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?"

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

Did you get into

terse reply as he adjusted

as she noticed something off with Ryan's

"Was it Hamilton?"

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

Natalia? You promised me before that you would let me know

of guilt; it wasn't anything else but the

an emergency,

the chance, or

was

"Sorry. In the

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 and he could never be there for her immediately. Yet Hamilton was

to officially join

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

at least another

Ryan's frown deepened instantly.

you say it

new company with Ron Group was on track and her bet with Mason

Ryan was visibly upset.

"Did something happen?"

of silence,

Hamilton. I had no

Ryan's expression darkened.

you tell me about this? Natalia, do

possibly ask Ryan for the money. And if she could solve a problem through her own efforts, she

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 the

one relationship and would naturally need time to commit to another. But with Hamilton as a formidable rival before him, he was full of a sense

out from under the covers and

give me six

looked at her, the question heavy

back to you, would you get back

side

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

"Where was he found?"

Alden frowned harder.

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

the bridge of his nose, a clear sign of his

surveillance in the

one from a convenience store nearby, but it didn't

moment of heavy silence,