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

Did you get into a

came Ryan's terse reply as he adjusted her

brows knit together as she

"Was it Hamilton?"

really done anything to Natalia, the things he said were just to rile

were hurt, Natalia? You promised me before that you

anything else but the fact that she

an emergency, and I didn't have

the chance, or you

was

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

immediately regretted his 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

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

at

Ryan's frown deepened instantly.

you say it would

as possible." Once the new company with Ron Group was on track and her bet

Ryan was visibly upset.

"Did something happen?"

moment of silence,

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

Ryan's expression darkened.

about this? Natalia, do you even consider

Ryan for the money. And if she could solve a problem through her own efforts, she didn't want to depend on a man. Asking for money always

at that moment, 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,

need time to commit to another. But with Hamilton as a formidable rival before him, he was full

out from under the

you give

at her, the question heavy in his

you, would

other side of the

stood in the hallway, his face a tangled web of disgust and concern. Hamilton, with a cigarette pinched between his fingers, had a gaze that could cut

"Where was he found?"

Alden frowned harder.

By the time we got there,

his nose, a clear sign of

about the surveillance in

"There's only one from a convenience

of heavy silence,