The Unwavering Heart That Broke novel Chapter 53

“See? She’s said it herself. What a vicious woman, she doesn’t deserve to be Lance’s wife at all. Lance, you have to divorce her!”

Leda’s voice shook as she pointed at Nathalie, fury burning in her glare.

Daniel’s face darkened. He turned hurriedly to Leda, trying to calm her. “Leda, please. Don’t get too upset. We spoiled Nathalie. She took things too far, I admit it. I’ll have her apologize to Felice and punish her properly. It hasn’t been easy for Nathalie and Lance to be together. Divorce shouldn’t even be on the table.”

But Leda just snorted, looking down her nose. “How can two daughters in the Blair family be so different? One is gentle, well-behaved, and gracious. The other, arrogant and mean-spirited. What does that say about your family?”

Daniel’s jaw clenched. He had nothing to say to defend Nathalie, not now. Not after she’d admitted everything herself.

He glared at Nathalie, disappointment clear in his voice. “How could you do this? Go apologize to Leda, now.”

“Enough.”

Lance’s voice cracked through the arguing like thunder. Everyone froze. The room went silent.

He stepped up to Nathalie, hands gripping her shoulders. His fingers pressed in just slightly, holding back pain and frustration. He looked into her impassive face, his voice rough. “Nathalie, this isn’t you. I know you. Tell them the truth.”

Nathalie shook off his hands and stepped back, putting space between them. “It was me. I told you before, as long as you don’t divorce me, I won’t hold back every time I see that mother and son.”

Her eyes wavered, but her face stayed hard and cold. Underneath, though, she was fighting to keep it together. She’d never swallowed her pride for anyone. Never. Except for him, time and again. This time, she was willing to bear all the blame, if it finally meant divorce.

He said he understood her. He should be able to see what she wanted.

Would he let her go?

Lance spun, grabbing the butler’s shirt. “What do you mean it’s not working? There were so many guests today. Didn’t anyone check the cameras before?”

The butler stammered, “I don’t know when it broke. By the time I looked, it was just a blank screen. I’m sorry, Lance... I really don’t know.”

“Lance!” Leda’s voice cut sharply through the tension. “Look at yourself. Is this how you act in front of everyone?”

Lance slowly loosened his grip, letting the butler go. He stared at Nathalie, who stood a step away from them all, distant, as if she had nothing left to hold onto. Nothing left to care about. Not even him.

“Nathalie…”

She met his eyes at last. “It was me. I hate how close you are to Felice. It makes me angry, how kind you are to Jasper. You were with Felice when she had her baby, you even got a vasectomy. I hate you, Lance.”