Francis had lost every ounce of his confidence.
He watched the secretary leave, unable to utter a single word of protest.
Jordan watched he enter but didn't stand up to greet him as he normally would. He remained slouched in his black leather chair, slowly sipping the coffee the secretary had brewed.
"Jordan," Francis said, taking a seat uninvited.
Jordan set down his cup. He looked up at Francis, his lips tight, and his voice hoarse. "Francis. Has Natalie gone back to your house?"
"Yes."
"She brought The Georges to Isabella's cafe to cause a scene again yesterday."
Francis was quiet for a second. "The conflict between her and Isabella is beyond repair."
Jordan let out a dry, bitter chuckle.
Last night, he hadn't gone home or slept well. He had gone straight to Malvina's place. After an intense, frantic night with her, he had stood on the balcony chain-smoking, his mind racing.
He thought back to when Cynthia and Isabella first joined the Lane family. He had genuinely liked Isabella, treating her like a real little sister. She had been a beautiful, porcelain-doll of a child, adored by everyone.
How had he grown to hate them so much?
Through the haze of cigarette smoke last night, he finally remembered. It was Natalie. She was always whispering in his ear about how evil stepmothers were, comparing Cynthia to the wicked queen in Snow White, warning him not to fall for her gentle facade.



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Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan)
I will be devastated if Isabella and Ethan will get back together. Please, writer, Isabella deserves Harold....
Author, please get your characters names right. You always messing them up!...
I wish Harold will win Isabella's heart. I was so sad when Isabela was taken for granted coldly and cruelly by her supposed to be husband, and trapped,mocked and humiliated non stop by Natalie. This was so cruel, both don't deserve Isabela' forgiveness I wish for a happy ending between Isabela and Harold, he has the right to be happy after the long wait....
Frankly, the story initially was going quite good and the pacing was just right. unfortunately after Ethan got the dream of his past life, the story has been going in circles. Ethan's spouting the same nonsense every time he sees Isabella, they both have same conversations over and over. The authors monologue too has been the same for almost 400 chapters. Irrespective of which character the writing the just a repetition of what someone had gone through in the past and what made a certain character feel the emotions. York got introduced in 800 chapters yet nothing significant happened till date. Isabella is soft with Harold and kind of disgusted with Ethan, yet it is not entirely clear with whom she might end up. If she stays single i am fine with it but the story is clearly about Isabella and Ethan so almost 1000 chapters without seeing any progress in their relationship is frustrating. Except for being blindly in love and few aggressive instances with Isabella, Ethan actually isnt a bad person so i am fine if he can win her back. Even though Harold is coming off as a good second lead, i am somehow unable to warm upto him. Even the bad people in the story are not really facing any real consequences. I hate Jackson for his hypocrisy. I hate Jordan and Natalie for their self-righteouness and selfishness. I also hate Deborah, except when she is handing it out to Natalie. I am almost on the verge of dropping this story....
Why are they acting like kids 🤣😭...
Ethan is actually not that bad if we take out his blind love for Natalie...