After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 361

“Your shop’s close by. That just means even more pressure, doesn’t it?” Jennifer said, her tone casual, but her eyes sharp.

Isabella stayed quiet, letting her talk.

It was obvious Jennifer didn’t care how her business was going. She just wanted Isabella to give up, stay home, and be Ethan’s pampered little secret. A pretty bird in a golden cage.

“What else did you put your money into?” Jennifer asked, eyebrows raised.

“Short web dramas,” Isabella replied.

Jennifer leaned in. “And? How’s that working out?”

“The first series is already online. It did pretty well. I made a bit of money.”

Jennifer curled her lip. “A bit? How much is that? A couple thousand?”

Isabella kept her voice calm. “It’s not much to you, but it’s what I earned myself. So I spend it however I want.”

“With that kind of money, you can’t even buy a decent bag,” Jennifer shot back, her words dripping with sarcasm.

Isabella let it go. They lived in different worlds. For Jennifer, a single handbag could cost more than Isabella’s rent for a year, maybe even more. Isabella used her bags forever and usually only spent a few hundred at most. The only expensive one she had was a Hermès, and that was a gift from Cynthia.

“Are you short on cash?” Jennifer pressed.

Isabella gave her a look, something between a smile and a smirk. “Jennifer, just say what you want to say. No need to play games.”

Jennifer took a sip of her coffee, slow and graceful, like she was performing for an audience. When she put the cup down, her voice was soft but clear. “Last Friday, Ethan’s dad brought in some top specialist to check on him. A men’s health doctor.”

Jennifer cut her off. “I know you and Ethan got together because you wanted to. There were real feelings. But living in a marriage that’s just for show, it’s a waste for both of you. Why drag it out?”

“Get divorced. Take the money. Go somewhere nobody knows you, live your life. As long as you don’t blow it on bad investments, that’s more than enough to last forever.”

“You could meet someone who actually wants you. Start over, have a real marriage, a real life. And Ethan can find the woman he’s meant to be with. Maybe then he’ll figure things out.”

Jennifer paused, her voice a little softer when she spoke again. “Ethan’s problem is probably something emotional. He only reacts to the right woman. It’s not that he can’t... he just doesn’t want to with anyone else.”

Isabella let out a long breath. She picked up the check, staring at all those zeros, then set it back down on the table, her hand heavy.

“What, not enough for you?” Jennifer’s expression turned cold, her brows arching as she challenged Isabella.