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?"

head; aside from feeling weak, she was okay. The cut on her neck wasn't deep, and with medicine applied, it

Did you get

reply as

brows knit together as she noticed

"Was it Hamilton?"

he had come over and ended up in a 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, he couldn't hold back. He didn't want

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

wasn't anything else but the

It was an emergency, and I didn't have the

that you didn't have the chance,

tone was

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

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 always lurking close

plan to officially join the

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

be at least another six

Ryan's frown deepened instantly.

you say it

quick as possible." Once the new company

Ryan was visibly upset.

"Did something happen?"

silence,

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

Ryan's expression darkened.

Natalia, do you

face tensed. After a pause, she said, "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

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 slightest reliance

to

from under the covers and

give me

looked at her, the

you, would you get

side of the

Hamilton, with a cigarette pinched between his fingers, had a gaze that could cut

"Where was he found?"

Alden frowned harder.

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

the bridge of his nose, a clear sign of his rising

the surveillance in

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

moment of heavy silence,