The Unwavering Heart That Broke (Nathalie and Lance) novel Chapter 556

He held her tight, his formidable, grounding presence enveloping her and delivering an endless stream of security.

Nathalie’s eyelashes fluttered. For a fleeting second, panic seized her heart, quickly followed by a terrifying realization: she actually craved the warmth of his embrace.

She squeezed her eyes shut, desperately forcing herself to remain rational. "Why are you helping me so much? What's your angle?"

A soft, quiet sigh brushed against her ear. Lance gently stroked her back. "I don't want a divorce. That’s my angle. Everything I do for you is because I can't stand the thought of you leaving me."

He pulled back just enough to lock his deep, magnetic gaze with hers, his expression deadly serious. "Since we can't get a divorce in the short term anyway, why don't we try living like we used to? Like a normal married couple."

Nathalie's heart gave a violent lurch, instantly flooded with an agonizing mix of bitterness and sorrow.

It was as if he had triggered a deeply ingrained trauma response.

Her body reacted on instinct—she wanted to run, to turn her back and flee.

Her mind flashed back to their eight years together. During the first four years, they were deeply, truly in love. Their relationship had been solid; they knew every little detail about each other, catering to each other's needs, their affection compounding day by day. That was exactly why the betrayal later on had shattered her so completely.

After Jackson passed away, everything changed. Tiny, microscopic cracks began to form in their foundation.

It all started the very moment Lance began paying special attention to Felice James.

Nathalie turned her face away, utterly unwilling to revisit those memories. "I can't just erase the past. Maintaining this fragile peace between us right now is the absolute most I can offer."

Lance’s breathing grew heavy. Seeing her pale, exhausted face, he knew he couldn't push her any further.

He pulled her back into his arms, his voice thick with emotion. "Alright. I respect your boundaries. But I need you to remember one thing: From the very beginning until the bitter end, Lance only loves Nathalie."

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