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?"

was okay. The cut on her neck wasn't deep, and with medicine applied, it hardly

happened? Did you get

terse reply

as she noticed something

"Was it Hamilton?"

scuffle with 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,

Natalia? You promised me

twinge of guilt; it wasn't anything else but the fact that she

was an emergency, and I didn't have

you didn't have the chance, or you

tone was

she finally said, "Sorry. In the future,

the chance. But he still felt uneasy. There was too much distance between them. She was in trouble and he could never be there for

plan to officially join

the State Department right after handling her resignation. But now, due to

might be at least another six

Ryan's frown deepened instantly.

you say it would be

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

Ryan was visibly upset.

"Did something happen?"

of silence, Natalia told

my contract with Hamilton. I had

Ryan's expression darkened.

you tell me about this? Natalia, do you

new; she couldn't possibly ask Ryan for the money. And if she

He had always admired her intelligence and independence. But at that moment, he found it hard to appreciate those traits. He hadn't seen what she was like with Hamilton, but it was clear she depended on

come out of one relationship and would naturally need time to commit to another. But with Hamilton as a formidable rival before

reached out from under the covers and took his

you give me six

at her, the question heavy in

came back to you, would

other side of the

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

"Where was he found?"

Alden frowned harder.

old, abandoned yard. By the time we got there, he was already

of his nose, a clear sign

about the surveillance

a convenience store

moment of heavy silence,