After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 1010

She set it all up. First she picked a fight with Isabella on the stairs, then made sure they argued loud enough for everyone to hear. When the time was right, she threw herself down the steps. To anyone watching, it looked like Isabella had pushed her.

No surprise, the baby didn’t make it. But then she pinned the blame on Isabella, making everyone think it was her fault. Now, Isabella had to carry the guilt for something she never did.

Afterwards, she worked hard to recover and tried to get pregnant again. It just never happened.

“Housekeeper!” Natalie called out as she walked toward the sofa.

No answer.

She sat down, getting annoyed. Where was that housekeeper? Was she hiding?

“Housekeeper!” This time, Natalie yelled even louder.

The housekeeper came rushing in. “Natalie!”

“Mr. Adams just arrived. I went to open the door for him,” she explained nervously.

The truth was, everyone in the house was scared of Natalie now. After what happened to Cynthia, who wouldn’t be?

Natalie didn’t bother hiding her impatience. “Oh. Ethan’s here? Where is he?”

“I unlocked the gate for Mr. Adams’s driver. I heard you calling, so I hurried back. He’ll be inside any minute.”

“You must be hungry, Natalie. Before Mr. Jordan left, he told me to make all your favorite foods.” The housekeeper tried to sound respectful. “Would you like to eat now, or wait a bit?”

Natalie got up and announced, “Now. I’m starving.”

Ethan wasn’t an outsider. They’d known each other forever. If he saw her eating, so what? Either he’d wait for her to finish, or he’d join in. She didn’t need to stand on ceremony and wait.

The housekeeper hurried into the kitchen and came back with a tray. Natalie sat at the table and looked over the dishes. Everything she liked was there. Too much, really. Normally, she would only eat one or two at a time. Today, the whole spread was out.

Ethan shook his head. “It’s fine. I’m not hungry.”

He meant it. Even if he was, he couldn’t have eaten right now. Inside, all he felt was a cold emptiness. Disappointment, confusion—they all swirled around together.

He sat down across from her, just watching Natalie, the friend he’d grown up with. She was never as stunning as Isabella, but she was kind, gentle, always considerate. She put on a perfect act for him and Jordan. No wonder they both fell for her, and no wonder that love lasted more than ten years.

Ethan never gave his heart easily. Once he did, he didn’t look back.

But that loyalty only ever hurt Isabella, again and again. She hated him for it. She hated Natalie too. He honestly couldn’t blame her. He was the villain in her story. It was all his fault.

He never should have played with Isabella’s feelings, pretending he cared, holding her close when he only ever wanted someone else. Her jealousy, her bitterness toward Natalie—all of it was because she still loved him.

Three years of marriage. He gave her money, a big empty house, and nothing but pain.

When she finally asked for a divorce, he was so angry he made sure she left with absolutely nothing...