Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Watching Hamilton’s retreating figure, Eveleen’s face instantly descended into a frown.

Victor clicked his tongue in disapproval.

Alden chuckled lightly. “What’s the matter? Are you jealous?”

Victor laughed. “Alden, what favor on earth has that woman done for you to have you in her corner like this?”

Alden’s laughter was soft. “No favors. I just think she’s meant to be my sister–in–law, that’s all.” At those words, Eveleen’s expression turned as sour as vinegar.

“Alden, there’s no chance for your brother and Natalia. With her background, she’s hardly a match for the prestigious Fowler family.”

Alden shook his head. “Ms. Schafer, my brother’s marital affairs have never been under the Fowler family’s thumb. Otherwise, the last engagement party wouldn’t have been called off so abruptly, right?”

The mention of the last engagement made Eveleen seethe with resentment, but Alden wasn’t done stirring the pot.

“Besides, some people claim they’d never return unless my brother begged them to. So, what brings you back now?”

Eveleen was livid, unused to such treatment.

In this circle, she was always the one doted upon.

In an instant, tears welled up in her eyes. She shot Alden a glare and stood up, walking out of

the room.

After her shower, Natalia felt a wave of dizziness wash over her.

Probably caught a chill from the breeze earlier, she mused with a wry smile. Her health had truly declined since the miscarriage.

She drank a glass of hot water, preparing to lie down when her phone suddenly rang.

Hesitating for a few seconds, she answered. “Mr. Fowler.”

Hamilton grunted in acknowledgment, his silence stretching before he asked, “You went to River State?”

Through the floor–to–ceiling windows, Natalia watched the winter drizzle outside with the occasional burst of fireworks in the distance. She took a moment before replying, “Scarlett’s choice.”

“Call me when you’re back; I’ll pick you up from the airport.”

Chapter 126.

Natalia’s grip on the phone tightened. She wanted to thank him. After all, she owed him for the Incident with Gideon.

But before she could speak, she heard Eveleen’s voice over the phone. “Hamilton, they’re all against me.”

Instantly, the words she meant to say retreated back down her throat.

“No need, I can take a cab,” she said.

Hamilton seemed to scoff. “Natalia, remember our agreement isn’t over yet.”

With that, he hung up.

Natalia stared at the darkened phone screen, her feelings a tangled mess.

Probably just discomfort, she reckoned. But it seemed only discomfort remained.

She sniffled, forcing herself to sleep.

In the middle of the night, Natalia developed a fever. Her body burned as if aflame. She instinctively reached out for the empty space beside her, only then remembering she was alone in River State.

After calling for room service to bring over some basic medicine, she took it and went back to bed.

In the morning, groggy and disoriented, she answered another call from Hamilton. His voice carried the chill of deep winter.

“Weren’t you supposed to be traveling with Scarlett? Why is she still in Silkwood City?”

Natalia mustered up her energy to explain, “She was called in for work at the last minute, so I came alone.”

After speaking, she burst into a fit of coughing.

When the cough subsided, Hamilton asked, “Caught a cold? River State is colder than Silkwood City. What are you wearing?”

Natalia bit her lip. “I dressed warmly, but maybe I’m just not as resilient anymore.”

“Did you take medicine?”

“Yes.”

Hamilton made a noise of acknowledgment, then after a moment, asked, “When will you be back?”

“I’m not sure yet. Mr. Fowler, is there anything else? If not, I’d like to get some more sleep.”

Hamilton detected the impatience in her voice.

His expression soured. But ultimately, he didn’t argue with a sick person.

“Just rest well,”

“Alright.” Natalia responded and hung up.

Looking at her disconnected call, Hamilton immediately dialed Linda, “Book me the next flight to River State.”

The rain in River State continued, a persistent drizzle that was especially chilling.

Hamilton came alone without a driver or bodyguard, taking a taxi straight to the hotel after

landing.

Natalia fell back asleep after hanging up.

When she heard a knock at the door, she assumed it was room service. But to her shock, opening the door revealed Hamilton standing there.

His tall frame was wrapped in a black overcoat, making him appear even more handsome, with droplets of water clinging to his dark hair, accentuating his austere demeanor.

Natalia was stunned by the man in front of her. “Why are you here?”

Hamilton frowned at her, then reached out to touch her forehead. “You’re still feverish. Get dressed; we’re going to the hospital.”

A flood of emotions she couldn’t quite identify welled up in Natalia. She avoided his gaze, forcing a smile, “It’s okay; a couple more doses of medicine, and I’ll be fine.”

Hamilton, however, firmly grasped her wrist.

“Natalia, can’t you be good for once? Go change, or do I need to do it for you?”

Natalia pulled away and, fighting the sting at the tip of her nose, asked, “Hamilton, why did you

come?”

1

She didn’t understand her own reaction. Perhaps the vulnerability of being sick and alone in a strange place made her eyes burn at the sight of him.

She couldn’t fathom why he would seek her out after everything that had happened between

them.

Hamilton looked at her, a faint smile creeping onto his lips. “What, is this place off–limits to me? Besides, if I didn’t come, would you prefer to be left here to die of illness?”

Natalia dabbed at the moisture at the corner of her eye before turning to head inside.

“I’m really okay.”

Hamilton didn’t miss a beat, unzipping her suitcase and pulling out her clothes.

“Come on, get dressed. We’re going to the hospital, be a good girl.” As he spoke, he gently brushed against the reddened corner of her eye. “Come on, be good.”

Taking a deep breath to quell the rising tide of emotions within her, Natalia turned and changed

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Hamilton hailed a cab and took her to the hospital.

After the check–up and getting hooked up to an IV drip, it was nearing noon.

“Did you eat breakfast?”

Natalia shook her head.

Hamilton pinched the back of her neck firmly. “If I hadn’t come, would you have planned to starve or sicken yourself to death in the hotel?”

Natalia kept silent.

Hamilton looked at her. “What do you feel like eating?”

Eyes cast down, she said almost instinctively, “Green bean soup.”

Hamilton paused for a moment, then nodded.

It wasn’t long before Hamilton returned with a serving of green bean soup. It was somewhat awkward for Natalia to eat with her right hand hooked to an IV.

Hamilton took the spoon from her and brought it to her lips.

She glanced at him and took a mouthful.

Hamilton chuckled. “Still sulking? Ms. Jenkins, think about it–every time you’re sick, who’s there taking care of you?”

Natalia pursed her lips, offering no reply.

But she knew, in her heart, she felt a slight thaw because Hamilton had come all this way for

her.

By the time the IV was done, it was nearly midday.

The rain had finally stopped outside, but the damp, chilly air remained uncomfortable.

Back at the hotel, Hamilton asked, “Want to take a shower?”

Natalia nodded. After sweating throughout the previous night, she really did want to clean up.

Hamilton cranked up the room’s heater to the max.

When Natalia emerged from the shower, he had a hairdryer ready. She looked at him and obediently took a seat.

“I booked a ticket for early tomorrow morning. The weather here is too cold, and you’re not well. If you want to visit again, it’s better to wait until it warms up.”

Natalia had actually wanted to go out and explore, but she was well aware of her physical condition.

Without saying much, she simply replied, “Okay,”

Once her hair was dried, Hamilton lifted her onto the bed.

The man followed, wrapping his arms around her from behind.

“Get some more sleep.”

Natalia wasn’t really sleepy; ever since Hamilton arrived, her heart had been in turmoil.

His far–off care touched her despite knowing that his tenderness might still be just an act of charity.

Yet, faced with Hamilton, her resolve softened.

“Thank you, Hamilton,” she whispered.

Hamilton let out a light laugh, pulling her closer into his embrace. “If you really want to thank me, just be good and sleep. I don’t want to tire you out, but you should be able to feel it.”

Natalia did indeed feel it; she took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

Hamilton chuckled softly, pressing her against his chest. “And about that Scarlett, with all the places to travel, she had to pick River State.”

The corner of Natalia’s lips twitched, and after a hesitation, she asked. “Don’t you like River State?”

Hamilton was silent for a moment, “It’s not about liking or disliking it.”

Natalia said, “I thought you came here to study because you liked it here.”

Hamilton’s brow furrowed slightly, pulling her closer into his arms. “Natalia, if you don’t want to sleep, we could find something else to do.”