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?"

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

you get into a

reply

knit together as she noticed something

"Was it Hamilton?"

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. He didn't want to tell Natalia about it, though. It would just sound like

didn't you tell me you were hurt, Natalia? You promised me before that you would let me

guilt; it wasn't anything else but the fact

It was an emergency, and I didn't have

it that you didn't have the chance,

tone was sharp,

After a brief silence, she finally said, "Sorry. In the future, no matter what happens, I'll try to let

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 always lurking close by. He felt

you plan to

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

be at least another six

Ryan's frown deepened instantly.

you say it would

possible." Once the new

Ryan was visibly upset.

"Did something happen?"

of silence, Natalia

to break my contract with Hamilton. I

Ryan's expression darkened.

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

possibly ask 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

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, she

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

out from under the covers and took his

give me

at her, the question heavy

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

the other side of

face a tangled web of disgust and concern. Hamilton, with a cigarette pinched between his fingers, had a

"Where was he found?"

Alden frowned harder.

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

bridge of his nose, a

about the surveillance in the

only one from a convenience store nearby, but it didn't

of