The Unwavering Heart That Broke (Nathalie and Lance) novel Chapter 323

The living room of the villa felt heavy and silent. Even the staff moved with careful, quiet steps. Madonna sat with a photo album in her hands, her sadness written all over her face.

Felice and Jasper were nowhere to be seen. When Nathalie walked in, she felt the tension in her body ease just a little.

Madonna glanced up at her. “You done talking to Lance?”

“Yeah,” Nathalie answered, her tone quiet as she took a seat in an armchair.

Before she could settle, Madonna tapped the spot beside her. “Come on, sit with me.”

Nathalie wasn’t sure why, but she went over and sat down next to her

anyway.

Madonna flipped through the album and pointed at a picture. “This one is Jackson back in the day. He’s only a year older than Lance. Don’t they look alike?”

In the photo, two teenage boys stood side by side, both with that unmistakable youthful spirit. Jackson smiled gently for the camera, his eyes kind and bright. Next to him, Lance flashed a wild, carefree grin, one hand running through his hair, the other slung over Jackson’s shoulder. The resemblance between the brothers was obvious, right down to their

height.

“Jackson was always calm and steady. We trained him to take over The Adams Group. He was really good at it…” Madonna’s voice softened as she spoke.

Nathalie stared at the photo, and out of nowhere, a strange, uneasy feeling washed over her. She couldn’t quite put her finger on why.

Madonna let out a sigh. “He only really disappointed me when it came to

Chapter 323

his marriage. I didn’t want Felice as a daughter–in–law, but she got pregnant, so I agreed to the wedding. In the end, she lost the baby. Otherwise, I might not have gone along with it.”

Nathalie had never heard that part of the story before.

“Still, after they got married, Jackson didn’t slack off, and Felice kept to herself,” Madonna went on with a sigh. “No one expected everything to go wrong later…”

Nathalie turned away from the album. “It’s all in the past, Madonna. Don’t torture yourself thinking about it, or you’ll make yourself sick.”

Madonna closed the album and nodded. “You’re right. We all need to move forward.” She looked at Nathalie with a complicated expression. “Try not to argue with Lance, at least not today.”

“Okay,” Nathalie replied quietly.

Right then, Lance walked in.

Madonna greeted him with a smile and struck up a conversation, trying to keep things light.

Nathalie pulled out her phone and started playing a game, choosing to stay quiet in her corner. Every now and then, Lance glanced her way, but he didn’t say a word to her.

Suddenly, Lance’s phone rang. The caller ID said it was Leda.

He picked up, and Leda’s voice, frail and resentful, came through. “Did you go to the cemetery?”

“Yes, Grandma.”

“Don’t call me that. I don’t have a grandson like you,” Leda snapped, her words heavy with bitterness. “Today’s the anniversary of Jackson’s death, and I can’t even go back to see him. It’s like someone’s stabbing me in the heart. Jackson was always the most devoted.”

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