Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 175

When Alden's call came through, Hamilton's expression darkened immediately.

"I'm sending someone to look for him right now. He can't have gotten far."

Hamilton's gaze flickered, his response curt and to the point.

"Once you find him, stash him somewhere discreet, and don't say a word to Natalia. If she asks, just tell her he's long gone."

Alden thought he must have heard wrong.

"What? Bro, why all the secrecy?"

"Don't worry about the why. Just do it," Hamilton drawled, his voice laced with indifference.

No further explanation came, and with that, he hung up.

Hamilton never made a losing deal.

Natalia could see Graham again, sure. But it would cost her. Like, unblocking his number, for starters. Or, breaking things off with Ryan. At the very least, she should come asking for Hamilton's help on her own.

As Hamilton pondered, Natalia's phone began to ring. He glanced at the caller ID, a flicker of coldness passing through his eyes. The name "Ryan" seemed to taunt him from the screen. Without a second thought, he disconnected the call. But it wasn't long before Ryan called again.

Hamilton's brow creased slightly. Then, he picked up the phone.

"Natalia, are you off work yet?" Ryan's voice came through, tinged with cheer.

Hamilton let out a mocking laugh, "Mr. Holzer? Sorry, Natalia's out like a light. Tired. Anything you need, I can pass on the message."

There was a pause on the line, Ryan's voice instantly chilled.

"Hamilton? Where's Natalia? Let her take the call."

Hamilton's brow arched, "Didn't I just tell you? She's asleep."

After a moment of silence, Ryan hung up the phone.

When Natalia woke up, she was in a hospital room. Opening her eyes, she saw Ryan sitting beside her bed, his face marred by a bruise. Natalia blinked in confusion before speaking.

"Ryan, what are you doing here? What happened to your face?"

Though Ryan's expression was strained, he managed to hide his emotions in front of Natalia.

"Are you feeling alright anywhere else?"

feeling weak, she was okay. The cut on her neck

Did you get

came Ryan's terse reply as he

knit together as she noticed something

"Was it Hamilton?"

Hamilton. Even though he knew Hamilton hadn't really done anything to Natalia, the things he said were just to rile him up. But still, he couldn't hold back. He didn't want to tell Natalia about it, though. It would just sound like he

were hurt, Natalia? You promised me before that you would let me know if

anything else but

was an emergency, and I didn't have the

that you didn't have the

was

a brief silence, she finally said, "Sorry. In the future, no matter

regretted his harshness. In such a situation, he knew Natalia probably really hadn't had the chance. But he still felt uneasy. There was too much distance between them. She was in trouble

when do you plan to officially join

move to the State Department right after handling her resignation. But now, due to the penalty fee, she had to sign an agreement with

at least another six

Ryan's frown deepened instantly.

it would

make it as quick as possible." Once the new company with Ron Group was on track

Ryan was visibly upset.

"Did something happen?"

moment of silence, Natalia told the

Hamilton. I had no choice but to sign an

Ryan's expression darkened.

Natalia, do you

"Ryan, this is something I can handle on my own." Their relationship was still new; she couldn't possibly ask Ryan for the money. And if she could solve a problem through her own efforts, she didn't want to depend on a man. Asking for money always left her feeling one

her intelligence and independence. But at that moment, he found it hard to appreciate those traits. He hadn't seen what she was like

just come out of one relationship and would naturally need time to commit to another.

under the covers and took his

you give me

her, the question heavy in his

if—just if-Hamilton came back to you,

other side of the

tangled web of disgust and concern. Hamilton, with a cigarette pinched between his fingers, had a gaze

"Where was he found?"

Alden frowned harder.

the block in an old, abandoned yard. By the time we got there,

the bridge of his nose, a clear sign

surveillance

his head, "There's only one from a convenience store nearby, but it didn't

of