After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 419

She told Laura everything that had happened.

When Laura finished listening, she shook her head. “Ethan is honestly hopeless.”

“He always has been. I just hope he agrees to the divorce in three days. But now there’s a thirty-day cooling-off period. I’m scared he’ll change his mind and withdraw the application during that time.”

That was the thing Isabella worried about most. Until she actually had the divorce certificate in her hand, it felt like a huge weight pressing on her chest.

If only she’d been reborn a few years earlier, before the cooling-off period was a thing, she wouldn’t have to stress about this. Then again, if she’d been reborn a few years earlier, she never would have married Ethan at all. Even just four months earlier would have been enough.

“I honestly think that if he agrees to the divorce, he won’t go back on it. Plus, you have Natalie in the mix. You know she’s going to stir things up. If she finds out you’re divorcing over the wedding gift, she’s absolutely going to help push it along.”

“Today was all her doing anyway. Her husband wasn’t even out of town, but she lied to Ethan and told him he was, just to get Ethan to come take care of her. She’s not trying to cheat on her husband. She just wants to keep Ethan around, keep him attached to her.”

“She’s scared Ethan might really move on and fall for you instead. She can’t stand seeing him treat you well. And honestly, I think a big part of why she took the wedding gift is pure jealousy.”

Isabella nodded. “That’s what I think too. As long as Ethan and I can finally get divorced, whatever happens with them will have nothing to do with me.”

“Let’s not talk about stuff that ruins our mood. I’m going to call Carmen.” Carmen was the pastry chef Harold had recommended.

Isabella called Carmen, sent her the address, and asked her to come by for a chat. Then Laura got back to writing her article, while Isabella headed out to discuss a new script with the screenwriter.

Meanwhile, over at the Lane house...

“I didn’t expect Isabella to show up with him. She saw how much Ethan cares about me and got jealous. She started a fight with him, then turned on me and demanded her wedding gift back.”

Jordan didn’t really believe the first part of her story, but the second half sounded about right. Both he and Natalie knew exactly how Ethan felt, but since Ethan had never said it out loud, they all just played along, pretending not to notice.

“She actually asked you for her wedding gift? Seriously? She grew up in our house. My dad paid for her schooling.”

“The Lane family basically raised her. Keeping that wedding gift is the least she can do to show her gratitude. I can’t believe she has the nerve to ask for it back.”

“What did Ethan say? Did he just stand there and let her go after you?”