The Unwavering Heart That Broke novel Chapter 9

When they pulled up to City Hall, the parking lot was already packed. Nathalie tried to get out, but her door was still locked. Her voice came out raw, barely above a whisper. “Open the door.”

Lance sat behind the wheel, one hand gripping it tight. The air inside the car felt so cold, so heavy, neither of them said a word. Then, right then, his phone started ringing. He glanced at the screen, answered, and his voice was short. “Yeah?”

After a while, he hung up and finally looked at her. “Work emergency. I have to leave town for a few days. Let’s take care of this when I get back.”

“Let’s just do it now,” Nathalie shot back. She wouldn’t look away. “I don’t want to drag this out.”

Lance shook his head. “Even if we file, we still have to wait for the cooling-off period. A few days changes nothing.” After he said that, he finally unlocked the doors.

“Get out.”

“We can do this right now. I won’t take up your whole day,” she replied, her voice dropping, matching his chill.

Lance didn’t even answer. He just opened his door, got out, and walked to the curb. Without looking back, he flagged down a cab and disappeared.

Nathalie shut her eyes, gripping the seatbelt until her fingers ached. For a long time, she sat there, alone, motionless, watching the sky get darker and darker outside the windshield.

It was only when her phone rang that she snapped back to herself.

“Nathalie, I got off work early. Come out for dinner with me?” It was Damaris, her best friend.

After Nathalie finished telling her everything, Damaris sat there, fists clenched so hard her knuckles went white.

“Ever since your parents brought Felice home, she took all their love and attention from you. I thought after she married Jackson she’d finally calm down.”

“But then Jackson died and now she’s going after Lance? Ugh, who does that? She can’t stand not having what somebody else has, can she?”

Nathalie knocked back another shot and slumped over on Damaris, her eyes half closed. “I’m just a mess. I was with Lance for eight years, and all it took was a few tears from Felice and her son, and he just… gave up on me. Why can’t I be the one who cries for sympathy?”

Damaris was about to say something to comfort her, but then her gaze caught on something across the bar. She squinted, leaning in closer. “Wait, babe, isn’t that the Adams family’s little heir over there? Isn’t he just three years old? What is he doing here?”