Natalia shook her head, a hint of exhaustion in her gesture. "Not really."


    Scarlett nced at her, her toneced with a mix of concern and annoyance. "Let me guess, Hamilton, that jerk, made you upset again?"


    Natalia remained silent, her mind a whirl of thoughts. After a moment, she pulled out her phone and dialed Hamilton''s number.


    "Hamilton, I''m just... really tired right now. Let''s talk about everything elseter, okay?"


    There was a long pause from Hamilton''s end before he finally spoke up, just as Natalia was about to hang up.


    "Natalia, are you mad at me?"


    Natalia''s gaze dropped.


    Mad? Maybe.


    She was indeed feeling a bit off, especially after finding out about Tatiana''s situation tonight.


    Whether it was Lucinda or Patrick, it felt like a thorn in her heart.


    But she didn''t really me Hamilton. "No, I''m not mad."


    However, Hamilton could sense her displeasure. "Natalia, you saw it. She came over to me first."


    "Yeah." Her voice was calm, almost too calm. "Hamilton, I''m just really tired."


    Hamilton paused for a moment before replying, "Then get some rest, goodnight."


    After hanging up, Natalia headed back to her bedroom.


    Shortly after, her phone buzzed with a new message.


    I''ll try to send Eveleen away as soon as possible.


    Natalia stared at the message, choosing not to reply.


    The next morning, Natalia had just woken up when a series of knocks echoed from the front door.


    Scarlett, drying her hair with a towel, opened the door to find a surprise.


    "Who sent this breakfast over?"


    Hanging on the doorknob was a breakfast bag, filled with Natalia''s favorite: chocte croissants.


    "Wow, chocte croissants! Natalia, it''s your favorite!"


    Natalia''s eyshes fluttered slightly, but she said nothing.


    Scarlett''s eyes sparkled with mischief. "Did that jerk Hamilton send this?"


    "Probably."


    After washing up, Natalia found Scarlett hadid out the breakfast on the table.


    Scarlett raised an eyebrow. "A peace offering from the jerk. Well, eat up; it''s free."


    Natalia couldn''t help butugh at that.


    Benevolent Care Hospital.


    Eveleen''s room was a mess, vandalized in a fit of rage.


    Lucinda was trying, and failing, to calm her down.


    Ever since Hamilton had blocked her number, he hadn''t visited her. He had even stopped answering calls from her friends and family. What infuriated her the most was knowing Hamilton was out there, probably on a date with Natalia, while she was in this state.


    It was all because of Natalia. Without her, Hamilton would never have treated her this way, Eveleen thought bitterly.


    In a fit of anger, she threw a vase towards the door, just missing Hamilton as he stepped in.


    Surprised to see him, Eveleen''s expression quickly shifted from venomous to visibly pleased, then to a facade of vulnerability. "Hamilton, you''ve finallye to see me?"


    Hamilton, standing coldly at the door, nced at the chaos in the room before scoffing.


    "Seems like you''re recovering well. Time to prepare for a trip abroad."


    Eveleen was stunned.


    "What are you talking about?"


    Hamilton remained at the doorway. "I''ve arranged for you to go abroad. Everything''s set."


    Panic set in for Eveleen. "You''re lying! I just got back, and now you''re sending me away again?"


    "I won''t go!"


    She tried to approach Hamilton, but Killian stepped in, blocking her path.


    "Ms. Schafer, please maintain a respectful distance."


    Eveleen red at Killian. "Stay out of this! It''s between Hamilton and me!"


    Killian remained unmoved as Eveleen turned back to Hamilton, tears streaming down her face. "Hamilton, I''m truly sorry. Please, don''t send me away. I promise I''ll change. Remember how you said you''d protect me?" Hamilton''s gaze was icy. "With your current antics, do you really need my protection?"


    Leaving those words behind, he walked away, with Killian following behind.


    "Sir, Ms. Jenkins is still in her room. Shall we visit her?" Killian inquired.


    Hamilton hesitated, then his phone rang.


    "Bro, grandpa just passed out."


    Hamilton''s expression tensed. "I''m on my way," he said, turning to leave.


    Left behind, Eveleen copsed in despair, her legs cut by the shards of the vase.


    Victor stepped forward to help her up. "Eveleen, if you''re sent away, it''s really over."


    Elliott, witnessing the scene, frowned. "Mr. Henkel, enough. Love can''t be forced like this."


    Victor scoffed. "Forced? Eveleen and Hamilton were meant to be. Don''t you get it?"


    Elliott was at his wit''s end. "Seriously, those two are like peanut butter and jelly; inseparable. And it''s pretty clear, Hamilton''s heart is all for Natalia now."


    After saying that, he turned to Eveleen, "Eveleen, maybe a few years abroad, taking in some fresh air and new scenery wouldn''t be so bad. Who knows, you might bump into your Mr. Right."


    Eveleen dabbed her eyes, trying to hold back tears.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    "My man, nobody can steal him away."


    Elliott was speechless, while Victor couldn''t help but chuckle from the side.


    "Mr. Lehner, you''re not seriously bewitched by that woman Natalia, are you?"


    Elliott didn''t bother responding, simply turning and exiting the hospital room.


    As he stepped out, he bumped into someone.


    Scarlett, who was about to apologize, halted when she saw it was Elliott, especiallying from Eveleen''s room, and gave him a fierce re instead.


    "Watch where you''re going, won''t you?"


    Elliott, half amused, half irritated, retorted.


    "Come on, it was you who ran into me."


    Scarlett looked at him with contempt.


    "Bumping into you serves you right, reeking of betrayal!"


    With that, she stormed off, leaving Elliott staring after her, bewildered.


    "Can''t you make any sense?" he called after her.


    "Sense? With a traitor''s friend? No chance!" she shot back without turning.


    Elliott was left speechless. "This is just... absurd."


    Scarlett stormed into Tatiana''s room, still fuming.


    Natalia had just finished helping Tatiana with her physical therapy. "What''s up? Who''s got you all worked up?"


    Scarlett pursed her lips. "Nothing, just saw Eveleen and it soured my mood. I need to go cleanse my eyes or something!"


    Natalia chuckled, "Well, hang out here and chat with my mom for a bit. I need to have a word with the doctor about her rehab n." Scarlett nodded eagerly.


    As Natalia left the room, she saw Lucinda standing not far away, her face pale and eyes filled with a vicious coldness.


    Seeing Natalia, she sneered, "Natalia, shall we have a chat?"


    Natalia sidestepped her effortlessly. "There''s nothing for us to talk about."


    Lucindaughed mockingly, "How can there be nothing? Let''s discuss that wretch Tatiana, shall we?"


    Natalia stopped dead in her tracks, her face aze with fury as she red at Lucinda.


    "Lucinda, I''m warning you,y a finger on my mom, and it''s an eye for an eye!"


    Lucinda''s face turned sour.


    "Natalia, you think just because Hamilton dotes on you now, you can do whatever you please? Lay a hand on Eveleen and see what happens!"


    Natalia scoffed, "Don''t believe me? Just watch."


    With that, she turned and entered the doctor''s office.


    After a half-hour chat with the doctor, Natalia was walking by the fire escape when she heard sobbing.


    The sound was muffled, but after all these years, she recognized it instantly. She hesitated but then stopped.


    "Patrick! Do you realize Eveleen is really being sent away? Don''t forget who your real daughter is! That stray you picked up from the streets, do you really think you can rely on her?" Then came Patrick''s voice.


    "But Hamilton treats her like she''s his lifeline now, what can I do?"


    "Go to her, at least she doesn''t know yet that you''re not her biological father!"


    Patrick sounded impatient, "You think that would actually help? She won''t even give me the time of day now!"


    Whatever they said next, Natalia couldn''t make out.


    She just stood there, her mind buzzing, feeling utterly lost and disconnected.