The Unwavering Heart That Broke novel Chapter 81

“Lance, are you alright?” Felice called out, worry coloring her voice.

Lance just stared at the taillights of the car ahead, his face tight and unreadable. He kept watching until the lights faded away and the car was gone.

Felice looked down, guilt eating at her. “Maybe I should’ve just waited upstairs for Nathalie. If we all went to see Jasper together, she wouldn’t have gotten the wrong idea about us.”

Lance finally glanced away from the empty street, his handsome face cool and calm. “Let’s just get in the car.”

“Okay,” Felice replied quietly.

...

Nathalie was convinced that luck just was not on her side today.

The next time she left the house, she swore she would check her horoscope first... maybe even twice.

She hadn’t driven far before her car coughed, shuddered, and died right there by the curb. Traffic got tangled up behind her as she stepped out, rain pouring down, soaking through her clothes as she checked around the car. Nothing seemed obviously wrong, but the engine refused to cooperate.

Feeling helpless, she glanced around and, just then, spotted Lance’s car coming down the street.

Nathalie pressed her lips together and quickly waved, hoping he would see her, maybe help out.

But to her shock, Lance didn’t stop. He didn’t even slow down. His car just slid right past her.

Her arm hung in the air, frozen, while cold rain pelted her skin and cut right through her. For a moment, she could only stand there, stunned and hurt.

Seriously? Did he really just see her stranded here and pretend she didn’t exist?

Nathalie wiped the rain from her face, her teeth biting into her lip as she forced herself back into the car. She pulled out her phone and called the auto shop.

By the time she hung up, she felt a little embarrassed, a little stupid, but much calmer.

Why had she wanted his help, anyway?

Why didn’t she just call someone else from the start?

What was she even hoping for when it came to Lance?

Her heart hardened as she let out a quiet breath. No more hoping for things that weren’t going to happen.

...

She absolutely couldn’t afford to get sick now. If she lost her voice, there was no way she could work.

After a steaming mug of tea and a long, hot shower, she finally started to warm up. While she flipped through her script, her phone buzzed with an incoming call.

Madonna’s name flashed on the screen.

“Hello,” Nathalie answered, voice still a little shaky.

Madonna sounded gentle as ever. “Nathalie, how did the first day of work go?”

Nathalie didn’t even try to sugarcoat it. “Honestly, it was just okay.”

“Why? What happened?” Madonna asked, surprised.

Nathalie leaned back, letting her frustration show. “Felice is there. She follows me around everywhere. I can’t even breathe.”

“That can’t be,” Madonna said, almost as if she didn’t believe it. “I told them to fire her. That should have been handled already.”

Nathalie hesitated, then spoke quietly. “But she’s still there, Mom. It seems like nobody in that company actually listens or follows instructions.”