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?"

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

you get

terse reply as

she noticed something off with

"Was it Hamilton?"

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

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

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

emergency, and I didn't

you didn't have the

tone was

said, "Sorry. In the future, no

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. Yet Hamilton was always lurking

plan to officially

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, she had to sign an agreement with

be at least

Ryan's frown deepened instantly.

say it would

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?"

moment of silence, Natalia told the

break my contract with Hamilton. I had no

Ryan's expression darkened.

this? Natalia, do

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

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

relationship and would naturally need time to commit to another. But with

out from under the covers and took his

can you give

looked at her, the question heavy in his

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

side

tangled web of disgust and concern. Hamilton, with a cigarette pinched

"Where was he found?"

Alden frowned harder.

abandoned yard. By the time we got there, he

pinched the bridge of his nose, a clear sign of his rising

about the surveillance

from a convenience

of heavy silence,