After I Stopped Loving Him novel Chapter 34

“She can’t really drink,” Ethan said, his tone cold and detached. “After two glasses, she’s done.”

“Then she needs to work on it. As your wife, she has to go to events with you, meet clients, talk business. That’s part of being in this family. If she can’t even handle a bit of alcohol, how is she supposed to help you?” Jennifer’s words sounded like concern for Ethan, but it was clear she barely spared a thought for Isabella.

“I’ll just drink less, Mom. I’m going to get something to eat.” Ethan didn’t want Isabella stepping in for him, mostly because he had no plans to take her to any work events. The only time he brought her along was for family gatherings, just to keep up appearances. Jennifer wasn’t wrong—Isabella had grown up in the Lane family, but she didn’t have much experience in their world. She didn’t have any friends in their social circle, and he knew if he didn’t look out for her, she’d get eaten alive.

“Fine, go eat. And if your head still hurts after, get some rest. Don’t go anywhere else.” Jennifer barely gave him a chance to respond before she hung up.

As soon as she ended the call, she dialed Isabella’s number.

Isabella was sitting in the back seat, heading to Laura Charles’s place since Laura had taken her car home the night before. They’d just pulled out of the gated neighborhood when her phone started to ring. Seeing Jennifer’s name on the screen, Isabella’s stomach twisted with nerves.

Back in her last life, things with Jennifer had been terrible. Jennifer had always looked down on her, but she wasn’t as obvious or cruel as Sophia. Instead, Jennifer’s indifference cut deeper. She’d watch Sophia and her friends bully Isabella, never stepping in, never saying a word. If Isabella stood up for herself and won, Jennifer scolded her for not letting things go. If she lost, Jennifer blamed her for being useless and embarrassing the family.

“An errand? What kind of errand could you possibly have? Do you even know who you are now? You’re Mrs. Adams. Every time you step outside, you’re being watched by reporters. Every little thing you do could end up online and make the Adams family look bad.”

“Ethan told me he drank too much last night. Did you two stay at your parents’ house until late? How could you just let him drink that much? You’re his wife now. He should be your first priority. His health matters more than anything. And now, after letting him get drunk, you just leave him home alone, hungover and without breakfast?”

Jennifer’s voice kept getting louder, every word making it crystal clear just how angry she was.