Chapter 764

When Marico said he was thirsty, Natalie poured him a glass of warm water. As she tried to spoon-feed it to him, he decided to act like a diva.

"It's too hot. Blow on it."

"It's not going to burn you."

"If you don't blow on it, I'm not drinking it."

Natalie didn't indulge him. She simply set the cup down on the nightstand.

"Stay thirsty, then."

Marico actually did seem parched, letting out a few dry coughs. Natalie wasn't petty enough to seriously hold a grudge against a patient-especially one who got hurt protecting her so she picked the cup back up and let him take a few sips.

Marico sighed. "If you're not planning to sleep with me as a reward, then just go home. I'm afraid if you take care of me for a few days, you'll end up killing me."

Natalie told him to close his eyes and go back to sleep. "Penelope is watching Kristin."

"I didn't ask about her."

"So you don't need to worry."

Marico curled his lip. "You make it sound like I'm some hero. I was... cough, cough...

I was completely hammered. Otherwise, I never would have done something so stupidly self-sacrificing. I regret it now. I..."

"Just shut up."

Not in the mood to bicker with him, Natalie stepped out of the room to buy some daily necessities at the convenience store downstairs. The doctor had said he needed to stay in the hospital for at least two weeks. Since her schedule was open, she planned to stay and look after him.

The moment she walked out of the inpatient building, she was confronted by Hamilton. He reeked of alcohol.

Seeing him, Natalie instantly went on high alert.

"What do you want?"

The deep caution in her eyes felt like a knife to Hamilton's chest. Did she really view him as such a dangerous threat? Why was she looking at him like that?

"I came to apologize," he said.

Natalie didn't buy it for a second. "I don't accept it. Leave immediately."

"Natalie, what do I have to do for you to forgive me? Just tell me. Whatever it is, I swear I'll do it."

"Then I'll tell you right now: stay far away from Kristin and me. Stop disrupting our lives."

"Anything but that."

"Well, Hamilton, that's the only thing I want."

Hamilton stared at Natalie's cold, detached expression. He felt completely backed into a corner, with no idea what he could do to win her back.

Theodore had told him to respect her, so he came to ask what she wanted, and her answer was for him to vanish.

But that was the one thing he couldn't do.

He lowered his head, remaining silent for a long time. Then, overwhelmed by despair, he suddenly slumped against the wall, collapsing to the ground in a desperate plea.

"Is this enough?"

Natalie was taken aback for a second, but then she let out an exasperated, humorless laugh.

"Do you honestly think that making a scene like this will make me forgive you and take you back?"

"I've thrown away my pride to do this. Doesn't that prove my sincerity?"

"I don't want your sincerity

anymore! Natalie squeezed her

eyes shut, consumed by frustration.

"You keep forg

things on me that

don't want. Do you think I'd be

moved? I'm just sick of it."

"I've thrown myself at your mercy..." Hamilton stared at her in disbelief. "And you say you're sick of it!"

Natalie took a step back. "Exactly.

Just looking at you makes me so annoyed. It makes me regret ever

martying you makes me wante

scrub away whatever tiny sweet memories we had left, and completely erase you from my existence."

Without another word, Natalie walked right past him.

Hamilton remained slumped on the ground. He had come here with such determination, begging with everything he had, and not only did she reject him, she said she wanted to forget him entirely.

It really was hopeless. He couldn't get her back.