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?"

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

happened? Did you

came Ryan's terse reply as he

together as she noticed

"Was it Hamilton?"

Hamilton. Even though he knew Hamilton hadn't really done anything to Natalia, the things he said were just to

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

else but the fact

was an emergency, and I didn't have the

it that you didn't have the chance, or

tone was

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

a situation, he knew Natalia probably really hadn't had the chance. But he still felt uneasy. There was too much distance

do you plan to officially

She had intended to move to the State Department right after handling her resignation. But now, due to the penalty fee,

at

Ryan's frown deepened instantly.

it

to make it as quick as possible." Once the new company with Ron Group

Ryan was visibly upset.

"Did something happen?"

a moment of silence, Natalia told

to break my contract with Hamilton.

Ryan's expression darkened.

you tell me about this? Natalia, do you even consider me your

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

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

to commit to another. But with Hamilton as a formidable rival

under the covers and took his

can you give

her, the question

if-Hamilton came back to you, would you get back

other side of

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

"Where was he found?"

Alden frowned harder.

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

the bridge of his nose, a clear sign of his

about the surveillance

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

moment of