Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 172 "Hamilton, what on earth are you doing? Why did you let them in?" Eveleen's eyes shimmered with barely concealed panic. Lucinda was beside herself with worry.

"Yeah, Mr. Fowler, why did you let them in? Eveleen's still recovering, the doctor said she can't be stressed right now." But Hamilton just leaned against the doorframe, his gaze icy as he watched the mother and daughter.

"Eveleen, sold story, you mess up, you face the music. If an attempt to check out early clears your slate, does that mean you can do whatever you want from now on, thinking suicide will let you off the hook?" Eveleen stared at Hamilton, her eyes brimming with incredulity following her shock.

She never imagined, even after her desperate act, that Hamilton would still demand a price be paid.

A surge of resentment swelled within her.

It was all Natalia's fault.

Without Natalia, Hamilton would never treat her this way! Tears started falling freely as she looked at him, a glint of spite in her eyes. "Hamilton, are you really going to do this to me?" "Do you even care about my life anymore?" "Is this your promise to protectforever?" "Or is it that for Natalia's sake, you'd rather watchfade away!" Hamilton remained silent, his cool demeanor unshaken by her sobs.

After what seemed like an eternity, he let out a cold laugh.

His voice carried a chill as he finally spoke. "Eveleen, it didn't have to be this way." Eveleen choked up, her expression swiftly morphing into one of pitiable fear.

"I was just so scared, you've been so good to Natalia, I feared, I feared that one day you'd only care for Natalia and not for me. Hamilton, you mean too much to me, I'm terrified of losing you." Hamilton responded flatly, "What's done is done, excuses don't cut it." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Eveleen's cries echoing from the hospital room.

Alden crushing in, his concern palpable.

Hamilton, pocketing one hand, headed for the smoking lounge.

Alden hurried after him.

"How's it going?" He took a drag before asking.

Alden frowned, "Orpheus changed his statement. He's taking the fall for the kidnapping, but Mr. Spiegel's in the loop now. He toldto tell you, don't regret it." Hamilton's eyes narrowed, but he remained silent.

Alden couldn't help himself. "Hamilton, are you seriously done with Ms. Jenkins?" Hamilton chuckled bitterly, "Would it matter? She's got a new beau." "Just because she's dating doesn't mean it's over. People break up all the time, even marriages." Hamilton took another drag, his deep-set eyes betraying a flicker of pain, his heart constricting with discomfort. She knew very well why he asked those questions.

Yet she answered without hesitation.

He thought, expecting such a heartless woman to look back? Dream on.

Alden, brow furrowed, pressed on. "This twith Eveleen, if you hadn't stepped in, what could she have done? I doubt she'd actually go through with it. Hamilton, you can't let go of Eveleen, can you? No wonder Ms. Jenkins left you. I wouldn't stand for it either." Alden's words stung, almost like he was saying Hamilton deserved it.

Hamilton's gaze sharpened.

His face darkened significantly.

"If you've got nothing sensible to say, zip it!" But Alden continued, "And I think Ms. Jenkins' new guy is a good catch. Good family, handsome, bright future, and I heard he's been after Ms. Jenkins for at least four years. Now he's finally got her; he'll cherish her even more. Maybe after the New Year, they'll tie the knot." The more Hamilton heard, the more his expression soured.

Each word from Alden pricked at his heart like a needle.

His eyes bore into Alden with a cold fury.

"Alden, are you itching for a fight?" Seeing Hamilton's anger was real, Alden shut his mouth. But moments later, he couldn't help adding, "Hamilton, Ms. Jenkins is really something. Those prayer beads she gave you for your birthday, she knelt for a whole day and night to get them for you because she heard they were good luck. Had Eveleen done anything like that? Not a chance. It's clear who cares about you." Hamilton's action of smoking stopped abruptly.

He turned to Alden, "What did you say?" Alden hesitated, "I said, Ms. Jenkins got those prayer beads by kneeling for a whole day and night. Eveleen could never do that. It's obvious who really cares about you, isn't it?" A complex emotion flickered in Hamilton's eyes.

"Prayer beads?" Alden looked puzzled, "Your birthday gift, didn't Ms. Jenkins give it to you?" Hamilton swallowed hard, his brow furrowing deeper.

Suddenly, he remembered seeing a set of prayer beads in Natalia's luggage while packing her things. He had thought it was just a regular set of prayer beads.

Hamilton's lips formed a tight line. After a long silence, he asked again.

"Are you sure?" Alden nodded, "Absolutely sure. Ms. Jenkins even gota set, but mine is a bracelet." Hamilton's lips twitched, and after a long pause, he snuffed out his cigarette and headed straight out.

At first, he walked steadily.

But after a few steps, he broke into a run.

Eveleen stepped out of the hospital room just in tto see Hamilton's retreating figure.

She called out to him, but he didn't slow down for a second.

Eveleen's face turned cold with rage.

Alden strode over to her with a smirk, "See that? My brother went to see Ms. Jenkins, and he was practically sprinting." Eveleen snapped her head around, shooting Alden a glare that could slice through steel.

"Alden, shut your trap!" But Alden just shrugged, undeterred.

"Not like speople," he sneered, "who can't even make Hamilton stay by committing suicide." Fury blazed in Eveleen's eyes, but before she could retort, a sudden sharp pain seared through her arm.

Then, she saw it-a deep gash had been carved into her flesh, and blood was gushing out like a crimson tide. "Ah!" Eveleen screamed, but her cry was cut short as Alden's palm struck her face with brutal force.

"This cut," he hissed, "is payback for what you owe Natalia. This slap," his eyes bore into Eveleen, "is for for myn nephew you messed with. And this," he pressed her against the wall, his grip on her throat unrelenting, "is for your little stunt with Natalia." In an instant, Eveleen's breath hitched, and a choking sound gurgled from her throat. Bystanders who witnessed the scene let out cries of shock and alarm.

Finally, two cops from inside the room rushed out and pulled Alden away.

Eveleen crumpled to the ground like a discarded rag doll.

A rare cruelty flickered in Alden's eyes.

He turned to the cops with a cold stare.

"Let's pretend none of you saw this." After leaving the hospital, Hamilton made a beeline for the office.

As he entered the marketing department, he sensed an unusual tension in the air.

A sinking feeling hit Hamilton, and his face grew stern.

"Where's Natalia?" he demanded.

Tess looked up, her eyes rimmed with red, "Mr. Fowler, Ms. Jenkins... she resigned." Hamilton's brow furrowed in an instant.

"What did you say?"