Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Westley nearly choked on his own breath at Hamilton's audacity.

"Are you out of your mind, Hamilton? Throwing away the Fowler legacy for some... floozy?"

Hamilton's response was a half-smirk, half-scowl.

"Mad? I thought this was just the appetizer."

In a fit of rage, Westley grabbed the nearest object-a paperweight, perhaps— and hurled it at Hamilton.

"You ingrate! Get out of the Fowlers! We don't need your kind tarnishing our name!"

Hamilton met Westley's furious gaze with a chilling calmness.

"Seems like you've forgotten, Grandpa. I'm the head of this family. What I say goes in the Fowlers."

Westley's anger boiled over.

"The head of the family? Your actions disgrace the very name of the Fowlers!"

"Hamilton, I handed you this position. It's mine to give and mine to take away. Do you really think you're the only one capable of leading the Fowlers?"

A cold glint passed through Hamilton's eyes.

"Grandpa, at your age, you should be enjoying retirement, not stirring up trouble. If you're so fond of Delilah, why not just keep her company? Who knows, maybe

she'll give us a little uncle someday. Why force her on me?"

Westley's fury turned to physical agony, and he suddenly spat out blood, collapsing unconscious.

Chaos erupted in the Fowler household.

Hamilton watched the family scramble around Westley, then stood up and walked out, leaving a complicated air behind him.

Alden was at a loss. He couldn't fathom why accepting Natalia was such a problem for his grandfather.

Did it really have to come to this, tearing grandfather and grandson apart?

Though it wouldn't ruin the Fowlers-their roots were too deep-it certainly damaged the family harmony.

This was a direct slap to Westley's face, tarnishing the family's reputation he cherished so much.

Alden hurried to call a doctor.

Returning, he found Hamilton smoking at the door, lost in thought.

After the doctor's visit, Alden shared the prognosis: "He's suffered from extreme stress, but his life's not in danger."

Hamilton scoffed, silent.

Alden added, "Your brother was just taken away. Expect Uncle to come looking for a fight soon."

Hamilton took a final drag, then crushed the cigarette underfoot, a cold laugh escaping him.

"Let him."

Then, he asked about Patrick Schafer.

Alden hesitated before revealing, "He's been nothing but tears and pleas for mercy."

Hamilton's expression turned icy. "Let's pay him a visit."

The dungeon, located in the basement of the Fowler Mansion, was their next stop.

Upon entering, Hamilton frowned at the sight of Patrick, a shadow of his former self, a testament to Hamilton's ruthlessness.

Patrick, full of regret, wondered if things would have been different had he just delivered Natalia to Hamilton from the start.

But regrets were pointless now.

At the sight of Hamilton, Patrick immediately begged for mercy, invoking the name of Eveleen.

Hamilton, unswayed, confronted Patrick about his betrayals, his fury palpable.

Despite Patrick's pleas and excuses, Hamilton's wrath was unyielding, his grip tightening around Patrick's neck.

Alden, realizing the gravity of the

Sled to intervene, butnoveldrama

anger and sorrow were

too great, revealing a vulnerability

rarely seen.

As Hamilton pushed Patrick under the water, Alden's plea, "Brother!" echoed,

highlighting the tragic intensity of family loyalty and betrayal.

Alden just couldn't keep him back, no matter how hard he tried.

He immediately grabbed his phone and dialed Natalia.

Natalia was quite surprised to hear from Alden.

"Alden?"

"Natalia, could you please talk some sense into my brother? Just a few words to him."

Natalia paused, a bit stunned, then asked softly, "What's wrong with him?"

Natalia thought it might be

something to do with the scandal involving the Fowlers that had been all over the news, with Hamilton and the Fowlers at odds.

But what she e didn't expect was Alden's blunt revelation, "He's about to do something drastic to Patrick

Patrick deserves it, sure, but my brothe shouldn't have to carry the burden of being a murderer.

Natalia's grip on her phone tightened.

"Hand the phone to your brother."

AQUMS

"Bro, Bro! It's Natalia on the line." Alden hurried over and handed the phone to Hamilton.

Hamilton exhaled deeply before he literally tossed Patrick aside.

It took Patrick a while struggling on the ground before he could finally catch his

breath.

Taking the phone, Hamilton's voice softened as he spoke, "Natalia."

It seemed as though Natalia had a lump in her throat.

Her voice was rough as she said, "Hamilton, don't dirty your hands over that trash.

Those hands, someday, might be holding your children."

Hamilton's Adam's apple bobbed as he took a moment before responding.

"To hold you and our child."

Natalia didn't respond to that, simply saying,

"Just don't get yourself in trouble."

After she hung up, Hamilton held the phone for a long while before murmuring,

"Alright, I'll do as you say."