natalia asked, her brow furrowed in concern.

Debby's face bore the distinct mark of a slap.

"It's your father, Graham. He hasn't shown up for quite stime, but tonight, out of the blue, he barged in, drunk as a skunk. He insisted on seeing your mother, and I tried to stop him, but he was belligerent after the drinks. He managed to push past me, and before I knew it, he had unplugged her ventilator, spewing all sorts of nasty words, saying she should have died a long tago and that keeping her alive was just a waste of money." "I called security and the doctor right away, and thankfully, the doctor arrived just in time." Natalia's face turned a shade paler.

She could never have guessed that Graham would suddenly reappear and cause such a commotion after being absent for so long.

Natalia glanced apologetically at Debby.

"I'm so sorry you got dragged into this." Debby was obviously feeling aggrieved.

Graham had been rough with her, and to this moment, one of her ears was still ringing.

Natalia promptly transferred smoney to Debby. "You should go hand rest. I'll take it from here." Debby refused to accept the money, gave her a few instructions, and then left.

Natalia turned and entered the hospital room.

The doctor had just finished examining Tatiana and nodded at Natalia as she cin.

"Things seem stable for now; thankfully, Debby was quick to react. But let's try to avoid such incidents in the future. It's not just about your mother's well-being; it can also upset the other patients. Ms. Jenkins, you really should have a word with your father." Natalia nodded earnestly.

"I will, thank you, Doctor." The doctor didn't say much more; just advised her on a few things, and then took her leave.

Natalia looked down at Tatiana lying on the bed, her face ashen and void of color.

Tatiana had becso gaunt it was disconcerting. Natalia remembered her as being beautiful.

But the person lying in the bed now was just skin and bones, far removed from any semblance of beauty.

She didn't look anything like Tatiana in Natalia's memory.

Feeling uncomfortable, Natalia stayed for a while before stepping out.

Ronin was on a phone call.

Hamilton was standing by the door.

Seeing Natalia cout, he asked with a concerned look, "How is she? Graham again?" Natalia pursed her lips and just said, "It's okay now; you guys can head back." Ronin's phone, which he had just hung up, rang again. He frowned, looked at Natalia, and said, "Glad to hear your mother is okay. I've got to deal with something urgent. Callif you need anything." "Will do." After Ronin spoke, he turned to Hamilton, "You coming, Mr. Fowler?" Hamilton's gaze remained on Natalia. After a long moment, he replied nonchalantly, "You go ahead. I've got something to take care of." Natalia gave him a glance but didn't say anything else, turning back into the hospital room.

She really wasn't in the mood to deal with Hamilton's .

But to her surprise, Hamilton grabbed her wrist.

Natalia frowned, "Hamilton, can you not be so annoying?" Hamilton felt a sting from her attitude. Couldn't this woman be a little nicer to him? "Do you need my help? Natalia, just say the word, and I can bring back those two bodyguards I had posted here before." After their falling out, Hamilton had removed the bodyguards he had stationed for her in a fit of pique, expecting Natalia to cbegging. But she had remained stubborn.

The bodyguards were gone, and he couldn't very well send them back without a request.

This seemed like a good opportunity.

Natalia did want those bodyguards.

At least with them around, Graham wouldn't be able to cause such a scene again.

But she didn't want to owe Hamilton any favors.

He was the kind of man whose favors cat too high a price.

"No need to trouble yourself, Mr. Fowler. I can handle my own affairs." She tried to leave, but Hamilton pulled her into an embrace.

"Who else do you plan to trouble if not me? Ryan? Or perhaps Ronin?" She could feel Hamilton's warm breath and the unfamiliar scent of perfume-it wasn't his. It must be Eveleen's. Annoyance welled up inside her.

With a push, she broke free from his grasp.

"Whomever I choose to ask is none of your business, Hamilton. Can you just leave? You're really unbearable!" Hamilton's face darkened at her words.

"Unbearable? Natalia, look around. Who else is here for you at this hour? Do you honestly think others care about you that much? For all you know, they might just be playing with your feelings!" Natalia laughed derisively. "And where were you, Hamilton, when my mother was critically ill? What were you doing when I truly needed you? Now you show up for this little trouble? Well, guess what? I don't need your help anymore." Having said her piece, Natalia stormed back into the hospital room.

Hamilton stood there, his face a mask of anger.

This woman knew exactly how to hit where it hurt, and she had done it on purpose.

His heart felt like it was being pricked with needles-not intensely painful, but the discomfort lingered.

With a sneer, he didn't follow her.

Just then, his phone rang.

It was Alden.

Hamilton took a deep drag on his cigarette before answering.

"What is it?" "Bro, we've got Orpheus," Alden reported.

Hamilton's eyes narrowed, and he walked away.

Natalia finished wiping down Tatiana, then took out her phone and left the hospital room.

She found Graham's number and called.

The moment it connected, Graham's voice cthrough.

"Hey, who might this be? I never thought I'd live to see the day my little girl would call me." At the sound of his voice, Natalia felt a sharp throb in her temple.

Biting back the urge to hang up, Natalia asked, "What's your gthis time?"

Graham clicked his tongue. "Natalia, don't be so harsh. Can't a guy check on his wife? After all, I'm still her husband on paper." Natalia let out a scornful laugh. "Graham, cut to the chase. I don't have tto waste on you!"

Graham could obviously sense the impatience in her voice. He had m caused this scene just to get Natalia's attention. Now that he had her on the line, he wasn't about to let her off easily.

With a snort, Graham went straight for the jugular.

"Either you fork over five million, or I'll make sure Tatiana dies!" With that, he hung up the phone.

Pocketing his cell, Graham turned to the woman sitting in his room.

She was done up to the nines, dressed in clothes that screamedh money, looking completely out of place in his shabby, filthy room. Graham chuckled. "So, what do you think, Mrs. Schafer? Are you satisfied with my performance?"