Echoes of a Forsaken Heart novel Chapter 222

There was something off about Graham's account, and it had been nagging at Natalia for a while.

Hamilton was just about to tell her the details when a mob of Eveleen's fans stirred up chaos at the hospital, leaving their conversation incomplete.

Natalia had asked Alden, but he seemed clueless about the whole situation.

Now, if she wanted any real answers about Graham, Hamilton was her only go-to.

When Hamilton picked up Natalia's call, he was genuinely surprised.

“Natalia?”

“Hamilton, I need to talk to you about Graham’s account.”

Hamilton's initial smile faded the moment he heard Natalia's voice, sensing the unease in her tone.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, not waiting for her to reply. After a brief pause, he added, “I’ll come to the hospital.”

Natalia hung up, her heart still aching. She always felt that Tatiana might have been better off without her, and now, that guilt felt even heavier, mixed with a rising anger.

Graham’s push had not only altered Tatiana's destiny but hers as well. Natalia took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions as she leaned back in her seat.

Killian, noticing her distress in the rearview mirror, turned on the car's music for her.

Natalia offered a small smile. “Thanks.”

“Mr. Fowler mentioned you liked it,” Killian said, receiving a quiet nod from Natalia in return.

Hamilton arrived soon after. He approached Natalia's car and knocked on the window. When Natalia stepped out, Hamilton saw the anger in her eyes.

“What happened? What’s going on?” he asked in a low voice.

Natalia nodded, “Something did happen. About Graham, can you tell me about it?”

Instead of answering, Hamilton asked, “Have you eaten?”

Natalia shook her head. “I’m not hungry.”

Her appetite was the least of her worries, especially after what Tatiana had shared with her today. Her disdain for Graham, now more than ever, was palpable.

Hamilton insisted, “You need to eat. We’ll talk after.”

Though reluctant, Natalia didn’t protest, and they found themselves in a diner shortly after.

The food arrived quickly, and Natalia barely touched it before setting her utensils down. Hamilton, noticing her lack of appetite, pushed a bowl of soup towards himself before finally speaking.

“What’s really going on? You mentioned last time you suspected someone was behind Graham, any new leads?”

Natalia glanced down at her soup. “My mom was pushed by Graham intentionally.”

Hamilton paused sharply. “Your mom told you?”

Nodding, Natalia met his gaze. “Our family was struggling back then. Graham hadn’t worked in ages, living off what my mom earned. He wouldn’t just push her out without a reason.”

“So, you think there’s a clue in Graham’s account?”

Hamilton promised to send over Graham's transaction history.

“Thanks,” Natalia murmured, sipping her soup.

Hamilton chuckled, “When will you stop thanking me?”

Natalia didn’t respond, and the conversation drifted.

Soon, Graham's financial records arrived. Natalia poured over them until a particular transaction caught her eye—a deposit of three million, dated the day of Tatiana’s accident.

Her grip on the phone tightened as a sad smile crossed her lips. Suspicions were one thing, but confronting the truth was another.

Hamilton offered her a tissue for her tears, but they just kept coming, each drop weighing heavily on his heart.

Eventually, he couldn’t hold back and pulled her into an embrace. “It’s okay to cry, don’t hold it back.”

Natalia didn’t cry out loud but soon composed herself, asking Hamilton in as steady a voice as she could muster, “Did you check the source of that money?”

Hamilton had looked into it. “Not just that amount, but every unusual transaction linked to Graham. But the trail leads to a loan shark operation—most of them dead or missing.”

“So, we’re at a dead end?” Natalia clenched her fists.

“There’s always a clue if you look hard enough,” Hamilton assured her.

Before Natalia could reply, a familiar voice called out.

“Mr. Fowler.”

They turned to see Lucinda at the diner's entrance, holding a takeout box. “Eveleen craved the grilled salmon from here, so I came to grab some. You know how much she loves her fish.”

She then smiled at Natalia, “Ms. Jenkins, you’re here too.”

Natalia paused for a moment, then stood up.