The Unwavering Heart That Broke novel Chapter 17

Nathalie tore through the living room like a storm, breaking whatever she could get her hands on. When it was finally quiet, she sat in the middle of the mess, staring into space, her mind blank.

Out of nowhere, she pushed herself up and staggered to the liquor cabinet. She dragged out every bottle she owned, popping them open one by one, taking long swigs from each till they all blurred together. The burn of the alcohol dulled everything inside her until she was completely out of it, just a numb heaviness washing over her.

She let herself believe, for just a moment, that maybe all this was just a terrible nightmare. Maybe, if she kept drinking and passed out long enough, everything would be back to normal when she woke up. Back to the days when they were actually happy. Back to how it was when he used to look at her like she was his whole world.

She had no idea how long she was out, but eventually her phone shrieked her awake. The sound dragged her back into reality, her head pounding.

“Hello?” she mumbled, voice thick.

“Nathalie, your and Mr. Adams’s physical check-up reports are ready. Would you like to pick them up, or should we send them to your address?” The voice was soft but businesslike—the clinic.

Her whole head was spinning. “Just mail them to me,” she muttered, then ended the call. She sat up slowly, staring at the ruined living room, her face blank and empty.

She called for a cleaning service, then dragged herself upstairs for a shower.

None of it was a dream. This was real. There was no escaping it.

The package came fast. She stood by the door, tearing into the envelope without thinking. She scanned her own medical report first—nothing unusual, nothing wrong. A bitter smile tugged at her lips.

Four years of marriage. The first two, she’d wanted time with just the two of them, so they were careful, always using protection. Then Jasper was born. After that, it felt like Felice was always finding ways to pull Lance away. Nathalie started thinking, maybe if she had a baby too, things would get better. Maybe he’d come back to her, come back to their little family.

She tried for two years. Nothing happened. She even started sneaking traditional medicines, desperate for anything that might work, but still, no baby.

The two of them decided on a full physical, just to see if there was a reason. If something was wrong, she told herself, they could just do IVF. That check-up was a month before their anniversary. The results were only arriving now, weeks later.

She almost laughed at how life worked.

But when she opened Lance’s report, everything inside her froze.

Damaris immediately picked up on the tension. “Is something wrong? What happened?”

Nathalie shut her eyes, holding back a fresh wave of tears. “Just tell me when you know.”

She ended the call, gripping her phone until her knuckles turned white.

Not long after, a message arrived. Lance was at Bagot’s birthday party.

Nathalie pulled herself together. She put on clean clothes, fixed her makeup, and headed straight for the club.

Inside, the mood couldn’t have been more different. Laughter echoed through the room. Balloons and ribbons floated in the air. Everyone was teasing Bagot, grins on their faces.

Nathalie walked in on heels, stepping into the center of it all.