Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Natalia handed the contract to Linda and pushed the door open, stepping into the president’s

office. ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Hamilton was wiping his hands with a moist towelette. Seeing her enter, he tossed it into the trash bin and gestured her over.

“Come here.”

Natalia stepped forward, and Hamilton took hold of her waist.

“Why didn’t you take half of the day off?”

He knew all too well how strenuous the previous night had been and had half–expected Natalia to be bedridden for the day.

Awkwardness crept onto Natalia’s cheeks. “I’m fine. There was still work to finish at the office.” Hamilton pinched her waist gently. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

Truth to be told, Natalia’s waist was still feeling sore. Since moving out, Hamilton had actually been doing it more often than before. But Natalia didn’t let it show.

After a moment, Hamilton rubbed her waist and said, “Come back to the apartment tonight.”

Natalia’s lips tightened, and she didn’t respond. She had no desire to return.

Hamilton caught the hesitation in her eyes and chuckled softly. “Didn’t you promise to cook for me?”

Natalia was silent for a moment but then quietly acquiesced, “Okay.”

Hamilton didn’t press further and let her leave.

After work, Natalia went to the grocery store, picking up ingredients for dinner.

By the time she finished cooking in the apartment, it was past eight, and Hamilton was still nowhere to be seen.

Natalia waited at the dining table but must have dozed off, tired from the restless night.

Hamilton entered and found her slumped over the table, her eyes fluttering open in confusion ike a startled fawn.

Something in him softened at the sight.

He smiled. “Tired? Why don’t you go lie down for a while?”

Jatalia snapped back to reality and stood up, murmuring an apology.

The warmth on Hamilton’s face vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

“What do you think you’re doing, Ms. Jenkins? Playing innocent won’t work with me anymore.”

As he spoke, he started unbuttoning his shirt.

Natalia then noticed the stains on it – bloodstains. She froze for a moment, but before she could speak, Hamilton had discarded his shirt in the trash and headed into the bathroom without a word.

Natalia’s gaze lingered on the discarded shirt. Only now did she notice the heavy scent of blood in the room.

Hamilton was no saint, and she knew his hands weren’t always clean. But rarely had she seen him resort to violence.

The first time had been with a young man at Chamber Nightclub, and tonight must have been the second time. But for what reason?

Hamilton soon emerged from the shower.

The food on the table had gone cold, so Natalia reheated it. Once everything was ready and back on the table, she spoke up. “If there’s nothing else, I should go.”

But Hamilton suddenly grasped her wrist. “Sit down. Eat with me.”

Natalia paused. “I’m not hungry.”

Hamilton just looked at her, his gaze heavy and unyielding.

She sighed softly and finally took a seat.

They ate in silence. Natalia picked at her food, her appetite little to none.

Hamilton, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy the meal, perhaps missing her cooking more than he had realized.

1

After dinner, he brewed a cup of tea and finally asked, “Have you made up your mind?”

Natalia knew exactly what he meant.

Her body tensed slightly before she managed a bitter smile. “What do you want from me, Mr. Fowler?”

“Move back in,” he said without hesitation.

“I think not,” Natalia replied, looking out into the night.

Hamilton’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t want to push her, but he wasn’t about to let her drift away, either.

“Natalia, will you come back on your own, or should I persuade you a little more forcefully?”

Her lips tightened, but she remained silent, the weight of his presence filling the room.

The man pulled her closer, his long fingers lightly grazing her brow. “If it’s translation work that you love, Natalia, I won’t stand in your way anymore. I’m even willing to adjust your work

12:09

schedule to accommodate it. I’ve made my concessions.”

Natalia knew it in her heart. Hamilton was indeed making compromises. She should have just taken the hint and stepped down gracefully.

But she knew better than anyone that if she backed down, there still would be an abyss behind her–a bottomless pit waiting to swallow her up again, promising a calamity from which there would be no recovery.

Natalia did have feelings for this man, but she was not about to let herself fall into that endless

chasm once more.

She cracked a smile. “Hamilton, do you really find this amusing? Yes, I can’t stand up to your tactics. If you insist on me coming back, it seems I don’t have much of a choice. We have what, a year and a half left on our agreement? I can manage that. But do you really think it’s necessary?

Hamilton, it’s not like you can’t live without me.”