Echoes of a Forsaken Heart (Natalia and Hamilton)

Natalia shoved him away in an instant.

"Hamilton, can you not? Please!"

But Hamilton, unfazed, cupped her chin and kissed her anyway.

Natalia stiffened, and just as she was about to push him away, he released her.

It was a fleeting touch.

"Don't worry, everything's going to be alright," he whispered softly in her ear before turning and walking away.

Natalia stared blankly at the now-closed bathroom door, taking a moment to gather her thoughts.

He was probably just teasing her.

A slight sourness touched Natalia's nose.

It took her a while to force a smile.

Mom will be okay.

She had to believe that.

But for some reason, this time, she felt unusually anxious.

After showering, Natalia emerged to find Hamilton on the phone, speaking in hushed tones.

He quickly finished the call as she approached.

"Why are you out with wet hair?" he asked.

Then, he went to the bedroom, fetched a hairdryer, and sat down on the couch.

"Come here."

Natalia walked over, intending to sit on the couch.

But Hamilton pulled her onto his lap instead.

She tensed up immediately.

They had been together for a while, but moments of intimacy like this were rare.

After all, aside from their physical relationship, they hardly even spoke.

Hamilton chuckled, "Relax, I won't do anything, the staff are still around."

Natalia gave him a glare.

A maid setting the table in the dining area couldn't help but chuckle at this, quickly turning to head back to the kitchen. Natalia's discomfort grew.

She stood up, grabbed the hairdryer, "I can do it myself."

And with that, she walked away.

Hamilton didn't insist.

His phone kept ringing. Letting Natalia go, he picked it up.

Seeing the caller ID, Hamilton's expression darkened. "What's up?"

On the other end, Westley's voice carried a hint of anger.

"You skipped the blind date I arranged for you again! You're really pushing it!"

Hamilton's gaze never left Natalia, and he responded with a cold laugh.

"Was it a blind date you arranged for me, or are you after another woman? If you like her, marry her yourself. Why bother dragging me into this?"

"You ungrateful little... What the hell are you talking about! Are you with that woman again? Hamilton, don't make me deal with her!"

Hamilton's expression turned ice-cold.

"Westley, touch her and see what happens. I'll ruin you!"

With that, he hung up.

That call left a sour mood between them.

Dinner was a quiet affair.

Hamilton wanted Natalia to rest after the meal, but she beat him to it.

"You go rest, I'm fine."

Hamilton looked at her, then pulled her into the bedroom together.

Natalia resisted, but his grip was warm.

Taking advantage of his discomfort, Hamilton shamelessly said, "Just lie with me for a bit, just a bit."

Natalia glanced at him, then got up to fetch medicine and water, "Take your medicine first."

Hamilton opened his mouth, waiting for her to feed him.

Natalia paused, wanting to say something, but ultimately didn't.

She gave him the medicine, handed him water, then picked up Hamilton's phone to call Linda, thinking of getting a doctor.

That's when Alden's call came in.

"Bro, we found the rehab specialist."

Natalia's fingers tightened around the phone as Alden continued, "But he said he only got the person out of the hospital and handed them over to someone else. He's just in it for the money, doesn't know who the other guy is, just that he's a man, over fifty. I showed him Patrick's photo, and he said it wasn't him."

Natalia listened silently.

Hamilton took the phone from her.

After instructing Alden, he hung up.

Natalia spoke up after a moment, "I still suspect the Schafer family."

She looked at Hamilton, "Even if it makes you angry, I suspect Lucinda is behind this. She's threatened me before over Eveleen, and Patrick has used my mom to threaten me more than once."

Hamilton was taken aback.

"Why didn't you tell me these things?"

Natalia's eyes filled with tears, "I was afraid you'd think I was just trying to smear your first love."

As she spoke, tears fell.

Each one seemed to weigh heavily on Hamilton's heart.

He was filled with remorse, but deep down, he knew he was the root cause.

"If it wasn't for my constant defense of Eveleen, it wouldn't have come to this."

"From now on, tell me these things, Natalia. You're the most important to me."

Natalia felt both aggrieved and pained.

It was hard to earn a declaration of her importance after so many years, and yet, was it worth the cost of repeatedly involving Tatiana?

She tried to compose herself.

Panicking now would only make things worse.

Hamilton was right; help arrived quickly. Less than an hour later, Alden called back.

"Bro, we found Natalia's mom. She's in an abandoned warehouse on the west outskirts. I'm heading there now with an ambulance."

Hamilton took Natalia and they rushed to the location.

When they arrived, Alden was already there, managing the situation.

Several people were sprawled on the ground, apparently the ones assigned to keep an eye on Tatiana.

The ambulance had already loaded Tatiana onto the stretcher.

Natalia, in a frenzy, dashed towards where they were tending to Tatiana.

But just then, as if on cue, a car burst out of the nearby bushes, barreling straight towards Natalia.

"Natalia!"

Hamilton and Alden's voices rang out almost simultaneously.

Natalia turned, only to be met with a blinding burst of headlights.

In that moment of realization, she tried to dodge to the side, but it was too late.

Just when she was certain she would be hit, out of nowhere, someone swept her into their arms.

The harsh sound of the collision echoed, and right before Natalia slipped into unconsciousness, she could have sworn she heard Alden's voice.

"Hey!"