After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 32

“You should smile more. It makes you look younger, you know. Maybe then Natalie would actually notice you.” Isabella popped another piece of fruit into her mouth, her tone teasing but a little sharp. “Ethan, do you even know why you lost? You just don’t know how to put on a front. Not like Jordan. He can act, make people believe whatever he wants. If you’d even tried to be a little gentle, the way he does, maybe you’d be the one married to her now.”

Ethan’s expression darkened. “Isabella, stop dragging Natalie into this. Don’t blame her for your problems. She doesn’t even know I like her, alright? If you’re angry, take it out on me.”

Isabella shot him a look and then focused on her fruit, clearly done with the conversation. Natalie Gates wasn’t clueless. In fact, she was sharp and always a few steps ahead. There was no way she didn’t know about Ethan’s feelings. He just never found the right time to say it out loud, so Natalie pretended not to see it. Yesterday, when they’d gone back to visit family, Natalie had made sure to poke at her every chance she got. Isabella might not like Natalie, but she never let it show.

But Ethan? He thought Natalie was the sweetest, kindest woman alive. Isabella knew there was no point in exposing Natalie’s little act. Even if she tried, would Ethan ever believe her? He’d just accuse her of being petty and jealous.

“Isabella.” Ethan took a deep breath, trying to remind himself that he owed her a bit of patience. After all, he was the one using her. “Let me say this one more time. There’s a limit to everything. If you keep pushing, people will just start to resent you.”

He thought she was trying to get his attention. He couldn’t have been more wrong. All this would do was push him further away.

Isabella frowned, genuinely puzzled. “Ethan, can you just say what you mean? I don’t even know what I did to make you so annoyed.”

He just glared at her.

“Where are you going?” Ethan called after her. “What errands could you possibly have? You don’t even have a job anymore.”

She turned back, her voice cool. “Ethan, are you still hungover or did you just forget? On our wedding night, you told me all I had to do was be Mrs. Adams. As long as I didn’t embarrass your family or hurt its interests, you promised not to interfere. You said we’d live our own lives, remember?”

Ethan opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

She was almost at the door when he spoke again, his voice icy. “From now on, don’t go into my bedroom. That’s off-limits. You can do whatever you want in the rest of the house.”