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, and with medicine applied,

you get

terse reply as he adjusted her

together as she noticed something off with

"Was it 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

you were hurt, Natalia? You promised me

it wasn't anything else but the fact that she might have

was an emergency, and I didn't have the

didn't have the chance, or you

tone was

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

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.

you 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 penalty fee,

at

Ryan's frown deepened instantly.

say it would

"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 her bet with Mason was settled, she could

Ryan was visibly upset.

"Did something happen?"

silence, Natalia told

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

Ryan's expression darkened.

Natalia, do you

something I can handle on my own." Their relationship was 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

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.

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 him, he was full of a sense of

the covers and

you give me

the question heavy in

if—just if-Hamilton came back to you, would you get

the other side of the

face a tangled web of disgust and concern. Hamilton,

"Where was he found?"

Alden frowned harder.

yard. By the time we got there, he was

pinched the bridge of his nose,

the surveillance

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

moment of heavy silence,