The Unwavering Heart That Broke novel Chapter 41

Nathalie’s eyes flew wide and she struggled desperately, breath coming out in ragged bursts. Red rimmed her eyes and unshed tears shimmered, threatening to spill over.

“You bastard!”

Lance’s breathing grew heavier as he stared at her, his gaze dark and unreadable. “Do you even know the whole story, Nathalie?”

She glared back, voice shaking. “What are you talking about?”

He got to his feet and pulled her up beside him. His tone was cold, almost biting. “Damaris was the one who started trouble. So what if I decided to teach her a lesson?”

Nathalie froze where she stood. “Who did she hurt?”

Lance’s Adam’s apple bobbed. It took him a moment to answer, voice low. “Felice.”

Of course it was about Felice. It always was.

Nathalie’s hands curled into tight fists. “She would never go after Felice. I told her you always protect Felice, like your life depends on it. Do you really think she’d be dumb enough to mess with her, risking your wrath?”

Her face had gone even paler, the pink at the corners of her eyes standing out like a bruise. She looked so breakable, like if someone breathed too hard she might just crumble. She glanced up at Lance, eyes tired, voice dropping. “Don’t you get it? She wouldn’t dare.”

That stabbed at Lance, sharp and unexpected. He caught her hand, holding on tight. “Nathalie, don’t look at me like that.”

A lump pressed at the back of her throat. Anger gave way to something heavier, sadder. She stared at him as if he were a stranger. “How else am I supposed to look at you? You’ve done so much for her, Lance. You keep defending her, and now you’re blaming Damaris too. Tell me, what do you expect from me?”

Lines drew tight across Lance’s forehead and his jaw clenched. He pulled out his phone and made a call. “Bring Damaris here.”

That made Nathalie panic. “What are you doing? I told you, she wouldn’t touch Felice!”

He didn’t answer right away, just let his voice drop. “If she’s really innocent, it’s better to ask her face to face.”

Then he called for Felice too.

A few minutes later, Felice walked in, carrying Jasper in her arms. The little boy shrank away the moment he spotted Nathalie, like he wanted to disappear.

Felice just quietly found a seat, the worried knot in her brows the only sign she cared.

A little while later, the bodyguards escorted Damaris in. She struggled, shaking them off with a glare. “Let go of me, I can walk!”

The second she saw Nathalie, she rushed over. “Nathalie, what are you doing here?”

She spun on Lance, fire in her eyes. “If you have a problem, take it out on me. Don’t you dare do anything to Nathalie!”

Sisterhood ran deep, even in a mess like this.

Lance watched her coolly. “Still refusing to apologize to Felice?”

Damaris sneered. “Why the hell should I apologize? What did I even do to her? That slut steals everything from Nathalie, I want nothing to do with her. Just looking at her makes me sick.”

Felice stood abruptly, face tight with disbelief. “Lance, what are you doing? I told you, it’s nothing. If you hurt Damaris, you’re only going to make Nathalie feel worse.”