Echoes of a Forsaken Heart (Natalia and Hamilton)

When Natalia arrived at the precinct, Hamilton was already there, leaning casually against his car with a bandage plastered across his forehead. She barely glanced at him before heading inside. Hamilton frowned at her battered old car and quickly caught up to her. "Ryan got you driving this clunker?"

She ignored him, pressing on towards the building. Hamilton, his brow furrowing deeper, grabbed her wrist. "Natalia, did you hear me?"

Annoyance painted her features. "Hamilton, looking to add more scars? Touch me without permission again, and I swear I'll hit back."

He smirked coldly. "And how exactly will you do that?"

Without warning, Natalia's foot shot up, connecting with his shin. Hamilton winced, his expression tightening with pain. Natalia never held back, kicking him as if she harbored some deep-seated grudge. "Natalia!" he roared with anger.

Unapologetically, she kicked him again, her sharp heels finding the tender spots on his legs. Grimacing, Hamilton watched her walk away, the imprint of her shoe on his pants burning in his mind. After a moment, he followed her, his voice tinged with grudging respect. "You're getting quite formidable, aren't you?"

Inside, the police handed Natalia the files. "Your father had gambling debts, nearly five million in the hole. He's been dogged by creditors for a while. This time, the creditor showed up at your place. He said he was there to collect, but when he saw you, he hid. After you left, he confronted your father. Things escalated, your father pulled a knife, and in the struggle, he was killed."

Natalia's brows knitted together as she processed the information. "Is there hard evidence it was this guy?"

"Yes," the officer nodded. "We found matching DNA under your father's fingernails, and the man's account of the time and place checks out. Any doubts, Ms. Jenkins?"

Her lips tightened. Was it really just a coincidence?

Hamilton, studying her expression, posed his own questions. "When did he follow her father? Why don't we see him on the surveillance tapes? And, if it was about debt, it's normal for my father to have his DNA, right? How can you be so sure that DNA was from that day?" The officer was at a loss for words before finally replying, "But why would he confess if not guilty? At worst, it's manslaughter, and he claims self-defense."

Hamilton chuckled dryly. "Who wouldn't confess if it could mean a lighter sentence or a payoff to take the fall?"

The officer was taken aback, and so was Natalia, surprised by Hamilton's line of reasoning. After all, her father's fate or manner of death had nothing to do with Hamilton. With the self-confession, it could only clear Hamilton's name-the main suspect being the two of them. He had nothing to gain from his questions.

Feeling her gaze, Hamilton looked back, his expression unreadable. She had the strange feeling he was seeking approval. She bit her lip and looked away.

Coming out of the station at dusk, Natalia was ready to leave, but Hamilton stopped her, this time keeping his hands to himself, though her expression was still sour. "Got more to say?"

He glanced at her, his eyes flickering. "You mentioned you needed to ask Graham something. What was it?"

After a moment of silence, Natalia shared her suspicions. Hamilton was, after all, entangled in the case because of her.

"So you think someone's covering tracks?"

She nodded.

His eyes narrowed. "Got any suspects?"

She looked at him, an answer unspoken yet understood. Hamilton almost blurted out that Eveleen couldn't be involved, but he swallowed the words. Natalia smirked coldly, reaching for her car door.

But Hamilton slammed it shut, pinning her with his body. Her face turned stormy as his familiar scent enveloped her. "Hamilton, what are you playing at?"

His gaze fell to her lips, his voice rough with barely contained anger. "Has Ryan kissed you?"

The thought of Ryan touching her set off a rage inside him, but Natalia's response was harsh and dismissive. "None of your damn business! Back off!"

Swearing wasn't her style, but Hamilton's audacity pushed her to the edge. She shoved him away and got into her car, leaving him standing in the dimming light with the sting of her rebuke and the unresolved tension hanging heavy in the air.

"Natalia!" Hamilton's eyes held an unyielding torment as he gripped her waist with a forceful hand. "Don't you dare let him kiss you, don't you dare sleep with him!"

Natalia was nearly at her breaking point with him so close, her foot poised to kick him again. But Hamilton, as if anticipating her move, pinned her leg down with his own. "Thinking about kicking me again, are you?"

Her eyes reddened with anger. She glared at the man before her. "Hamilton, what right do you have to control me?"

Hamilton was equally livid. "Do you actually want to sleep with him?"

"What's wrong with that? It's only natural for me to be with my boyfriend!"

Having said that, Natalia pushed him forcefully. Yet Hamilton refused to let go. He looked at Natalia, his eyes unexpectedly glistening with moisture in the night's dim light. "Natalia, if you dare sleep with him, I'll ruin him! Don't think for a second I'm joking!" Natalia's body stiffened at the intensity in his gaze. He wasn't bluffing. She felt an unbearable tension, unable to release it. "Hamilton, we've already broken up. When on earth are you going to understand that?"

Hamilton let out a scornful laugh. "I'll never understand. Natalia, you're mine for life!"