The Year I Was the Other Woman To Myself novel Chapter 728

Just under the one-hour mark, a furious Hamilton stormed through the doors, dragging Kristin behind him.

Kristin looked as if she had been crying for hours, her eyes red and puffy. The moment she spotted Natalie, she burst into fresh tears.

"Mommy! That mean man wouldn't let me go home!"

Natalie sprinted across the room and swept her daughter into a desperate hug. "Mommy's here, sweetie. Don't be scared."

"Mommy, I want to go home," the little girl sobbed.

"Okay, we're going home right now."

Natalie scooped the child up into her arms, called out to Marico, and turned toward the exit. But Hamilton deliberately stepped into their path, blocking the doorway.

"You think you can just waltz in and walk out?"

Hamilton's gaze was lethal. He cast a dark look at Marico before fixing his glare on Natalie.

"I gave you a chance, yet you insist on pushing my buttons over and over again!"

Natalie clutched her daughter tighter and took two steps back, seeking refuge behind Marico. The subtle motion only poured fuel on Hamilton's rage.

"You want to burn everything down, Marico? You think you have the guts?"

Hamilton shoved his hands into his pockets and stalked slowly toward Marico. As he moved, the security detail hastily escorted Mr. Amos and Alma upstairs to safety, while the remaining guards closed in.

Stopping inches away, Hamilton pulled out his own lighter. Without a word of hesitation, he flicked it open, the flame springing to life.

"Listen up, all of you. When this rich brat catches fire, nobody lifts a finger to help him!"

The guards immediately barked their acknowledgment. Hamilton shoved the open flame right into Marico's personal space.

Yet Marico didn't flinch. Instead, he flashed a wildly arrogant grin and leaned into the heat.

"Don't worry, Mr. Amos. I made sure to douse myself in enough gas. One spark and I'll go up like a Roman candle."

Hamilton scoffed. "So we get to enjoy a live bonfire tonight?"

"Want me to sing a little tune while I burn?"

Hamilton's breathing grew heavy. She had told him, but he hadn't believed her. Back then, he had been consumed by a blinding rage. Every ounce of trust between them had been utterly destroyed.

"If you hadn't cheated on me, I wouldn't have treated you like that!"

"It's been six years, and you're still completely blind! I was drugged and thrown into that hotel room! Who do you think spiked my drink? And the paternity test—why did the results say Kristin wasn't yours? Who do you think tampered with it?" Natalie screamed, her voice echoing in the grand hall.

Hamilton's breath hitched. "You're saying someone drugged you? Someone tampered with the paternity test?"

"What else could it be? Can you really not figure it out, or are you just playing dumb because you can't face the truth about the woman you love?"

"I do not love Maria!"

"See? You know exactly who it is!"

"That's impossible!"

Natalie let out a bitter scoff. "Hamilton, if you genuinely wanted the truth, with your resources, you could have found out in a heartbeat. You just didn't want to know."

"The woman you've been protecting and caring for has been playing you for a fool. She ruined your marriage, drove your real family away, and manipulated you into raising another man's kid—while you let that kid bully your own flesh and blood!"