After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 317

Dealing with the George family was like walking into a trap. If you handed over money, they’d just demand more next time. The only way to handle people like that was to cut them off right from the start. If they realized she wasn’t a pushover, eventually they’d stop coming around.

“They could try to ruin my reputation too,” Isabella said with a wry little smile. “But honestly, your family never really accepted me in the first place, so I’m not that bothered.”

That smile hit Ethan in a way he didn’t expect. The truth was, his family’s coldness toward her was all on him. He was the one who pulled her into this mess. If it hadn’t been for him, she could have found a normal guy and had a peaceful life.

“Isabella, come back to the Adams Estate with me this weekend,” he said, trying a different approach. “If you come with me, I’ll ask Frank to promote your new short series when it launches tomorrow. It’ll get a ton of attention, I promise.”

He had wanted to offer her money at first, but knowing how anxious she was about her show, he figured this would be a better way to convince her.

“Why would I go?” Isabella shot back. “Your mom doesn’t like me. Sophia doesn’t like me. If I go back, all I’ll get are dirty looks and snide comments.”

“Ethan,” she said, her voice suddenly firm. “If I’d known you were lying to me all along, I’d never have married you. Not in a million years. I didn’t chase after you. I’m not that kind of woman.”

She knew the Adams family elders called her names behind her back, said she’d trapped Ethan into marrying her. But she never knew it was all a lie. She really thought he loved her. He’d pursued her so passionately, so openly. How was she supposed to resist that?

“You don’t love me. I… I loved you before, but I don’t want to anymore. You told me yourself, I shouldn’t expect your love.”

“Spending a whole life in a marriage without love, that’s just misery.”

She paused, then went on. “I know I’m not right for you. After we’re divorced, if you want to stay single for your true love, then do that. If you want to marry someone else, find someone your family will actually accept. At least that way, you won’t be stuck in the middle, torn between everyone.”

“But when we divorce, you’ll owe me something. You lied to me. You wasted my youth and my feelings. So you’ll need to make it up to me.”