The Unwavering Heart That Broke novel Chapter 46

When Lance saw who it was, the icy look on his face completely melted away. Warmth softened his eyes as he waved Jasper over. “Jasper, come here.”

Jasper hurried to him and immediately wrapped his arms around Lance’s leg. “Lance, are you upset?” he asked, his voice sweet and gentle as he looked up, those big, dark eyes practically glowing.

Jasper looked a lot like his older brother, Jackson. The resemblance made Lance think of him right away. Jackson had always been the steady one, while Lance was usually getting into trouble as a kid. There was that time he ran off alone to play. Jackson found him, but that day, some people who’d been keeping an eye on the Adams family saw both boys alone and snatched them.

They were kept for three whole days.

Meals were scarce. Each day, they got just one bun to share. Jackson always made sure Lance ate first, and if there was any water, Jackson gave it to him too.

When the kidnappers wanted to drag Lance out and beat him, Jackson stood in front, taking the brunt of it. Lance could still remember those muffled groans of pain even now.

“Lance?”

Jasper called his name a couple of times, pulling him out of his thoughts.

“I’m not upset,” Lance said, finally snapping back to reality. His gaze turned even softer, just looking at the boy.

“It’s really late. Why are you still at the hospital?” he asked.

Jasper glanced nervously at the doorway before answering, “You seemed unhappy, Lance. I was worried about you.”

Lance’s hand ruffled Jasper’s hair. “I’m okay. It’s getting late, you should head home. Listen to your mom, alright?”

But Jasper still didn’t let go. He clung tighter to Lance’s leg and mumbled, “Lance, all the other kids have dads. Why don’t I?”

“Your dad was a hero,” Lance said carefully. The words didn’t come easy. “You can’t see him, but he’s always with you, watching over you.”

“But I want a dad who’s really here,” Jasper said, pressing his cheek into Lance’s leg. “Can you be my dad, Lance? I want someone who’ll be with me.”

Hearing that, Lance’s eyebrows pulled together and his voice went low. “Who told you to say something like that?”

“Yeah.” Lance closed his eyes, clearly done talking.

Left with no choice, Felice carried Jasper away.

When the hospital room door closed, Lance opened his eyes, frowning. He pulled out his phone and spoke into it quietly. “Let Jasper’s nanny know, anything Felice says to him, I want to hear about it.”

...

Nathalie and Damaris were waiting in line at a hot pot place when someone familiar walked up.

“Nathalie, what are the odds, running into you again,” Fabian said, grinning as he approached.

Nathalie’s face turned cold. “What do you want?”

She knew he was one of Lance’s friends and had always taken Lance’s side. She really wasn’t in the mood to deal with him.