Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Hamilton gave a nonchalant grunt in response.

Then, he leaned down and whispered a kiss on Natalia's ear.

"As long as she's still in the State Department, you need to be careful, Natalia. I don't want you getting worn out over this."

Natalia's eyelashes fluttered.

After a moment, she asked in a low voice, "What brings you here suddenly? Did you sort things out with the Fowlers? Did you clash with your grandfather over me?"

"I missed you, so I came." Hamilton nestled his chin in the crook of her shoulder.

"As for the old man, it wasn't all about you. It's about time I took back control of the Fowler family."

Natalia nodded slightly, seemingly relieved.

She wriggled free from his embrace and headed to the bathroom.

Hamilton called room service for breakfast. By the time Natalia emerged, he was

all set to go.

Noticing his ready-to-leave appearance, Natalia's gaze flickered.

"Leaving already?"

Hamilton pulled her into a hug, "If you'll miss me too much, I could stay."

After a brief look, Natalia pushed him away.

Yet, after a moment, she added, "Just... be careful out there."

Hamilton chuckled.

"Ms. Jenkins, are you worried about me?"

Natalia paused before replying, "Hamilton, you're still the father of my child. I don't want anything bad happening to you."

Hamilton, with a smile playing at his lips, "Natalia, it means a lot to me that you still care."

Natalia cast her gaze downwards, remaining silent.

She couldn't help but worry.

Despite the distance between them, this man was once her deepest love.

Even if they couldn't be together anymore, she couldn't simply act as if he didn't exist.

After breakfast, Hamilton left.

Natalia didn't accompany him downstairs but watched from the window as he got into his car and drove off, until his car was no longer in sight.

Meanwhile, the Powell household was in chaos.

Delilah had been fired the previous night and came home in tears.

It had been a restless night.

Magnus was livid. He had thought Hamilton might only give the Powells a symbolic warning, not actually get Delilah fired from the State Department!

No one knew the lengths the Powells went to secure Delilah's position there.

Magnus had invested all his efforts in grooming his beloved granddaughter, only for Hamilton to ruin it overnight!

Mrs. Powell frowned at the drama.

"It's just a job in the State Department. What's the big deal? The Powells can certainly afford to keep you. Besides, it's your own doing for meddling with Natalia."

Delilah was livid.

"Mom! Can you please just not?"

Mrs. Powell huffed, "I'm just stating the facts. If you hadn't bothered her, none of this would have happened."

"Will you just stop!" Magnus finally roared.

Mrs. Powell grimaced and fell silent, though she couldn't help muttering, "I did warn her last night."

Delilah cried even harder.

"Grandpa, what am I supposed to do now? By morning, the whole elite circle of Boria City will know I've been fired. I'm utterly humiliated. How am I supposed to face people now?"

Magnus's face was a mask of seriousness.

"Next month is Old Man Spiegel's birthday. I'll take you there, and you can try to

get into Delia's good graces. Maybe she can pull some strings for you."

The mention of the Spiegel family made Delilah sulk even more.

It was clear to her that Delia and the Spiegels favored Natalia.

Magnus snorted, "Just stay put and avoid trouble for now, got it?"

Delilah could only nod in agreement.

Upon landing, Alden was there to pick Hamilton up.

"Grandfather's awake. He's been asking for you."

Hamilton responded with a blank expression.

Alden continued, "So, what now?"

"Off to the therapist."

Alden fell silent for a moment before adding, "Grandpa seems to have started reaching out to Great Uncle."

Hamilton paused, then smirked.

"Let him."

Alden watched Hamilton, choosing not to say more.

Upon reaching the clinic, the therapist was ready for them.

Alden stayed outside while Hamilton entered the therapy room alone.

"Should I just lie down?"

The therapist frowned, "Mr. Fowler, I really think you should reconsider. We—"

Hamilton interrupted with a laugh, "You suggesting I see someone else?"

The therapist immediately fell silent.

Hamilton lay down and closed his eyes.

For twenty years, he never thought of retrieving those memories due to the pain associated with them.

Aside from the brief happiness in River State, everything else was agony.

He still remembers the intense therapy sessions; the therapists were both angels and demons to him.

That period was marked by pain, seeping deep into his bones.

Yet now, if there was even the slightest chance to recall anything about his childhood through this , he was willing to try

IMS

Throughout the therapy session, Hamilton kept his eyes closed, his face expressionless, but the beads of sweat on his forehead betrayed his discomfort.

Yet, his mind remained a blank slate.

Hamilton shut his eyes, haunted by the images that still lingered vividly in his memory.

In the dimness of a basement.

Bella Yoder forcefully held him down in a flooded cellar.

Hatred blazed in her eyes as she faced him.

She hissed, "Die, just die!"noveldrama

It was the first time Hamilton could recall Bella attempting to end his life.

He was only four years old at that time.

Desperately struggling in the water, his young arms instinctively reaching out for a

sliver of hope.

Hopelessly, he kept calling out.

"Mom, please, let me go. I'll be good from now on."

After the session, Hamilton's face was ashen.

The therapist poured him a glass of water, noticing his trembling hands as he took

the cup.

He managed a weak smile, took a sip, and then stood up to leave.

"Same time tomorrow, we'll continue."

The therapist wanted to offer words of comfort, but swallowed them back.

As Hamilton walked out, Alden immediately noticed his pallor.

"Bro, what's wrong with you?"

Hamilton shook his head, "It's nothing, let's go."

He then reached for a cigarette, his hands slightly shaking as he lit it and took a

drag, feeling slightly better.

Alden noticed his brother's trembling

hands and felt the urge to ask more but sensed that Hamilton wouldn't disclose anything. Otherwise, he wouldn't have asked him to wait outside.

"Bro, I'm here for you, no matter what."

Hamilton managed a smile, "Yeah."

Alden then drove him back to his apartment.

The nanny had been sent to Scarlett's and hadn't returned.

Hamilton sat alone on the couch, lighting one cigarette after another until the pain

inside him ebbed away.

Finally, he picked up his phone and dialed Natalia.

Natalia's voice came through softly, "Hamilton?"

"Yeah," Hamilton responded in a low voice. After a moment, he finally said, "Natalia, I miss you."