The Unwavering Heart That Broke (Nathalie and Lance) novel Chapter 274

Lance’s eyebrows knitted together. “Mom, don’t go.”

Madonna’s lips tightened. “Lance, you can’t keep sheltering her like this.”

He met her eyes, his voice steady and unyielding. “She’s the Blair family’s daughter. If anyone should call the shots at Blair Group, it’s her. Felice is the one making trouble, not Nathalie.”

Madonna’s frown deepened. “Still, if Nathalie doesn’t step up, I’m worried this won’t blow over so easily.”

Lance held her gaze, his eyes dark and cool. “What do you expect her to do? Should she apologize to Felice, or just give in every time Felice wants something?”

Madonna didn’t say anything.

He went on, his tone dropping even lower. “Nathalie saved me years ago. Let me handle this. She’s not obligated to put up with Felice’s tantrums, and she doesn’t owe anyone anything.”

Silence took over the hallway outside the emergency room.

Madonna mulled over his words and realized he was right. None of this was really Nathalie’s fault, was it? Felice was the one who’d insisted on going abroad, on taking Jasper away. If she hadn’t kicked up such a fuss, would any of this have happened in the first place?

Earlier, after seeing Lance almost get hit by that car, Madonna had been swept up in the chaos and gone along with Felice, blaming Nathalie without thinking. Now, calmer, she could feel that something didn’t add up.

She turned to Lance. “Did they catch the driver?”

“He’s been taken to the police station,” Lance replied, sober.

Madonna didn’t let it drop. “Have them investigate properly. That road hardly ever has cars, plus the speed limit’s low. That car showing up right then? Feels too convenient.”

Her eyes drifted to Jasper, asleep in Lance’s arms. His cheeks were tearstained, and his lashes still sparkled with leftover tears. He looked heartbreakingly small.

With Jackson gone, Jasper only had his mother. Everyone felt for the child, no one wanted him torn away from the only parent he had left. But unfortunately, his mother’s heart was cold.

…

Meanwhile, Nathalie had no idea what had happened with Felice.

Since she was late coming in that morning, she’d worked overtime and didn’t leave until half past eight. At least Addis’s mood seemed to have improved by the end of the day.

Just as she slid into her car on her way to the hospital, her phone lit up with an unexpected call.

“Gavin?”

“It’s me.” Gavin sounded tired, maybe even a little lost. Voices and background noise buzzed on his end. “Nathalie, are you free? I’d really like to see you.”

Nathalie checked the clock on her dash. “It’s a bit late tonight. How about tomorrow evening?”