Echoes of a Forsaken Heart novel Chapter 5

Just as Natalia left the hospital, her phone buzzing incessantly in her purse.

Tess's voice came through, tinged with urgency. "Boss, your dad's causing a scene at the office again. You'd better get here fast. Mr. Fowler's gonna blow his top if he finds out."

Natalia felt a sudden knot in her brow as she hung up and rushed to the company.

Stepping into the lobby, she found Graham lounging on a sofa, puffing away like a chimney.

"Put out the cigarette." Her voice was cold, her face a mask of barely contained anger.

Graham chuckled, "Alright, I’ll do what my daughter says."

Natalia's headache intensified just looking at him. "Let's talk outside."

She ushered Graham out to a nearby coffee shop beneath the company's towering office building.

As they entered, Graham broke into a grin. "My little girl's done well for herself, hanging out in places this fancy!"

Natalia eyed him, "If you're not scared of Hamilton, feel free to keep showing up to bother me."

Graham scoffed, "Scare me with what? You think Hamilton can stop me from seeing my own daughter?"

"You're welcome to test Hamilton's limits, but don't say I didn't warn you. If he steps in, your little 'insanity plea' won't save you!"

Years ago, after Natalia's mother had been pushed into a tragic accident by Graham, Natalia had been determined to put him behind bars. But Graham had somehow obtained a document certifying mental illness and escaped punishment. It was something Natalia could never let go of.

Seeing that she wasn’t joking, Graham's smirk faded. "Just give me money, and I swear I'll never come here again!"

"I don’t have money!" Natalia cut him off without hesitation.

Graham had recently gotten into gambling and had come begging for money more than once.

Natalia truly had none. To prevent Graham from getting to her funds, she had allocated everything to her mother's medical bills.

"Bullshit!" Graham bellowed, "You work at this upscale company and you're telling me you’ve got no cash?"

Passersby started to turn their heads their way.

Natalia fought to keep her anger in check, attempting to stay as calm as she could.

"Do you even know how much my mom's medical bills are each month? Have you ever contributed a dime since her accident? How can you have the audacity to ask me for money?"

"Why the hell should I pay for her medical bills!" Graham roared, "She never gave me a child, and now she expects me to pay? Dream on!"

Natalia faced him, "Then why should I give you money? I'm not even your own flesh and blood!"

"Just because you carry the surname Jenkins. I am your father!"

Suddenly, Graham's face twisted into a lecherous grin. He reached for Natalia's hand, "Natalia, how about you give me a child? If you do, I promise to take care of your mother. Then she's the grandmother of my child after all."

Natalia recoiled in disgust, slapping his hand away and then his face.

The coffee shop was bustling, and with that slap, all eyes turned to them.

"Bitch! How dare you hit me!" Graham lunged, grabbing Natalia's collar, his hand raised to strike her face.

But before his hand could fall, someone grabbed his wrist.

"Who the hell is meddling?" Graham's roar was met with Hamilton's icy stare.

The sight of Hamilton made Graham shrink back.

Hamilton's eyes darkened, his grip on Graham's wrist tightening until the man screamed.

With disdain, Hamilton released him.

"Get out! If I see you near the company again, it won’t just be an arm you’ll be worrying about."

Graham, pale from pain but not daring to retaliate, glared at Natalia before scurrying off.

Natalia's eyes were slightly red as she composed herself.

"Thank you, Mr. Fowler."

Hamilton was radiating a chilly aura, though his face remained expressionless, "Has he ever touched you at home?"

Natalia's lips trembled faintly. Since she turned eighteen, Graham would occasionally touch her face, grope her backside. Her mother had fought with him countless times over it, but he never changed his ways.

Not until she left for college. But she couldn't possibly share that with Hamilton.

Meeting his gaze, she simply said, "No."

Hamilton's expression darkened, "I don't want to see this happen again."

He meant Graham showing up at the office.

"There won't be a next time. I'm going to resign immediately."

Hamilton's eyes narrowed, a cold laugh escaping him, "It seems Ms. Jenkins is determined to leave."

Natalia's voice was bitter, "Yes."

Hamilton scoffed coldly, "Well, then I won't keep Ms. Jenkins from resigning."

Natalia nodded, "Alright."

Hamilton glanced at her before heading to a window-side table.

Only then did Natalia notice a woman with Hamilton, who was watching her with a mix of challenge and mockery in her eyes.

Natalia ignored her and headed for the door. Women came and went in Hamilton's life like birds of passage. Natalia had always been aware of that.

Yet, she couldn't help feeling a sting in her heart. Her hand instinctively tightened over her belly, the bitterness within threatening to spill over.

She thought, perhaps it was for the best that she was leaving. She'd forget Hamilton one day.

Reaching the company entrance, she took a deep breath, managed her composure and walked in with a smile.

Inside, the company chat was abuzz with talk of her resignation.

Somehow, the incident from last night at the Crest Club had leaked, and the opinions varied.

Some praised Natalia's boldness, others commented on Mr. Fowler's ruthlessness, but most gossiped about Natalia's alleged blunder.

Natalia glanced inside and quickly backed out.

Office gossip was a never-ending saga she had no interest in following, much less caring about. Even if she was the gossip's main attraction at the moment.

Pushing open her office door, the room fell into an immediate hush.

Tess’s eyes reddened at the sight of Natalia.

"Boss, is it true you're resigning?"

Natalia's gaze swept over her colleagues. She nodded, "Wishing you all the best of luck."

With that, she began packing her things quietly.

The office buzzed with whispers, but Natalia paid them no mind. As she was nearly finished, her phone suddenly rang.

An unfamiliar number flashed on the screen.

Answering, Natalia recognized Graham’s voice.

“Natalia, guess where I am?”

A jolt of fear shot through her. She remembered Graham's previous threats.

“Graham, you better not lay a finger on my mom!”

But Graham wasn't taking her seriously. “Same deal, Natalia. Money. Give me the money, and I swear she won’t be touched.”

Her lips trembled slightly, “I really don’t have any money. All I had went to the medical bills.”

“Then let her die. If she dies, you’ll get the hospital fees back, won’t you?”

“Graham!” Natalia roared, but her voice softened again, “Dad, my mom was with you for nearly twenty years. Can't you just think about those years and let her be?”

“Heh, twenty years? What good did those years do me? Cut the crap. One million in two days, or I’ll make sure she signs that DNR. Don't you forget, I’m her lawful husband!”

With that, Graham hung up.

When Natalia tried to call back, his phone was off. She immediately called the caregiver looking after her mother.

“Did Graham show up at the hospital?”

“Yes, he just came by, checked the remaining medical funds, and now he’s off to see the doctor.”

Panic suddenly gripped Natalia. She bolted from the office.

"Boss, where are you off to in such a hurry?" Sensing something was off, Tess quickly asked.

“Something’s come up, I need to step out.”

Natalia hailed a taxi and rushed to the hospital where her mother was admitted.

Arriving just in time, she caught Graham exiting the building.

“Well, if it isn't my darling daughter?”

Natalia clenched her teeth, “What do you want, Graham?”

Graham maintained his usual demeanor. “Don’t you know by now?”

“Graham, aren't you afraid I’ll call the cops?”

“Go ahead. See if they care about a father asking his daughter for money. Natalia, don't say I didn’t warn you. If the money isn’t in by tomorrow midnight, get ready to pick up your mother's body.”

With a shove and a sneer, Graham walked away, leaving Natalia in the cold sting of the looming deadline.