Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 217 Natalia stood in silence for a moment before finally speaking up, "I just can't, Hamilton. Our relationship... I can't bring it up to my mom." Hamilton felt a lump in his throat, suddenly at a loss for words.

Natalia forced a smile, "Drive safe on your way back." After she spoke, she grabbed her phone and returned to her room.

Standing behind the door for a while, Natalia then walked over to Tatiana's side.

Tatiana weakly lifted her hand and pointed outside.

Natalia sat beside the bed, holding her hand, "Mom, it was just a friend." The nurse by their side exclaimed, "Oh, Natalia, you don't know, that Mr. Fowler just now, he's been chasing after our Natalia, and quite persistently at that." Tatiana looked at Natalia.

Natalia lowered her eyes, "Mom, I don't like him." Hamilton, standing outside, suddenly chuckled.

He took a deep breath, unable to shake off the bitterness in his heart.

For a moment, he had thought about saying, "What if I offer you commitment?" But the words died on his lips.

Commitment, marriage, it all seemed too far-fetched for him.

He couldn't offer it.

And now, thinking about it, even if he was willing to offer, Natalia might not even want it.

Hamilton didn't leave but spent the whole night smoking downstairs.

Feeling excluded by someone from their past was anything but pleasant.

This feeling of being rejected, abandoned, and concealed as if one's existence was inconvenient was like rolling in shards of glass. Painful.

So painful it numbed him.

Never had he been so acutely aware of it.

Natalia had truly kicked him out of her life.

As dawn broke, Alden's call cthrough.

"Bro, they found the old lady." Hamilton leaned back in his chair, taking a long while before responding, "Got it." Natalia spent the night in the hospital with Tatiana.

Early next morning, she received a call from Tess.

"Boss, the driver's been arranged. He'll pick you up directly today." Natalia didn't expect it to be so soon.

"It's not Hamilton, is it?" Tess was taken aback, "How could it be? Boss, how could Mr. Fowler ever cto be a driver? Did you not wake up properly?" Natalia let out a sigh of relief, "Sendthe driver's details." Tess quickly complied.

Natalia was heading downstairs when Tess sent the driver's details.

But before Natalia could check, someone called out.

"Ms. Jenkins." Natalia looked up to see Killian standing at the elevator.

She was momentarily stunned, not expecting to encounter Killian here.

When she was kidnapped, Killian had been injured. She had inquired about him later and, knowing he was hospitalized but not critically, she felt relieved. However, she had intended to visit him, but due to the upheaval with Hamilton, she never did.

"Killian, your leg, are you here today for " "It's nothing serious, just a fracture. It's healed now." Natalia nodded, somewhat reassured, "Then why are you here today?" "Ms. Jenkins, I'm here to be your driver." "What?" Natalia thought she had misheard, "I told Hamilton I didn't need him-" "Ms. Jenkins, I've already resigned from Mr. Fowler." Natalia looked at Killian silently before finally asking, "When did you resign?" "Last night." Natalia's lips twitched, and she laughed without humor, "Killian, I definitely can't offer you the salary Hamilton did." Killian nodded, "I know, but with Ms. Jenkins, I won't get yelled at. And besides, Ms. Jenkins, I've already resigned. If you don't takeon, I'll be out of a job." Natalia looked at him and finally nodded in resignation, "Let's go then." Upon reaching the office, Natalia found Ronin waiting at her office door.

Natalia was surprised, "What are you doing here?" Ronin extended his hand to stop her.

"You're not thinking of getting back with Hamilton, are you?" Natalia pushed his hand away, "What nonsense are you talking about?" "Am I talking nonsense, or are you playing dumb?" Natalia was silent for a moment, "Ronin, I've said it before, we're just business partners." Ronin chuckled, "So what? Does that change the fact that Hamilton is a jerk? Natalia, remember how he treated you before. Don't let one sweet gesture confuse you." Natalia sidestepped him, "I'm perfectly clear-headed!" "That's good to hear." Ronin didn't say more, just handed her a cup of coffee.

Natalia glanced at him and took it, "Thanks." Ronin said nothing more and turned back to his office.

Natalia watched his retreating figure and sighed.

But Ronin's interruption reminded her of Hamilton's request to change his bandages.

She had thought Hamilton would seek her out.

Yet, until almost closing time, she hadn't heard from Hamilton, but instead got a call from Alden.

"Natalia, they found the old lady. Are you free?" Natalia quickly agreed.

It wasn't long before Alden arrived at Ron Group's building.

As Natalia approached, she saw him standing by his car on the phone.

He hurriedly ended the call upon seeing Natalia.

"How did it go, Alden?" Alden shared, "The old lady was found, and she admitted to contacting Scarlett. But, she couldn't say who was behind it." "She received a call instructing her to go to the hospital to find Scarlett and ensure Scarlett wired the money. If the money wasn't wired, or if Scarlett wasn't the one who did it, her daughter would be in danger." Listening to Alden's words, Natalia let out a sigh of relief, but her irritation only grew.

"So, the person who called her can't be traced, huh?" Alden nodded.

The caller hadn't used a real phone number.

And that money? Left at the old lady's doorstep by someone in advance.

Whoever was behind this had covered their tracks well.

Natalia chuckled, "So, in the end, we can't be sure this ties back to Eveleen." But when you think about it, no matter who was pulling the strings, it all circled back to Eveleen.

After Eveleen was admitted to the psychiatric hospital, Hamilton had made it clear without his permission, no one could discharge her. Yet, that very incident pinpointed Eveleen directly.

Somehow, Eveleen was released.

And then, there was the mess with Scarlett, almost causing a rift between Hamilton and Natalia.

No matter how you sliced it, Eveleen seemed to benefit the most.

But without evidence, their hands were tied.

Alden was frustrated too, but he tried to comfort Natalia.

"But no matter what, Scarlett is off the hook now." Natalia nodded, "Thanks, Alden." She paused, wanting to ask about Hamilton but swallowed her words.

If he cto her, she'd help him out.

If not, she saw no reason to offer.

"If there's nothing else, I'll head back." As Natalia turned to leave, Alden suddenly called out to her.

He really didn't understand what was going on between the two.

They seemed to have patched things up, but since last night, it was as if his brother had been hit hard again.

Even today, what seemed like a perfect chance to get closer to Natalia went unused by his brother, who sent him instead. "Natalia, did you and my brother have another fallout over Eveleen?" Natalia shook her head, "No." Alden pressed, "Natalia, my brother's planning to send Eveleen abroad." Natalia paused, only replying with a noncommittal, "Hmm." Alden seemed anxious, "Natalia, my brother... he really likes you." Natalia didn't dwell on his words, just smiled, "Thanks for today, Alden." With that, she turned and entered her office.

Tess knocked and cin.

"Boss, the Brown family... Greysen Brown wants to play golf with you tomorrow." Natalia's grip tightened slightly on her phone.

"Alright, clear my schedule for tomorrow."

Tess nodded and left the office. Natalia hesitated before texting m Hamilton. Thanks for handling Greysen's matter. After a pause, she sent another message. When should I change the bandage?