Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 48
Natalia’s heart felt as though it had been carved out with a sharp blade. Drawing
a deep breath, she forced a smile at Hamilton. “Do you think I'll ever have
children again?”
Hamilton's frown deepened as he looked at the smile on her face. He hadn't
wanted to see her looking so defeated, but now, her smile seemed to weigh even
heavier on his heart.
“Once our contract is up, whether or not you have kids is your own business, Ms.
Jenkins. But for the duration that you're with me, I won't be responsible for
another pregnancy.”
Natalia laughed again, a touch of defiance in her voice. “Why wait for the contract
to end? Mr. Fowler, you could let me go now, and once I've recovered, I could
find a man to start a family with right away.”
Hamilton's expression turned icy in an instant, his laugh humorless. “And who
would that be? Victor? Or maybe your dear Lionel?”
Natalia averted her gaze. “There's nothing between Lionel and me, and Victor
isn't fit to be the father of my children. As for who I choose, any man could give
me a child. It's not like I need you for that.”
Hamilton's eyes narrowed dangerously. “Natalia, don't talk like that in front of
me.”
Her eyes still glistened with unshed tears. “What? I don’t even have the freedom
to speak now? Didn't you say I could find another man?”
A chill flickered across Hamilton’s deep—set eyes.
Natalia knew he was angry, yet she stubbornly refused to back down.
Just then, Hamilton's phone rang again, its familiar tone breaking the tense
standoff. After it stopped ringing on its own, Hamilton spoke. “Do whatever you
want.”
With that, he strode out the door. The sound of the security door slamming
echoed through the apartment.
The nanny, standing in the living room, was at a loss for words, unsure how to
comfort Natalia. After a moment, she approached Natalia’s bedroom. “Ms.
Jenkins, are you alright?”
Natalia was silent for a moment before replying. “I'm fine.”
With that, she lay down.
The nanny, sensing the mood, didn't say more. Though shed only had brief
interactions with them, she could tell their relationship was far from that of a
typical couple. Who else would formally address each other as “Mr. Fowler” and
“Ms. Jenkins“?
But after all, she was just the nanny and it wasn't her place to comment. She
simply told Natalia to rest well before leaving.
The room fell silent.
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Chapter 48
Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, Natalia couldn't understand why she was
being so confrontational with Hamilton. It was completely unnecessary.
After all, it wasn't his fault the child was lost. But hearing him casually suggest
she find another man to have children with was too much for her to bear. Her
three years of genuine affection had been repaid with his nonchalance.
Moreover, did he really think she could have
another child?
Wiping away a tear, she closed her eyes. She never imagined her relationship
with Hamilton. would come to this. Even though she couldn't blame him for the
loss of their child, a part of
her still felt resentful.
If only he had been willing to keep the child, might the outcome have been
different? But he had so decisively said no.
Natalia felt her passion waning. With Hamilton, her heart seemed to be cooling
bit by bit. Her love for him was diminishing just as gradually. When it finally
reached zero, perhaps she
would be able to treat Hamilton with the same indifference he showed her.
As she was about to drift off to sleep, Scarlett called. “How are you feeling?”
Natalia looked up at the ceiling. “I'm okay, just a bit weak.”
“Of course, you're weak. Do you have any idea how much blood you lost last
night?”
Natalia didn’t know, but she was aware she had started bleeding in the car. “Is
Hamilton
taking good care of you?”
Natalia hummed an affirmative. “He's taking very good care of me, even hired a
nanny for
me.”
“Oh?” Scarlett sounded surprised. “He’s not completely heartless, then.”
Natalia chuckled.
If it were merely a business deal, Hamilton had indeed done his duty. Not only
had he refrained from blaming her for keeping secrets, but he had also ensured
she was looked
after.
“Rest up at home, I'll come by when I have time.”
“Sure.”
After chatting for a while longer and before hanging up, Scarlett mentioned, “Oh,
by the way, you'll be fully recovered by the time our high school reunion comes
around. Let's go together, okay?”
Natalia dimly remembered the WhatsApp group chat discussing a reunion a
while back. She had been too upset over Eveleen’s situation to pay attention, but
it seemed the plans had been set.
“Alright.”
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Chapter 48
Natalia fell asleep soon after the call.
When she woke up, it was the nanny urging her to eat.
“Ms. Jenkins, come have something to eat.”
Natalia opened her eyes, taking a moment to orient herself before asking, “Is
Hamilton back?”
The nanny shook her head, which didn’t surprise Natalia. That he hadn’t taken
Eveleen’s call in front of her was probably the most dignity he could afford her.
And of course, Eveleen was injured; he wouldn't just ignore her. After all, she was
his first love, his untainted angel. That he hadn't stayed with Eveleen to change
her bandages after bringing Natalia home from the hospital was probably all he
could muster.
Taking a deep breath, Natalia said, “Alright, I'll be out in a moment.”
“Okay.”
Getting out of bed was a struggle; her abdomen ached terribly, and her legs felt
weak, but she refused the nanny’s offer of help and insisted on making her way
to the living room on her own.
As she sat down, the nanny had already served up her meal-an oatmeal
porridge accompanied by a variety of side dishes.
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“ : )

Ms. Jenkins, I'm not sure about your

z , 4
tastes, and Mr. Fowler didn't specify
what you like, so I made a few
different things. You can let me know
your preferences, so I can keep them
fo ; . ”
in mind when cooking.” The content
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chapter there!
Natalia held her spoon somewhat absentmindedly, her thoughts drifting
elsewhere.
Natalia hesitated as the nanny prompted her for her meal preferences. She
started to list a few dishes but abruptly stopped mid—sentence.
“Ms. Jenkins?” The nanny called out to her again.
Shaking off the daze, Natalia suddenly felt her appetite vanish.
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She had grown up nomadic, following
her mother from place to place, with
the longest stint in the south part.
However, her culinary tastes had
somehow aligned with those of the
a 5 )
north part, specifically Hamilton's
preferences. The content is on
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chapter there!
When the nanny had asked, she had instinctively rattled off what Hamilton liked.
It was only now that she realized she couldn't quite remember her own favorite
dishes.
A sense of heaviness settled in Natalia’s chest. She forced a smile at the nanny.
“I have a sweet tooth, actually.”
The nanny paused, eyeing the list in her notebook, which lacked any sweet
dishes.
“Alright then, I'll prepare a sweet stew for you tomorrow,” she replied, a little
surprised.
Natalia nodded her thanks and went back to her meal.
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Chapter 48
After finishing, she muttered to herself, “Time to stop loving Hamilton.”
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She had harbored an unrequited love
for so many years; surely, it had been
long enough. She had met him at
seven and had thought of him for a
decade. At seventeen, she saw him
5 . )

again, but he didn't even remember
her. The content is on
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chapter there!
Now at twenty-seven, she was still silently in love with him.
Natalia let out a wry laugh; indeed, it was time to let go.