Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

By the time Hamilton arrived, Alden was already waiting at the doorstep.

"Fix me something to eat," Hamilton said, his voice deep and weary.

After a brief exchange with Alden, Hamilton's brooding presence seemed to fill the space around them.

Alden frowned, concern etching his features. "Bro, what's going on?"

Hamilton's voice was icy. "Nothing. Just seeking some comfort, that's all."

Without another word, he walked inside.

The moment Patrick saw Hamilton, hope sparked in his eyes.

He instinctively felt Hamilton was here to save him.

"Mr. Fowler, I swear it wasn't me. I was duped, I had no intention of crossing you," Patrick stammered.

Hamilton settled into a chair and lit a cigarette, a mocking laugh escaping him after a long drag.

"Patrick, if it wasn't me you were after, then who?"

Patrick paled, realizing Hamilton wasn't in a forgiving mood. His heart skipped a beat.

"Mr. Fowler, please, I was just being used. Let me go, for Eveleen's sake."

"Patrick." Hamilton's gaze was lethal. "Bringing up Eveleen now?"

Patrick stammered, realizing the gravity of his situation.

"What do you mean, Mr. Fowler?"

"You think the Schafer family can play me for a fool?"

Patrick's face went ashen, panic setting in. But he fought to keep his composure. "Mr. Fowler, I don't understand what you're implying. The Schafer family has never wronged you. Eveleen might be headstrong, but her feelings for you are genuine. Perhaps there's been a misunderstanding?"

Hamilton's cold gaze pierced through Patrick. "You know Dr. Sinclair, don't you?"

Patrick's discomfort grew. "Which Dr. Sinclair? The Schafer family is in pharmaceuticals; we know many doctors."Belonging to NôvelDrama.Org.

Suddenly, Hamilton was on his feet, kicking Patrick to the floor.

"Stop playing dumb with me!"

Patrick coughed out blood, yet he persisted, "Mr. Fowler, I don't know what you're talking about. Did Eveleen wrong you in some way?"

Hamilton grabbed Patrick, pinning him against the wall. "Eveleen is Evi, isn't she?"

Struggling for air, Patrick's heart sank. But he knew better than to confess. Without evidence, Hamilton wouldn't just kill him; he needed confirmation. "Eveleen is... Evi," Patrick managed to say, despite the suffocating grip.

Hamilton threw him aside. "You're in deep denial."

He called out, and Alden entered, playing a recording.

"It was Patrick who bribed me to spill your secrets, Mr. Fowler. Only Patrick knew about your childhood."

Patrick's denial grew desperate. "Mr. Fowler, that's a lie! Why would I need to inquire about your past when Eveleen knew all along?"

Hamilton drew a knife, offering one last chance.

Patrick remained defiant. "I didn't do it."

The knife pierced Patrick's hand, drawing a scream, yet his claim remained unchanged.

Hamilton withdrew, leaving Patrick unconscious.

Alden handed Hamilton a wet towel. "What's going on with Eveleen?"

Hamilton wiped his hands, silent, then headed outside, leaving only a command to take Patrick back.

Rain poured as Hamilton stood

outside, fost in thought. His rush to confront Patrick wasn't just about Eveleen's innocence but a test of his own judgment.

Patrick's reaction offered some relief, yet Hamilton couldn't shake his unease, especially with Natalia

holding the other necklace ne

the mass-produced imitations adorning Eveleen's fans, Natalia's was genuine, a family heirloom.

Natalia's mother had passed four years ago, long before Eveleen's rise to stardom and before the necklace had ever been publicly linked to her. Hamilton couldn't help but think about how Natalia had liked him for a decade.

A decade, yet he couldn't even place her face in his memory.

Had they met before?

Alden came over, holding an umbrella over both of them.

"Bro, what's going on?"

Hamilton shook his head.

After a moment, he whispered, "What if I've been protecting the wrong person all these years?"

Alden was taken aback.

"What do you mean, bro?"

Hamilton shook his head again, his silence speaking volumes. He handed Alden a necklace, "Get this appraised."

He wanted to say, check into Natalia's childhood for me.

But as the words reached his lips, he found himself hesitant to speak them.

He didn't want to admit that for the first time in his life, he was afraid.

Afraid of finding out the truth, afraid that things weren't as he had believed.

Afraid of facing the consequences of his mistakes.

Hamilton let out a sigh.

"It's nothing."

Alden frowned, "Bro..."

But Hamilton had already gotten into his car and driven away.

Alden watched the disappearing taillights, feeling an indescribable unease.

This was the first time he'd seen his brother so conflicted.

Hamilton drove to Natalia's apartment building and sat in his car all night until dawn before he finally drove off.

Before leaving, he sent a message: Look into Natalia's childhood.

After sending the message, he called Killian, "Keep an eye on Natalia for the next while. Make sure she's safe, but don't let her notice you." Scarlett found the breakfast ready early in the morning, courtesy of the caretaker.

She glanced at Natalia.

"You really kept her overnight? I thought you wanted to avoid entanglements with Hamilton?"

Natalia chuckled.

"Should I have sent the caretaker out in the rain at her age? Don't worry, I won't get tangled up with him. I'm only back to collect my mother's belongings. I'll go to the bank today, and by the afternoon, I'm heading back to Boria City. I doubt I'll come back here often, at least not until after the baby is born."

"You can stay if you want, or send her back to Hamilton if you prefer."