Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 187 Natalia had just settled into the driver's seat when her phone buzzed with a call from Ryan. "Natalia, something cup today, and I don't think I can make it over to hang out." She had nearly forgotten Ryan was supposed to visit her.

"It's fine, Ryan, Happy New Year." Natalia's voice was clipped, and although Ryan seemed like he wanted to say more, she quickly ended the call.

After hanging up, she floored the gas pedal and sped off.

Hamilton, following in his car, couldn't help but curse under his breath.

"Is she trying to kill herself driving that fast?" Pulling into the hospital parking lot, Natalia bolted to the floor where Tatiana's room was located.

Hamilton watched her rush, a sense of worry washing over him.

"Has something happened?" Exiting his car, he hurried after her.

Natalia burst into the hospital room, finding the doctor running stests.

"Doctor, how's my mom doing?" The doctor's face was etched with concern. "There are signs of awakening. She's starting to respond to stimuli. Ms. Jenkins, you might try calling out to her; she might respond to your voice." Eyes brimming with tears, Natalia approached Tatiana's bedside and called softly, "Mom, can you hear me? It's Natalia." As she spoke, Tatiana's fingers twitched.

It was slight, but Natalia saw it clearly.

Tears streamed down her face as she cried out, "Mom, mom, it's Natalia. You can hear me, can't you? Please wake up, please..." Clutching Tatiana's hand, she sobbed into the hospital sheets.

Hamilton arrived to find Natalia weeping beside the bed, calling out for her mother.

Something inside him twisted with regret.

All these years, Natalia rarely spoke of her mother to him.

He knew only of a mother who had been in an accident and that Natalia's earnings were mostly spent on medical bills.

Yet, he had never considered how hard it was for her to shoulder these expenses alone.

For the first time, Hamilton felt genuinely remorseful about how he had used the medical bills to pressure Natalia in the past. Eventually, Natalia's tears subsided.

After the doctor had advised her to talk to Tatiana regularly, he left them alone.

Natalia, her initial fervor dampened, finally looked at Hamilton and rasped, "What brought you here?" Hamilton suddenly had the urge to embrace her. And he did just that, pulling her into a tight hug.

"Why can't I be here? After all, you don't own the hospital." Her body tensed at his familiar scent, and though she tried to pull away, Hamilton held her closer.

"Stop struggling. Just a hug, alright? Lean onif you need to cry." But Natalia still resisted.

She did want to share her joy with someone, but not with him-the man who had once threatened her with her mother's medical bills.

Feeling her struggle, Hamilton softened and whispered an apology.

Natalia froze momentarily, then realized what he was apologizing for.

"I don't need your sorry! Let go of me!" His voice cfrom above her, firm yet pleading.

"I won't. Just this once, okay?" She struggled a few more times but eventually stopped, resting her forehead against his chest, unable to hold back the tears.

Hamilton felt a pang of heartache.

He suddenly realized that Natalia was more fragile than she let on, her stubbornness often a façade.

Holding her tightly, he spoke with a rough tenderness, "No more tears, it's going to get better." Natalia didn't let Hamilton hold her for long. Once she regained her composure, she stepped away from his embrace. This time, he let her go without any resistance. "You haven't eaten, have you?" Natalia indeed hadn't eaten, but she wasn't planning to leave Tatiana's side.

"I'm not hungry. You don't have to worry about me." Hamilton glanced at her. "I'll have someone bring food here. You can eat it in this room." After a moment of silence, Natalia relented, "No need. I'll make something when I get back. Don't bother." Hamilton, who had been feeling sympathetic, now felt a twinge of irritation at her aloofness.

Was accepting a small act of kindness really that hard for her? "I've ordered it. You can eat it or not." With that, he turned to make the call.

Natalia wanted to refuse, but in the end, she kept silent.

Let him be. She couldn't stop him if he was determined.

Returning from his call, Hamilton found Natalia back at Tatiana's bedside. It was New Year's Eve, and he had to attend at the Westland the family gathering estate. They had been calling him on his way to the hospital, and he couldn't delay any longer. "The food will be here soon. I need to drop by the family home, but I'll cback after dinner to keep you company." Without hesitation, Natalia said, "No need." She had always spent New Year's Eve alone. Now with Tatiana awake, she needed no one else.

Hamilton, feeling the sting of her rejection, couldn't help but ask "Are you waiting for Ryan to join you for the fireworks?"

He remembered the conversation they had in the car on the night they broke up. Even though they weren apart, she was willing to have Ryan with her for the fireworks, yet she couldn't bear his company for a moment. The bias stung.

With a mix of jealousy and determination, Hamilton reached for Natalia's hand and started to lead her away.

She looked at him, bewildered.

"Hamilton, what are you doing?" Hamilton's face was a mask of stoic resolve, his lips sealed, not a hint of loosening his grip on her.

With determined force, he all but dragged her into the elevator.

It was New Year's Eve, and most patients who could leave the hospital had already done so, leaving behind a sparse population.

In the elevator, it was just the two of them. Natalia, caring little for appearances, began to struggle fiercely.

When she realized she couldn't break free, she lowered her head and sank her teeth into the back of his hand.

"Ah!" Hamilton hissed in pain, yet his resolve did not waver, and his grip did not slacken.

He pinched Natalia's chin, forcing her to release her bite.

"Natalia, what are you, a rabid animal?" His voice was low and grave as he posed the question.

Natalia glared at him. "Hamilton, are you out of your mind? Where the hell are you taking me?" Hamilton's gaze was heavy, fixed on her. After a long moment, he finally spoke.

"Natalia, whatever Ryan can offer you, I can match it!"