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

happened? Did you get into

reply as

knit together as she noticed something

"Was it Hamilton?"

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

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

felt a twinge of guilt; it wasn't anything else

Ryan. It was an emergency, and I didn't have the

have the chance,

was

she finally said, "Sorry. In the

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 there for her immediately.

do you plan to officially

handling her resignation. But now, due to the

at

Ryan's frown deepened instantly.

say it would be

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?"

of silence,

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

Ryan's expression darkened.

Natalia, do you even consider

she couldn't 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 money always

at 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

relationship and would naturally need time to commit to

under the covers

you give

looked at her, the question heavy in

came back to you, would you get back together with

side of the

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

"Where was he found?"

Alden frowned harder.

old, abandoned yard. By the time we got

of his nose, a clear sign of his rising

surveillance

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

a moment of heavy silence, Hamilton