The Unwavering Heart That Broke (Nathalie and Lance) novel Chapter 257

Morning light leaked in when Nathalie shuffled out of her room, circles dark and heavy under her eyes. Adelaide spotted her and let out a soft chuckle.

“My sweet girl, what’s up? Didn’t sleep well?”

Nathalie plopped herself against her grandmother, letting out a couple of tired whimpers before she answered, “I had nightmares all night.”

Well, with Lance interrupting her again and again, how could she not have nightmares?

Adelaide smiled, brushing Nathalie’s hair back gently. “Why don’t you head back to bed for a while?”

“No way.” Eyes squeezed shut, Nathalie shook her head. “You’re leaving today, Grandma. I want to take you to the airport.”

Adelaide’s voice was warm. “Alright then, let me make you some breakfast.”

Nathalie didn’t argue.

She loved her grandma’s cooking. After a quick wash, she even put on some makeup to cover up how drained she felt. By the time she stepped out, Adelaide was leaning on the stove with her eyes closed, looking tired herself.

“Grandma, don’t I look pretty?” Nathalie called, a hopeful smile on her face.

Adelaide turned at the sound of her voice and a soft glow bloomed in her smile. “Beautiful, so beautiful. My sweet girl is always the prettiest.”

Nathalie grinned wide, throwing her arms around Adelaide, refusing to let go.

A fleeting shadow crossed Adelaide’s eyes, but she kept her voice gentle. “Alright, time to eat.”

“Okay.”

When breakfast hit the table, Nathalie dug in like she hadn’t eaten for days. Each bite was delicious, but the thought of saying goodbye hovered, dull and heavy.

She didn’t want her grandmother to leave.

Adelaide just kept watching her with a smile so full of love, like she couldn’t get enough of her granddaughter’s face.

Before she was ten, Nathalie barely visited her grandma’s place. Camilla had always been distant from Adelaide, so visits were rare. Things changed after Felice moved in with the Blairs. Every time Felice accused her of something, Nathalie would get upset and run away to her grandmother’s. She remembered the first time she left on her own. She ended up staying at Adelaide’s for more than ten days before Daniel and Camilla even realized she was gone. They only started looking for her in a panic after that…

“Grandma, wait for me. I’ll come visit you. Promise.”

“I’ll be waiting.” Adelaide’s smile was so gentle. “Time will fly by. We’ll see each other soon.”

Nathalie nodded, blinking away the sting in her eyes, and finally let go.

Adelaide turned to Lance and gave him a long look. She let out a soft sigh. “If it’s possible, maybe you both should give each other some space for a while. Sometimes you need distance to see your own heart clearly. Deciding about your future when you’re both calm would be better than dragging things out like this, don’t you think?”

Lance’s face was unreadable. “You’re right, Grandma.”

He listened, but he wasn’t planning on following her advice.

Adelaide seemed to notice. She looked like she was about to say more when her body suddenly swayed.

Before anyone could react, she slumped forward. Nathalie’s panicked shout echoed around them as Adelaide collapsed right there.