The Unwavering Heart That Broke novel Chapter 58

The next day, the weather felt heavy and gray. Cold wind cut through the air, sharp enough to sting.

Nathalie showed up at City Hall with her documents clutched tight, only to spot a sleek black Rolls-Royce Phantom slide to a stop by the curb. The door swung open and Lance got out, tall and composed, his whole presence somehow colder than the weather. His eyes found her instantly, dark and unreadable.

She barely met his gaze before turning and walking inside.

Lance fell in step right behind her, his attention fixed on her straight, delicate back.

They grabbed a number and sat. The waiting area was crowded, full of couples breaking up. Not the best day for it, Nathalie thought, glancing around at tense faces and clasped hands.

Neither of them said a word.

Nathalie stared down, her nerves taut and pent-up. She couldn't relax, not until this was over for good.

“Is this really what you want?” Lance’s voice was low, sending a shiver down her spine.

Her lashes quivered. “I’d want it even less if we stayed together.”

He looked at her, eyebrows drawn in. “You chose this way to back me into a corner. Did you ever stop to think about how I’d feel?”

Nathalie finally looked at him, steady. “Did you think about me when you were in the States with Felice for her baby appointments? Or when you had your surgery for Jasper? Did my feelings cross your mind then?”

His jaw tightened. “That wasn’t about anyone else.”

She almost laughed. “Really? So you did it for me? Why wait until right after Jasper was born, then? You always put him first. The Adams family first. Was I ever even a part of the equation?”

Her voice sounded level, almost eerily calm. She’d expected heartbreak, but after everything, she just felt hollow.

This should have ended a long time ago, she thought. Maybe then she wouldn’t have spent years drowning in all this hurt.

She took a long breath. “Lance, for the sake of that time I saved your life, can you just let me go? We’re completely wrong for each other.”

“No,” she said quietly.

He shrugged. “I don’t need it either. It’s yours.” He glanced at the papers. “Looks like we’ll have to redo the agreement. We’ll need to come back tomorrow.”

Her voice caught. “Lance.”

Nathalie squeezed the pen so hard her knuckles whitened, tears threatening to spill over.

Lance watched her, his fingers tugging restlessly at his collar as if that might ease the pressure in his chest.

He finally reached for the pen, ready to get it over with.

Just then, Nathalie’s phone lit up. She almost rejected the call, but hesitated when she saw the name flashing on the screen. She picked up.

At that exact moment, Lance’s phone started ringing too.