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?"

cut

happened? Did you get

came Ryan's terse reply as he adjusted her

she noticed something

"Was it Hamilton?"

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

were hurt, Natalia? You promised me before that

a twinge of guilt; it wasn't anything else but the fact that she might have

emergency, and I didn't

have the chance, or you didn't think

tone was sharp,

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

had the chance. But he still felt uneasy. There was too much distance between them. She was in

when do you plan to officially join the State

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

at least

Ryan's frown deepened instantly.

say it would be

Once the new company with Ron Group was on track and

Ryan was visibly upset.

"Did something happen?"

silence, Natalia told

pay fifty million to break my contract with Hamilton. I had

Ryan's expression darkened.

about this? Natalia, do you even consider me your

still new; 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 left her feeling

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 she was like with Hamilton, but it was clear she depended on him

knew he shouldn't rush 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

under the

give

the question

you,

the other side of the

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

"Where was he found?"

Alden frowned harder.

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

his nose, a clear sign of his

the surveillance in the

from a convenience store nearby, but it

moment of