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,

happened? Did you get into

reply as he

together as she noticed something off with

"Was it Hamilton?"

a scuffle with Hamilton. Even though he 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 he didn't trust

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

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

It was an emergency, and I didn't have

the chance, or you didn't

tone was sharp,

finally said, "Sorry. In the future,

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 immediately. Yet Hamilton was

to officially join the State

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

be at least another

Ryan's frown deepened instantly.

say it would be

"Plans have changed, but I'll try to make it as quick as possible." Once the new company with Ron Group was on track and

Ryan was visibly upset.

"Did something happen?"

a moment of silence, Natalia

Hamilton. I had no

Ryan's expression darkened.

tell me about this? Natalia, do

she couldn't possibly ask Ryan for the money. And if she could

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 with Hamilton, but

would naturally need time to commit to another. But with Hamilton as a formidable

reached out from under the covers and took

give me six

looked at her, the question heavy in

if—just if-Hamilton came back to you,

side of the

concern. Hamilton, with a cigarette

"Where was he found?"

Alden frowned harder.

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

pinched the bridge of his nose,

about the surveillance in

from a convenience store nearby, but it

a moment of heavy silence,