Echoes of a Forsaken Heart (Natalia and Hamilton)

Natalia locked eyes with the man before her, the tension palpable as they stood motionless. Time seemed to stretch on until, with a sudden burst of energy, she wriggled free from the grip he had on her and aimed a kick toward his most vulnerable spot. Hamilton's face darkened instantly as he caught her leg. "Natalia! Are you out of your mind?" he exclaimed.

She shoved him hard. "You're the crazy one, Hamilton. You're a complete lunatic!" she spat back, her voice tinged with anger.

With that, she spun on her heel, climbed into her car, and without a second thought, she fired up the engine and sped away.

Hamilton watched the retreating tail lights, a cold glint flickering in his eyes. Natalia had the nerve to take a shot at him! She really had guts.

He got into his own car and followed her at a leisurely pace.

As Natalia drove, she tried to get a grip on her emotions, but thoughts of Ryan and what might have been with him only added to her frustration. It seemed inevitable that if things kept going, taking the next step was just a matter of time. If Hamilton really...

She couldn't help but rub her temples, taking a deep breath to steady herself. Hamilton was probably just not ready to let go. She figured once he got bored or found someone new, he'd move on.

Natalia didn't return to Scarlett's. Instead, she headed to Graham's place to look for clues.

As she parked, another car pulled up behind her. Her eyebrows knitted together in annoyance as Hamilton stepped out.

"Aren't you done yet?" she snapped.

"I just want to check out Graham's situation," Hamilton replied with a tone of self-righteousness that brooked no argument. "After all, I'm involved in this case too."

Natalia didn't bother to argue with him and made her way upstairs.

The old apartment building's hallways were poorly lit, the motion-activated lights barely functioning. Natalia used her phone to light the way when suddenly someone grabbed her wrist. "You're just going in like that?" Hamilton questioned.

She shook him off and turned on her phone's flashlight. "If Mr. Fowler feels uncomfortable, he's free not to enter," she retorted.

Hamilton scoffed. "Natalia, are you sure you can handle this alone? If what you say is true, and Graham's backer is targeting you, are you sure there's no ambush waiting?"

Her lips tightened. She wasn't sure anymore. She was in the light; her adversary in the dark. Worse, she had no idea what their endgame was.

Hamilton chuckled at her side. "Tell you what, Natalia, I'll be your personal bodyguard for free."

She shot him a cold look and continued forward.

As Natalia reached for her keys to unlock the door, a neighboring door suddenly swung open, making her tense and almost drop her keys. Hamilton quickly pulled her into his arms. She paused and frowned, but didn't struggle, instead glancing to the side. There stood a woman in her fifties, carrying out the trash.

"Natalia?" the woman asked with a hint of surprise.

Natalia breathed a sigh of relief. "Cora."

She wriggled out of Hamilton's embrace, even brushing herself off as if to shake off the encounter.

Hamilton watched, his face darkening. This woman sure knew how to burn bridges.

Cora's face lit up. "It really is you! I haven't seen you around in ages, Natalia."

Then she turned to Hamilton. "Is this your boyfriend?"

Hamilton started to greet Cora but was cut off by Natalia's quick retort, "No, he's just a bodyguard."

Hamilton glared at Natalia, but she didn't give him another glance.

Cora seemed surprised. "I thought he was your boyfriend. Have you got one?"

Natalia nodded with a smile.

Cora beamed. "Your mother must be thrilled."

Hamilton couldn't help but interject with a bitter laugh, "Don't celebrate just yet. Who knows, they might break up any day now." "Natalia!" Natalia's shout at Hamilton was fierce. Then she softened her tone for Cora. "Don't mind him; he's a bit off."

Cora frowned at Hamilton suspiciously. Then her expression changed as she remembered something. "How's your mother?" Natalia forced a smile. "The same."

Cora sighed. "Things will get better. But your dad..."

She trailed off, her face saying it all.

Natalia's concern deepened. "Cora, who has my dad been seeing?"

Cora grimaced. "The same old crowd, bringing home women, making a racket all night. I don't even let my grandson stay here anymore." Natalia's frown deepened. "Has he been meeting anyone unusual?"

Cora shook her head. "No one special, just people from the streets. You'd better disinfect the place when you get back; you don't want to catch anything." Natalia thanked her and was about to enter when Cora added, "There was this one woman, though, looked rich and pretty, came by a few times recently." Natalia froze. "Rich and pretty?"

Cora nodded affirmatively, "Yeah, she screamed money. That handbag of hers, my daughter-in-law said it costs a small fortune. I was wondering, how on earth did your dad get mixed up with a woman like that?" Natalia's gaze darkened, and she shot a quick glance at Hamilton.

Hamilton seemed pensive as well.

Natalia fished out her smartphone and pulled up a photo of Eveleen, handing it over to Cora. "Cora, is this her?"

Cora shook her head. "No, that woman wasn't nearly as young."

At Cora's response, Hamilton let out a soft chuckle.

Natalia knew exactly what that chuckle implied.

She shot Hamilton a look and pocketed her phone.

After thanking Cora, Natalia headed into the room.

As soon as she entered, she was greeted by a rank stench.

Natalia wrinkled her nose and flicked on the light, revealing a scattered array of empty liquor bottles.

Before she could take a step, Hamilton was already moving inside.

His tall frame stood starkly in the dingy room, making it seem even more cramped and oppressive.

Yet, he seemed oblivious to the filth and clutter.

He made a round of the room before turning to Natalia.

"Come on in. It's dirty, but there's nothing to worry about," he said, unbothered.

Natalia walked in with a frown.

The living room was nearly bare.

Anything of value had been sold off by Graham.

"So, we can stop suspecting Eveleen now, right?" Hamilton suddenly remarked.

Natalia let out a scornful laugh. "Sure, Mr. Fowler's sweetheart is off the hook for now. Does that make you happy, Mr. Fowler?"

Hamilton's gaze hardened suddenly. "When did I ever say she was my sweetheart?"

"You don't have to say it for me to see," Natalia shot back.

Hamilton scoffed. "If you weren't blind, you'd recognize who truly cares for you!"

Natalia couldn't be bothered with him.

She made a round of the room, finding nothing, and then headed towards another bedroom.

As she opened the door, her brow furrowed.

Her old room was a disaster.

The bed was littered with empty bottles, and a few cardboard boxes were piled on the desk.

A heap of books was scattered on the floor, and Natalia immediately recognized one as her high school diary.

Without a word, she picked up the diary, about to dust it off, when a photograph fell out.

She paused, bending down to retrieve it, but a slender hand beat her to it.