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?"

aside from feeling weak, she was okay. The cut

Did you

came Ryan's terse reply as he

brows knit together as she noticed something

"Was it Hamilton?"

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

tell me you were hurt, Natalia? You promised me

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

emergency, and I didn't have the

the chance, or you didn't think

was sharp,

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

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

to officially join 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

Ryan's frown deepened instantly.

say it

quick as possible." Once the new company with Ron Group was on

Ryan was visibly upset.

"Did something happen?"

moment of silence, Natalia told the

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

Ryan's expression darkened.

about this? Natalia, do

something 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 didn't want to

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

time to commit to

the

you give me

at her, the question heavy

if—just if-Hamilton came back to you, would you get back together

side

of disgust and concern. Hamilton, with a cigarette

"Where was he found?"

Alden frowned harder.

By the time we got there, he was

his nose, a clear sign of his rising

surveillance in the

from a convenience store nearby, but it didn't

moment of