After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 291

“Isn’t it better than letting him grow up with everyone calling him an illegitimate child?”

“We have to do this while he’s still little, before any real damage is done. Imagine how much worse it’ll be if he finds out, years from now, that his mom was the other woman and he was born outside of marriage. That kind of truth would wreck him.”

“I appreciate what you did for Isabella, paying for her and all, but I raised Jordan for you too. Neither of us owes the other anything.”

“Cynthia.”

Jordan’s voice was quiet. He never expected Cynthia to push back, much less bring up divorce.

Natalie turned to Isabella. “Isabella, you have to talk to your mom. Tell her not to do anything crazy. Why should she just step aside for some mistress? That woman should stay in the dark, not take Cynthia’s place.”

Isabella grabbed another tissue and gently wiped Cynthia’s tears. She didn’t look at anyone else as she spoke. “I’m with my mom. Jackson cheated on his marriage, on his family. How does he expect her to pretend like nothing happened?”

Jackson’s patience snapped. “Cynthia, have you even thought about your future after a divorce? Without me, you’ll lose this life. You won’t have what you do now.”

He’d given Cynthia some property, but in his mind, the money she made from it was less than what he gave Deborah every month.

“My mom has me and Isabella.”

Ethan finally spoke up. He could take care of his mother, no question.

Jackson fell silent.

Once Cynthia had pulled herself together, she said, “Jackson, for the twenty years I’ve given this family, can’t we just end things peacefully? I don’t want to fight. I don’t want to make a scene.”

All she wanted was a clean break. If they started arguing, even the little bit of feeling left between them would disappear. If they could end things quietly, Jackson might at least offer her something in return.

Jordan’s face went pale, but he let Natalie pull him out of the room.

Jackson turned to Ethan. “Ethan, take Isabella home. This is between your mother and me. Let us talk in private.”

Isabella hesitated, still worried about Cynthia.

Cynthia patted her hand gently. “Ethan, Isabella, go on. I need a little time to myself.”

Ethan took Isabella by the arm. “Let’s go, Isabella. Don’t worry, Mom won’t be pushed around.”

Even if Cynthia and Jackson did end up divorcing, Ethan was ready to step in and fight for a better settlement. He wasn’t going to let Jackson get away with just thirty million.