After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 1050

Back when she and Ethan were in that awkward waiting period before the divorce was finalized, she always worried he’d change his mind and cancel everything, trapping her for good. Thankfully, Ethan went through with it. He let her go without a fight.

Compared to couples who tore each other apart over divorce, their breakup was actually pretty calm. Still, that whole ordeal shook her up. She’d learned her lesson. When it came to a future with Harold, she knew not to rush. A few more years of dating sounded perfectly fine.

If Harold ever got tired of waiting, he was free to move on and find someone else.

“Seriously, there’s no guarantee any marriage will last a lifetime,” she told Linda. “People think they’re soulmates when they say ‘I do.’ But let’s be real, a lot of couples end up splitting before they’ve even gotten old together. Some even end up worse off—like sworn enemies.”

Linda laughed, then nodded. “Honestly, I think it’s better just to date and skip the whole marriage thing. If you want a kid, just have one. We’re perfectly capable of raising a child by ourselves. No wedding cert needed.”

“If you don’t get married, you’re not tied down to some guy’s family, you don’t have to look after his parents, and he’ll actually have to treat you with respect. Inside a marriage, even with domestic violence, the police just try to mediate. But if you aren’t married and a guy dares to lay a finger on you, that’s straight-up assault. He could go to jail.”

Isabella nodded, completely on board with Linda’s view.

They chatted for a while until Isabella’s phone rang. Something urgent had come up at work, so she headed back to the office. By the time she finished, it was already time to clock out.

She didn’t have dinner plans, so she texted her best friend. Their friendship hadn’t changed, but they hadn’t had dinner together in ages. Tonight, she wanted that.

As she walked out of the office building, she spotted York waiting for her.

York laughed like he didn’t take it seriously. “But you and Harold aren’t married. You’re technically still single, which means you still have options. Are you sure you don’t want to explore them a little more?”

He looked her up and down. “I really do like you. You’re gorgeous—honestly, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

For a split second, York’s eyes went cold, like he hated her, but almost immediately he looked impressed. Isabella was used to attention, but there was something unsettling about him.

If it hadn’t been for whatever happened between them in the past, York might’ve tried to claim her as his own. There was definitely a kind of twisted interest in his gaze.

“Thanks, but I can’t accept.” Isabella’s tone was calm but unmoving. “I’m with Harold. We’re not married yet, but I committed to him. Unless he betrays me, I won’t do anything that would let him down.”