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?"

okay. The cut on her neck wasn't deep, and with

happened? Did you

terse reply as

she noticed

"Was it Hamilton?"

he knew Hamilton hadn't really done anything to Natalia, the things he said were just to rile him up. But

promised me before that you would let me know if

guilt; it wasn't anything else but the

emergency, and I

didn't have the

tone was

she finally said, "Sorry. In the future, no matter what happens, I'll try to let

In such a situation, he knew Natalia probably really hadn't had the chance. But he still felt uneasy. There was too much distance

you plan to officially

had intended to move to the State Department right after handling her resignation. But now, due to the penalty fee, she

at least another

Ryan's frown deepened instantly.

say it

I'll try to make it as quick as possible." Once the new company with Ron Group was on track and her bet with

Ryan was visibly upset.

"Did something happen?"

moment of silence,

contract with Hamilton. I had no

Ryan's expression darkened.

about this? Natalia, do you

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

He hadn't seen what she was like with Hamilton, but it was clear she depended on him when trouble struck. Yet now, she didn't even show the slightest reliance on

would naturally need time to commit to another. But with Hamilton as a formidable rival

reached out from under the

give

her, the question heavy

to you, would you get

other side of the

hallway, his face a tangled web of disgust and concern. Hamilton, with a cigarette pinched

"Where was he found?"

Alden frowned harder.

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

of his nose,

surveillance in the

from a convenience store nearby, but it didn't

of