The Unwavering Heart That Broke novel Chapter 47

Damaris looked from Nathalie to Fabian and back again, picking up on the tension. There was definitely something going on, she thought, something neither of them wanted to say out loud.

Fabian, sensing Nathalie’s chill, tried to break the ice with a halfhearted cough. “Nathalie, I just got back, so I don’t really know what’s been happening. In my mind, you and Lance are still like you were five or six years ago—totally inseparable. That’s why I figured you must’ve just had a fight or something. Now that I know more, I realize you’ve really been through a lot. I was wrong to jump to conclusions before, and I’m sorry.”

The real surprise in Nathalie’s eyes softened her face for just a second. “You figured it out that quickly?”

Fabian looked even more awkward, rubbing the back of his neck. “Lance defending Felice and going against his own wife… everyone’s talking about it. The whole circle knows. I didn’t even need to ask around.”

Nathalie just pressed her lips together, too drained to respond.

Damaris piped up, trying to lighten the mood. “So… are you here to make us feel worse or to actually apologize?”

Fabian gave an anxious little smile. “To apologize, of course. I mean it.” He glanced at Nathalie, his eyes sincere. “I’m really sorry.”

Nathalie shrugged and gave a thin smile. “It’s okay. They’ll end up together anyway. I’m just getting a head start on moving on.”

Glancing around, Fabian gestured at the busy restaurant. “This isn’t really the best spot to talk. Why don’t we go to my private room? Eating by myself is kind of depressing.”

Damaris’s face lit up at the thought of not having to wait forever. But Nathalie just shook her head. “No thanks. We won’t be here much longer anyway.”

Fabian let out a long breath. “You’re still mad at me, aren’t you? What if I apologize again, would that help? Come on, we’ve known each other for years—it’d suck if this ruined our friendship.”

After that, Nathalie couldn’t quite keep up her icy act.

Damaris grinned, quick to smooth things over. “Well, thanks, handsome. If we hadn’t run into you, we probably would’ve starved out here waiting.”

He remembered her from college, the girl standing by the dorms in her white coat and red scarf, long black hair framing a delicate, hopeful face. She’d looked up with those bright, shy eyes and left everyone breathless. When she and Lance first got together, you could see in every look and smile that she adored him. Whenever he was around, she only had eyes for him. And the other guys? They were wildly jealous.

Now, Nathalie just shook her head, her voice cold. “Honestly, I can’t even stand to look at them. Just the sight makes me sick.” All that sweetness and shyness from before had drained away from her features. Her eyes seemed darker too, weighed down by pain she didn’t want to show.

Fabian felt a pang, a little twist of sympathy in his chest. He hesitated, then asked, “I saw you coming out of the law office before… were you trying to file for divorce?”

Nathalie nodded again and pulled a wry smile. “Yeah, but nobody wants to take the case. Who in Cabinda would ever risk crossing Lance?”

Fabian’s expression shifted, the joking tone gone. “If you really want out, I can help.”

His quiet promise hung in the air. Across the table, both Damaris and Nathalie stared at him, completely stunned.