After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 328

Ethan set his half-finished drink down with a thud.

“You know, acting like this is just giving your dad’s mistress exactly what she wants. She’d love nothing more than to watch you fall apart. That way, when her son grows up, he can swoop in and take over The Lane Group. You’ll be left with nothing.”

Jordan pressed his palms against his cheeks, embarrassed and upset.

“Ethan, my dad hit me. He actually hit me. He’s never done that before, not once in my whole life. But because of that woman, he did. My face hurt, but honestly, my heart hurt even more.”

Ethan shook his head.

“He’s still your dad. So what if he slapped you once? You’re really going to sit here drinking yourself stupid every day, just making everyone who cares about you worry? Does your dad even notice? Who are you doing this for? Because all you’re doing is making Natalie upset. Look at her. She just went through a miscarriage, and now you’re like this on top of it. Have you even thought about her? Jordan, I can’t respect you if you let yourself fall apart over something like this.”

Natalie moved closer, her voice soft but firm.

“Jordan, please, stop drinking. If you keep going like this, you’re only hurting yourself. Your dad won’t care. Ethan’s right. This is exactly what that woman wants. You need to get it together.”

“You’re thirty. That kid is only ten. Dad’s getting older every year. We have plenty of time and chances to take control of the family business. When it’s finally ours, we can deal with them however we want.”

Jordan looked at Natalie, really looked at her. She seemed so worn out after just a couple of days, heavy makeup barely covering the exhaustion in her eyes.

He was thirty. He’d been at The Lane Group for years, already vice president. Jackson had started giving him more power. What was he so afraid of? That woman and her son trying to butt in? No way.

If he pulled himself together, took charge little by little, even his dad would have to step aside. Then, he could deal with them any way he wanted.

“Jordan, you need to apologize to your dad. No matter how ugly things got, you have to be the one to back down. Don’t argue with him openly anymore. That’ll just wear away whatever feelings he still has for you. Even if he has a mistress and another kid, he’s still known you for thirty years. He cheated, so deep down, he must feel guilty. If you apologize and stop picking fights, he’ll want to make it up to you. He’ll probably give you more control in the business.”

Natalie agreed. She’d tried telling Jordan all this before, but after his dad slapped him, he’d been too upset to listen, drowning himself in booze for two days straight.

Jordan was quiet for a long time, then finally looked up at Ethan.

“Thanks, Ethan. I mean it. I hear you.”

Ethan smiled a little.

“Don’t get so down on yourself. You’re still in the lead here. Don’t throw away your advantage.”