The Unwavering Heart That Broke (Nathalie and Lance) novel Chapter 251

Camilla glanced at Nathalie and said, "Your grandmother should have known about all this years ago."

Nathalie stared back, cold and unblinking. "What are you getting out of this? Aren't you her daughter? Why would you do this to her?"

How could anyone treat their mother this way? Gran had lived so long and been through enough already. Some things were better left buried with the past.

But Camilla just shook her head. "I've carried this on my conscience for decades. Now, for once, I have a chance to let it out. Why shouldn't I?"

"You…"

Nathalie tried to push back, but Adelaide squeezed her arm gently. "Nathalie, it's alright. I've lived a long life. There’s nothing left that can scare me. Don’t worry."

"But..." Nathalie tried to insist.

How could she not worry? She never believed a single word Camilla said. Claiming Gran was the other woman? The idea was ridiculous. Still, once all this was said out loud, would her grandmother start to spiral?

Adelaide smiled at her, warm and calm. "Sweetheart, I want to hear what she has to say."

Nathalie felt a sudden sting in her eyes. For a moment, she couldn’t find anything to say.

Upstairs, with the door closed behind them, Camilla sat down across from Adelaide. "Winnie was the love of my father’s life," she began.

It was a bombshell, but Adelaide’s face didn’t change. She sat there, looking as composed as ever.

Camilla went on, "Years ago, your family and the Lane family arranged for you to marry my father. He didn't want to go along with it, so he made plans to run away with Winnie instead. They were going to use that pair of sapphire earrings as a promise between them. Everything was ready. Then the Lane family found out… they forced my father to give in and rushed Winnie into another marriage."

Camilla frowned, frustration showing. "Mother, that’s not important…"

"It is important." Adelaide’s voice was suddenly sharper. "You’re my daughter, and yet you went and became close with the woman your father loved before me. Is that why you started pulling away from me? Was it all because of her?"

Camilla didn’t answer, but her silence gave enough away.

Adelaide closed her eyes for a moment, and some of the color drained from her face. "So what you’re really saying is, in your heart, you think she’s the one who should have ended up with your father, don’t you?"

Something flickered across Camilla’s face, but she nodded anyway. "Yes. My father was only with you because he felt responsible. Winnie had a hard life too, after all that happened. If they hadn’t been forced apart, I honestly believe they would have been happy together."

"Do you ever wish you were her daughter instead?" Adelaide asked quietly.