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

happened? Did you

terse reply

brows knit together as she noticed

"Was it Hamilton?"

he knew Hamilton hadn't really done anything to Natalia, the things he said were just

me before

else but the fact that she

an emergency, and I

didn't have the

tone was

she finally said, "Sorry. In the future, no

really hadn't had 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 her immediately.

plan to officially

State Department right after handling her

might be at

Ryan's frown deepened instantly.

you say it would be

replied, "Plans have changed, but I'll try to make it as quick as possible." Once the new company with Ron Group was on

Ryan was visibly upset.

"Did something happen?"

of silence,

to pay fifty million to break my contract with Hamilton. I had no choice but to sign an agreement with

Ryan's expression darkened.

didn't you tell me about this? Natalia, do you even consider me

"Ryan, this is something I can handle on my own." Their relationship was still new; she couldn't possibly ask Ryan for the

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 him when trouble struck. Yet now, she didn't even show

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

from under the covers and took his

can you give me

the question heavy in his

if-Hamilton came back to you, would you get back

the other side of

in the hallway, his face a tangled web of disgust and concern. Hamilton,

"Where was he found?"

Alden frowned harder.

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

bridge of his nose,

about the surveillance in the

a convenience

a moment of heavy