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

happened? Did you get into a

reply as he adjusted

she

"Was it Hamilton?"

had come over and ended up in 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.

you were hurt, Natalia? You promised me before that you would let me know if anything happened,

it wasn't anything else but the

an emergency, and

the chance, or

tone was

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

There was too much distance between

plan to officially join

frowned slightly and fell silent. She had intended to move to the State Department right after handling her resignation. But now, due to the

at least

Ryan's frown deepened instantly.

say it

as possible." Once the new

Ryan was visibly upset.

"Did something happen?"

a moment of silence,

to pay fifty million to break my contract with Hamilton. I had no choice but to sign an agreement with

Ryan's expression darkened.

this? Natalia,

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

hadn't seen what she was like with

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

the covers and took

can you give me six

at her, the question heavy in

came back to you,

side of the

concern. Hamilton, with a cigarette

"Where was he found?"

Alden frowned harder.

abandoned yard. By the

his nose,

the surveillance

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

a moment of