The Unwavering Heart That Broke novel Chapter 16

Lance’s brows knit together, sharp and intense as ever. Seeing Nathalie so upset, his voice dropped, colder than usual.

“I only go over when something happens to Jasper. What does any of that have to do with Felice and me?”

Nathalie clung to the front of his shirt, knuckles white, trying not to let the tears fall, but she couldn’t stop them. Her voice was raw and shaky. “So what if, one day, both Jasper and I fell into the water? Who would you save?”

“That’s never going to happen.”

Lance’s patience was wearing thin. “Jasper’s a kid. As his family, we’re supposed to look out for him and teach him right from wrong.”

He stopped for a second, his tone softening just a little. “Jackson has always been good to you. For him, can you please just care for Jasper a bit too?”

“No.”

Nathalie shot him down right away.

Letting go of his collar, she turned away. “I’m a terrible woman. I can’t stand how his presence pulls all of your attention away from me. If you’re going to keep looking after him, then let’s get a divorce first.”

This was turning into a never-ending cycle.

Lance looked at her, his patience pretty much gone. He let her go. “We’re not getting divorced. When you calm down and really think about this, you’ll see where I’m coming from.”

Nathalie pressed her hands into tight fists. “But you already signed the divorce papers!”

Lance just said, “It doesn’t matter,” and wouldn’t even look at her anymore.

Nathalie felt like she was losing her mind.

She gritted out, “So you won’t agree no matter what? Fine. Every time I run into that woman and her son, I’m going to make their lives miserable.”

Lance just looked at her for a long moment.

She had no idea what that look meant, not yet.

Back at Lumina Grand, seeing the extra bodyguards by the door, Nathalie could only gape in disbelief. “What’s with the security?” Her voice was trembling.

Lance reached for her hand. “Your knee is hurt. You need to stay home and rest for now. The guards are here to keep you safe.”

Nathalie just stared after him as he walked away, stiff and unyielding. “Are you really… locking me up?”

Nathalie glared up at him. “You can’t keep me here.”

“I’m not doing that,” Lance said. “You don’t have any money right now. You can’t just leave and do whatever you want. It’s better if you stay put and heal.”

Nathalie met his eyes, dead serious. “You are absolutely heartless.”

Lance looked away, his brow tight. “Nathalie.”

She turned away too, refusing to look at him, her chest tight with pain, her whole body shaking inside.

All this for Felice and Jasper.

He’d cut her off, stopped her from spending, and was now keeping her stuck here, forcing her to “reflect.” How was this fair? How could he treat her like this?

Lance watched her, taking in the trembling lashes, how pale she looked, the stubborn tilt of her chin. She was determined. She really wanted this divorce.

He felt that certainty he’d always had slipping away, like he couldn’t hold onto anything anymore.

When his phone rang, he left the room, leaving Nathalie alone with her pain.