The Unwavering Heart That Broke (Nathalie and Lance) novel Chapter 631

He gently brushed the corner of her eye, wiping away a stray tear. His voice was devastatingly soft. "As much as I love knowing you care about me, seeing you cry for my sake actually breaks my heart. Don't cry. I'm going to be fine."

A second later, she caught his hand. Turning his palm upward, Nathalie began to trace the letters with her fingertip.

—*You're overthinking it. I just have some dust in my eye.*

Lance felt the words against his skin and let out a low chuckle. "Well, this hospital must have terrible standards if there's dust floating around in a private suite."

Nathalie tightened her grip on his fingers but didn't write anything else. She stared at the thick white bandages wrapped around his eyes, a suffocating wave of sorrow crashing over her.

She had wanted to divorce him. She had wanted a clean break. But she had never wanted him to get hurt. She certainly hadn't wanted him to die for her. They had loved each other once; parting on good terms would have been the best outcome.

But how was she supposed to walk away now? He was blind because he had thrown himself in harm's way to protect her.

Now, she had to be his eyes until he fully recovered. Perhaps, by staying and caring for him, the crushing guilt in her chest would ease just a little.

Lost in her chaotic thoughts, her long eyelashes fluttered.

"Nathalie."

The hospital room had fallen completely silent. Even though she was holding his hand, the absolute darkness combined with the quiet sent a spike of panic through him.

He called her name again. "If you're still here, touch me. Give me some kind of response. If I don't know where you are, I start to panic."

His voice was slow and raspy, laced with a raw vulnerability he hadn't even noticed himself. When had Lance ever shown such blatant fear? Now that he couldn't see, his entire perception of the world was limited to sound and touch. And since she could no longer speak, he felt completely unanchored.

Nathalie gave his fingers a reassuring squeeze to let him know she was still there. After a moment, she began to trace on his palm again.

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