The Unwavering Heart That Broke novel Chapter 26

Nathalie stared in silence, her eyebrows knitting together. Was this really just a coincidence? The family doctor just happened to be away on business at the exact moment Lance got hurt?

She glanced at the man slumped in the doorway, his face shockingly pale. “You should really find a new family doctor,” she said.

A family doctor was supposed to be there for the Adams family around the clock, always on call, always looking after their health. That was literally the job.

“Yeah,” Lance replied. He coughed softly, the sound thin and weak, and the color seemed to drain even more from his face.

For a second, Nathalie truly worried he might die. If that happened, she’d never get the divorce finalized.

She got to her feet, her pretty face as cold as frost, and strode over. Lance tried to follow but wobbled a bit before trailing after her at a slow pace.

A wave of frustration hit her. She walked over, took his arm, and propped it over her shoulder, half-carrying him to the bed.

Lance glanced sideways at her, studying her expression. She looked tense, gaze cast downward, long lashes trembling now and then.

“Nathalie. You do still care about me, don’t you?” His voice was raspy, but there was a gentleness in the way he said it that she hadn’t heard in so long.

She helped him sit on the bed, standing over him. “I just don't want you to drop dead.”

He looked up at her, searching her face. “Wouldn’t it be simpler if I just died? Then you wouldn’t have to go through with the divorce. You’d finally be free.”

Nathalie kept her hands busy opening the first-aid kit, her voice even. “Lance, I loved you for eight years. You did plenty to hurt me, but none of that erases the fact that I loved you. I don’t want the person I once cared about to die, that’s all.”

She was so calm, almost too calm—the kind of calm that comes when your heart is long numb.

“Turn around.”

Lance froze for a second. His chest felt too tight, like he couldn’t catch his breath.

“Nathalie…”

He swallowed, reaching for her hand.

Monday morning.

Nathalie had all their paperwork in hand, standing in the living room as Lance finally stepped out to join her.

He wore a black button-down, short hair freshly styled. He looked as handsome as ever, all sharp angles and quiet authority, but there was a chill in his eyes, his mouth a firm line as he looked at her.

Nathalie tightened her grip on the documents. “You’re not going to back out, are you?”

“No,” Lance said quietly.

They left for the registry office together.

Midway there, Lance’s phone suddenly started ringing. Nathalie’s whole body tensed, her heart racing.

She shot him a wary look. “Don’t tell me this is about work and you’ve got another last-minute trip.”