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?"

The cut on her neck wasn't deep, and with medicine applied,

happened? Did you get into

terse reply

brows knit together as she noticed something

"Was it Hamilton?"

the things he said were just to rile

you tell me you were hurt, Natalia? You promised me before

else but the fact that

Ryan. It was an emergency, and I

didn't have the

was sharp,

the future, no matter what happens,

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

you plan to

after handling her resignation. But now, due to the penalty

be at

Ryan's frown deepened instantly.

you say it would be

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

Ryan was visibly upset.

"Did something happen?"

moment of silence, Natalia told

with Hamilton. I had no

Ryan's expression darkened.

you tell me about this? Natalia,

new; she couldn't possibly ask Ryan for the money. And if she could solve a problem through her

at Natalia. He 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

knew he shouldn't rush her. She had just come out of one relationship and would naturally need time to commit to another. But with Hamilton as a formidable rival before

out from under the covers and

give me six

her, the question

to you, would you get back

the other side of the

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

"Where was he found?"

Alden frowned harder.

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

nose, a clear

about the surveillance

from a convenience store nearby, but it didn't catch anything

moment of heavy silence,