After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 305

Harold sat in silence for a while before he finally spoke up. “If I keep my distance, what if someone else swoops in right after she divorces Ethan? I’ll totally miss my shot.”

“That’s why you need to stay on her radar,” he thought to himself. “If I help her out when she’s struggling, if I’m there for her, maybe she’ll start seeing me in a different light. That way, I’ll have a head start when it’s time to make a move.”

“I’ll be careful about it,” he said. “Nobody’s going to spread rumors about her. Ethan is my friend. If I help Isabella, people will just assume I’m doing it for his sake.”

Barbara gave him a playful look. “Don’t forget you’ve got me on your side. With me watching over things, who’s going to get to Isabella before you?”

“I told you to keep your distance, but I never said you couldn’t help her. Do nice things for her through me. Support her, but you don’t have to show up yourself.”

She smiled, continuing, “And listen, if Ethan ever agrees to that divorce, I’ll let you know right away. You can have flowers ready and wait for them outside the courthouse. The second Isabella is single, you can tell her how you feel. Who could possibly beat you to it?”

Barbara’s tone turned more serious. “But if you’re really serious about her, you need to think about what you’re up against. First, once she’s divorced, she’ll always have that label, even if her marriage to Ethan was basically in name only. Our families are both a big deal, and who knows if the elders would accept someone who’s already been married.”

“And second, your friendship with Ethan could fall apart. You two have been friends for years. Your families even do business together. If things go south, it’ll be a huge mess.”

At the mention of Natalie, Barbara rolled her eyes. “I just don’t get it. What does Ethan even see in her? He’s so loyal, it’s almost sad.”

“I mean, he has to know what she’s really like. Natalie is nothing like the sweet, gentle person she pretends to be.”

Harold shrugged. “They grew up together. Of course they’re close. It’s normal to fall for your childhood friend when you’re young. Natalie’s only harsh to outsiders. She’s great with the people she loves.”

“Ethan probably didn’t see her flaws at the start. By the time he did, he was already in too deep, so he just decided to ignore them. Maybe Natalie just hides it really well. I bet it’s only in the last couple of years that Ethan’s started realizing she isn’t as perfect as he imagined. But he’s loved her for so long, and he’s not the type to let go easily. That kind of deep loyalty makes him choose to look the other way.”