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 hardly hurt

happened? Did you get into

came Ryan's terse reply as he adjusted her

she noticed something off

"Was it Hamilton?"

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 to tell Natalia about it, though. It would just sound like

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

wasn't anything else

an emergency, and I didn't have

it that you didn't have the chance, or

tone was

silence, she finally said, "Sorry. In the future,

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

do you plan to officially join

slightly and fell silent. She 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

might be at least another

Ryan's frown deepened instantly.

you say it would

new company with Ron

Ryan was visibly upset.

"Did something happen?"

silence, Natalia told

Hamilton. I had no choice

Ryan's expression darkened.

tell me about this? Natalia, do you even consider

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

those traits. He hadn't seen what she was like with Hamilton, but it

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 him, he was full of a

out from under the

you give me six

the question heavy in his

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

the other side of the

Hamilton, with

"Where was he found?"

Alden frowned harder.

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

nose, a clear sign of his

the surveillance

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

a moment of heavy silence,