The Unwavering Heart That Broke novel Chapter 3

Lance’s eyes were cold and sharp, his gaze cutting right through her. “Nathalie, if you go through with this divorce, don’t come back later wishing you hadn’t,” he said, voice low and steady.

Nathalie’s lashes fluttered. She managed to hold his gaze. “Just sign it.”-

Regret? Not a chance. Was she supposed to keep waiting up at night while he spent his time with another woman and their son? She wasn’t the forgiving type, not even close. If anything, she was selfish enough to admit it. She had put up with this for two years, all because she loved him. That had to count for something, didn’t it? She’d given him every ounce of patience she had.

But he’d tossed her love aside like it was nothing, not even worth his attention. So this time, she was done giving.

She watched him grab the pen with those long, defined fingers. His handwriting was as careless as his attitude. Once he finished, she stepped up and took the divorce papers for herself.

“We’re meeting at the registry office tomorrow. Don’t be late.”

That was it. She spun around and left.

Jasper’s little sniffles still echoed from the couch. Lance looked down and tried to soften his voice. “Jasper, real men don’t cry. Real men can scare off the big bad wolf, remember?”

Jasper wiped away a tear. He sniffled once more but tried to pull himself together. “I want to be a man. I can beat the big bad wolf.”

“That’s my boy,” Lance said, forcing a smile that never made it to his eyes.

Felice looked guilt-ridden. “This is my fault. I just panicked when Jasper got that fever. I had no idea how to handle it, and now Nathalie wants a divorce. Lance, you should go after her. Let me stay with Jasper.”

Lance shook his head. “No. She’s being childish, arguing with a kid like that. Maybe she needs to learn a lesson this time.”

Nathalie felt lighter, a pressure gone, the second the divorce agreement was in her hand. She went home, popped open a bottle of wine, and finished the whole thing before finally crawling into bed.

She woke up the next morning with a heavy, warm weight at her side. There was a faint, familiar scent in the air. She rolled over and saw him sleeping next to her, arm thrown around her waist like everything was perfectly normal.

But they’d just signed the papers the night before.

Nathalie stared at his sleeping face. He was still as heartbreakingly handsome as the day she’d fallen for him. She remembered the first time she’d met him, and how she’d saved his life in that earthquake. One thing led to another, and after ending up at the same college, he’d confessed, promising they’d be together forever.

She’d laughed at him for being so earnest. Who promises forever just like that? But her heart had never beaten so fast for anyone else. They’d fallen in love, got married right after graduation. She really believed their forever would last.

Except now, his heart belonged somewhere else—to that other woman and her son. Nathalie didn’t know how to be generous. If she wasn’t the most important person in his life, if she was second to anyone else, she didn’t want him at all.