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, | 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, | 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 | choose, any man could give me a child. It’s not like | 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? | don’t even have the freedom to speak now? Didn't you say | could find another man?”

Achill 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 she’d 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“?ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

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.

13:00

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 | 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.”

13:00

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.

“Ms. Jenkins, I’m not sure about your tastes, and Mr. Fowler didn’t specify what you like, so | made a few different things. You can let me know your preferences, so | can keep them in mind when cooking.”

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.

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 north part, specifically Hamilton’s preferences.

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.

Asense 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.

After finishing, she muttered to herself, “Time to stop loving Hamilton.”

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 again, but he didn’t even remember her.

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.