The Unwavering Heart That Broke novel Chapter 4

Nathalie blinked, forcing down the sting behind her eyes. Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts. A new email waited in her inbox. She tapped it open and stared, barely believing what she was seeing.

Dozens of photos, every single one showing Lance by Felice’s side. There was Felice, barely showing, with Lance next to her at the doctor’s office. Felice again, belly rounder, strolling through the park with him. Then Felice in a hospital gown, Lance pacing outside the delivery room. Each photo was clearly dated. All of them were from the year Felice had her baby.-

That year, Lance’s constant travel hadn’t just been about work. He’d spent Felice’s entire pregnancy with her.

Now here he was, lying right beside Nathalie, his arms heavy and possessive around her. Pain hit her, sharp and overwhelming, cutting straight through her chest. She’d tried so hard to hold herself together, but now tears rolled down her cheeks before she could stop them. Eight years together—had he ever truly loved her at all?

Nathalie shot up and slapped Lance across the face.

He woke instantly, hand going to his cheek, anger flashing in his eyes. The anger faded when he saw her tears.

“Nathalie,” he said, voice tightening with worry. He reached for her, gripping her shoulders. “What’s going on? Did you have a nightmare?”

“Lance, I want to get a divorce.” She dropped her gaze, shrugging off his hands and moving away.

Lance’s voice softened, almost careful. “Nathalie, talk to me. What happened? Why are you saying this all of a sudden? Weren’t we fine before?” He tried to smile, coaxing, “Come on, don’t make a scene.”

“Nathalie!” Lance’s voice rose, his face dark and unreadable.

She was never meant to know any of this. Lance needed to figure out how she’d found out, but that barely registered now.

He let out a long, tired breath. “Jackson’s death was sudden. My parents were devastated. They could barely deal with their own pain, let alone look after Felice.” His voice faltered, then shifted. “And her parents… you always hated her. You didn’t want her anywhere near my family, so she never told them anything.”

He looked at her, exasperated. “That’s all it was. I was only helping for Jackson’s sake. Don’t make this into more than it is.”