Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 75

Frozen in place, Natalia didn’t dare to move an inch. She never had any doubts about Hamilton’s stamina. This man had kept her up through too many sleepless nights

As Hamilton saw her finally settle down, a smirk curled up the corners of his lips.

“Sleep, he murmured.

The next day, when Natalia woke up, Hamilton was no longer by her side. The sheets beside her were already cold. Thinking Hamilton had left, she just let out a sigh of relief.

But when she opened the bedroom door, she found him watering the plants on the balcony.

Natalia was stunned.

Hamilton looked up at the sound of her opening the door, “Awake? Freshen up, it’s almost time for breakfast.” Natalia’s lips twitched, and after a moment, she asked, “Why... why aren’t you at the office?”

Hamilton wiped his hands with a cloth, “Ms. Jenkins, when do you plan on returning to work?” Natalia frowned slightly, “l was thinking of taking a bit more time off. Didn’t you say that | could extend it if the holiday wasn’t enough?”

Hamilton had said that, but now he was having second thoughts.

If she was well enough to take on a part-time job, she was surely fit to return to her regular duties. Better to have her under his watchful eye at the company than to sneak up and meet some other guy. “The company needs Ms. Jenkins,” he said nonchalantly.

Natalia let out a bitter laugh. His words felt hollow to her. She suspected he was still holding a grudge about her meeting with Lionel yesterday.

“I still have some personal matters to attend to.” She said to him. “What matters?” Hamilton’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“I've made plans with Scarlett to go shopping today, and | wanted to visit my mother as well.” Hamilton didn’t object, “Then take another day. Shopping in the morning and visiting your mother in the afternoon should suffice.”

1EZ

Natalia chuckled, “Does your company really need me that much?” 4/4

15-4

Hamilton nodded without a hint of jest, “Yes, it can’t do without you Natalia clenched her teeth, “I was thinking another week off Tomorrow, or even today Yout choice He claimed.

Natalia felt a pulse throbbing at her temple. She laughed, Hamilton, is it the company that can’t do without me, or is it you who can't?”

Hamilton paused, then looked up at Natalia. After a long moment, he finally chuckled, “Yes, | can’t do without Ms. Jenkins) The man was casual as ever, returning to his pruning after speaking. “Let’s have breakfast,

Mr. Jenkins.”

Natalia’s lips quivered, but she said no more.

After breakfast, she stepped out and called Scarlett. It had been a month since she’d seen. Scarlett last, and Scarlett was off today, too.

“How’s the recovery?” Scarlett asked as soon as they met.

Natalia nodded and asked her about the favor she had asked before. She had asked Scarlett to help find a hospital that would take in her mother.

Scarlett’s brow furrowed at the mention, “I’ve asked several hospitals, but after learning. about your mother’s condition, they all advised against transferring her. Her health really isn’t suitable for it.”

Natalia knew all too well about her mother’s condition and the impracticality of a transfer. But if she left, she couldn’t bear to leave her mother alone here.

“Is leaving really unavoidable for you, Natalia?” The truth was Scarlett hated the thought of Natalia leaving.

Natalia offered a weak smile. She didn’t want to leave either. Starting anew in a strange place didn’t feel right, but she also couldn't stand to continue like this.

“Is there really no hospital that will take her in?” she pressed. Scarlett sighed helplessly, but eventually said, “There is one care facility, but it would cost twice as much as you're paying now.”

Natalia’s lips tightened. She hadn't expected finding a place for her mother Tatiana to be so difficult. She was already struggling to afford her mother’s medical expenses, so paying double was out of the question.

Yet the thought of giving up without a fight was equally unbearable. “Til think about it.” She said.

Scarlett nodded and then, with a flicker in her eyes, pulled out an invitation from her bag, “It’s an invite to a class reunion. They'll be tallying the numbers tonight in the group chat; just report in then.”

15:42 “Sure.” After a brief chat, Scarlett received an urgent call from the hospital and had to leave.

Natalia had intended to head straight home but stopped in her tracks as she passed by a men’s clothing store. She had bought Hamilton many things, but rarely anything extravagant. The most expensive was probably a suit from this brand she had gotten him for his

twenty—seventh birthday after saving for half a year.

She hesitated at the store’s entrance but eventually went in out of curiosity. She was just eager to take a look inside, not planning to buy anything.

Just then, she overheard a conversation.

“Ms. Schafer, are you picking out a suit for Mr. Fowler?”

Natalia looked up and saw Eveleen. She was clad in sunglasses and a mask, holding a suit not far away. “Yes, Hamilton's birthday is coming up, and | thought I’d gift him a suit.” Eveleen replied to

the clerk.

Natalia’s feet rooted to the spot before she turned to leave.

But then Eveleen called out to her, “Natalia!”

Natalia stopped and turned to face Eveleen, “Is something the matter, Ms. Schafer?”

Eveleen’s smile was radiant, “What brings you here?”

“Just shopping,” Natalia replied.

Eveleen chuckled, “What a coincidence. I’m shopping too, picking out clothes for Hamilton. Why don’t you help me decide?” Natalia scoffed, “I think I'll pass. I’ve got things to do, Ms. Schafer. Please excuse me.”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

As she turned to leave, Eveleen caught her arm and looked at Natalia with a challenging expression, “Hamilton’s throwing his birthday bash at the Fowlers‘ estate. Did he send you an invite?”

She then paused and continued, “Oh, right, silly me. Someone like you wouldn’t be on the guest list, would you?” Natalia’s face turned ghostly pale.

The Fowlers‘ estate was the venue for Hamilton’s birthday extravaganza each year, but Natalia had never once stepped foot there.

And Hamilton never suggested she should join. Every year, she would prepare an elaborate dinner at home and bake a cake from scratch, waiting for him to return.

And of course, Hamilton didn’t always make it back.

Natalia forced a laugh, “It’s just a party. | didn’t even want to go.”

Eveleen burst into laughter, “Natalia, isn’t it just hilarious how you lie to yourself?”

She stopped and sneered, “But then again, with your background, | suppose you’d only tarnish the Fowlers’ sterling reputation. Just like your good—for—nothing mother, you'll always be an embarrassment who are unfit to be seen in decent company!”

With that, Natalia slapped Eveleen across the face. Natalia looked at Eveleen with a cold sneer on her lips and her blood-shot eyes.

“Eveleen, if you think you've got what it takes, go ahead and try to steal Hamilton away. But until you do, you’re nothing but a desperate home-wrecker throwing yourself at him!” Natalia spun on her heel and stormed out.

Eveleen watched her leave, her lips curling into a smug smile. She turned to the staff, who was staring on the other side. “You do have surveillance in this place, right?”