Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 177 Natalia cast a doubtful glance at Hamilton, her gut telling her this guy was all charm and no truth.

She was about to retort when someone approached from behind Hamilton. Instant disgust flickered in Natalia's eyes. She wriggled free and headed for the exit. "I'll go talk to the cops on my own." Hamilton remained rooted to the spot, his expression darkening as he watched their retreating forms.

"Mr. Fowler," Lucinda spoke up cautiously, eyeing Hamilton warily. "Mr. Fowler, Eveleen's off her meds again. Maybe you should check on her." Hamilton turned to Lucinda with an unreadable look and then walked towards Eveleen's room without a word.

Natalia's lips curled into a fleeting smirk as she followed Hamilton. "Was that Ms. Jenkins who just walked by? Quite a looker, isn't she?" Hamilton paused mid-step and glanced back at Lucinda. His icy gaze sent a shiver down her spine. Lucinda averted her eyes subtly, but a vicious glint flashed through them as Hamilton moved on. 'That little tramp, keeping her around is just asking for trouble,' she thought.

At Eveleen's door, the sound of her crying could be heard. Hamilton pushed open the door, his face a mask of indifference. Eveleen's sobs stopped abruptly.

"Hamilton, why did it take you so long to come?" she whimpered.

Hamilton stayed at the doorway, not moving an inch closer. After a moment, he commanded, "Give Ms. Schafer her medication." As soon as he finished, the bodyguards in the room pinned down Eveleen and forced the pills down her throat. Lucinda was taken aback. She hadn't expected Hamilton to be so ruthless.

"Mr. Fowler, are you really going to treat Eveleen like this? You two were so close as kids." Hamilton scoffed, "She wasn't like this when we were kids." Lucinda's panic spiked. "What do you mean by that, Mr. Fowler?" But Hamilton was done with her, his attention solely on Eveleen. "Eveleen, know your limits." Eveleen, propped up in bed, trembled as she looked at Hamilton. In just a few days, she had tormented herself beyond recognition, yet Hamilton showed no signs of softening.

She was indignant. Indignant at losing to Natalia. Indignant that even stealing Natalia's past couldn't win Hamilton over. Tears streamed down her cheeks without the sobs to accompany them. After a while, she whispered, "I understand. I won't do it anymore." If throwing a tantrum wouldn't garner his sympathy, then she'd play the obedient card. Dealing with men was all about playing the right tricks.

After Natalia left the hospital with Ryan, she received a call from the police to assist with an investigation. She glanced at Ryan, weighing her options. If Graham's autopsy cback clean, it would just be routine questioning. But if it was murder, just like Hamilton said, she and Hamilton would be prsuspects.

"Ryan, if I-" she began, but Ryan cut her off by gently stroking her hair.

"Don't worry, it'll be fine. I'll have someone look into this," he assured her.

Natalia managed a smile and nodded.

When they arrived at the police station, Hamilton was already there, leaning nonchalantly against the front desk, arms folded across his chest, staring at her as she approached.

Natalia avoided his gaze, her disdain apparent.

Hamilton didn't seem to care and stepped forward. "Graham's autopsy report is out." Natalia's heart skipped a beat. "And? Was it an accident or homicide?" "Homicide. He was suffocated, and it happened right around the twe left that alley." Panic shot through Natalia. She had gone from victim to suspect.

"What about the surveillance footage?" Ryan couldn't help but interject.

Hamilton met his gaze. "Do you think I'm a fool, Mr. Holzer? After I found out about Graham, I checked all the cameras. The only people seen leaving that alley around the tof death were Natalia and me." Natalia's face paled.

Who was behind this? And what did they want? Was it just her they were after, or was Hamilton also in their crosshairs? The police cto take their statements separately. Before Natalia went in, she couldn't help but look back at Ryan. She wanted to reassure him that everything would be alright. Hamilton would never let himself be the loser, much less be framed for something he didn't do.

But then Ryan pulled her into an embrace. She was startled at first but soon wrapped her arms around him. "Ryan, don't worry too much. They'll get to the bottom of this," she murmured.

"I won't let anything happen to you," Ryan said, holding her tight.

Natalia smiled and nodded. To any onlooker, they were the picture of a loving couple.

Hamilton watched from the sidelines, his expression as dark as a storm cloud, while Natalia and Ryan held each other in the police station's unforgiving light.

If Hamilton had once been able to fool himself into thinking Natalia was just playing games, that she was only seeing sguy to get a rise out of him, that she couldn't truly fall for someone like Ryan... Well, now, the sight of them wrapped in each other's embrace was like a slap in the face, loud and clear.

Natalia had always said she didn't joke around when it cto matters of the heart. And she was a woman And of her word. Once she had committed to Ryan, it was real-no acts, no playing hard to get. It was genuine. She had once told him that if they ever broke up, she would find a man who truly cared for her. At the time, Hamilton hadn't taken it to heart.

But today, for the first time, Hamilton felt the stark reality that Natalia had indeed moved on. He, Hamilton, was thoroughly abandoned!

A chill seemed to settle over his face.

A dense, prickling pain filled his chest, making it hard to breathe. His hands, hanging by his sides were! clenched into fists without him noticing. The veins on his forehead stood out, taut with tension.

Suddenly, he remembered how docile Natalia had been in his presence.

Submissively allowing him to hold her, to kiss her. But now, all of her, belonged to another man. Without thinking, Hamilton surged forward, yanking Natalia out of Ryan's arms. Then, with a fury, he swung his fist towards Ryan's face.

Natalia, with every ounce of strength, threw herself in front of Ryan. "Hamilton, you lay a finger on him and see what happens!"