After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 984

Deborah knew all too well just how seriously the Lane family was tied to the Gates family. Their businesses were closely connected, almost impossible to separate.

There was no way Jordan and Natalie could just split up. If they got divorced, the partnership between their families would collapse, and both sides would suffer massive losses.

Deborah always kept her priorities straight. The Lane Group’s fortune would eventually go to her son, so she couldn’t risk anything that might threaten that. Of course she wasn’t going to let Natalie and Jordan get a divorce.

As for Natalie, she wasn’t really planning to leave Jordan, either. She just needed to vent.

She flopped down on the sofa, tears coming faster as she sobbed, “Dad, if you won’t stand up for me, I’ll call my parents and have them come over to demand justice for me.”

Deborah had a habit of playing the victim first, twisting right and wrong until black looked like white. Natalie had been caught in her traps more than a few times.

But this time, Natalie was determined. She wiped her cheeks and insisted Jackson check the security footage, determined to prove her innocence.

Things between her and Deborah were always tense, constant bickering, but this time, Natalie hadn’t laid a finger on her. She wasn’t about to take the blame now.

Seeing Natalie refuse to back down, Deborah finally had no choice. She looked at Jackson and admitted, “Jackson, I’m sorry. I lied earlier. I blamed Natalie for something she didn’t do. The slap mark on my face... I did it myself.”

She kept going, “I only did it because Natalie was shouting at me. I got so angry, I just wanted to get back at her—so when I heard you coming, I gave myself a slap and pretended she did it. I’m sorry. It was wrong. I shouldn’t have blamed her. I’ll apologize to Natalie right now and I promise I’ll never pull something like this again.”

At first, Jackson had been sure Natalie really had hit Deborah. He knew Natalie’s temper. She wasn’t exactly sweet or gentle and had plenty of resentment toward Deborah. It wouldn’t have been the first time things went too far between them.

Jackson glanced between the two women, clearly feeling worse for Deborah, but he didn’t scold Natalie either. He just tried to make peace. “Natalie, you did hit her now, and Deborah has admitted she was wrong. Let’s just move on.”

“Both of you, enough fighting. No more arguments and definitely no more hitting each other. You don’t have to be the best of friends, but you’re not enemies, either. This behavior isn’t right.”

“Natalie, I don’t favor anyone. Jordan and Kevin are both my sons. It’s like the palm and the back of my hand—I care about them both the same.”

Natalie gave a cold laugh. “Don’t feed me that line. Even a hand has a thick side and a thin side. Kevin is your favorite, the palm of your hand. Jordan’s just the back, barely any skin. Don’t act like it’s equal.”

“If that’s how you want to see it, then fine, I have nothing else to say. But remember this—Lane family is still my home and The Lane Group is still my company. When it comes time to divide things, I’ll know exactly what to do.”