After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 431

Even if Cynthia was gentle, that didn’t give Natalie the right to push her around.

“Mom…” Jordan started, but Adelina snapped at him. “Jordan, Natalie lost her mind for a moment and did something wrong, but why are you making the same mistake? You’re Isabella’s brother. Maybe you’re not related by blood, but you’ve lived together for twenty years. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

Jordan opened his mouth, but nothing came out. With all the elders watching, he and Natalie had no argument to stand on. They were completely powerless, especially now that Ethan had taken Isabella’s side.

Adelina turned to Ethan and Isabella, her voice apologetic. “Ethan, Isabella, Natalie was wrong. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she returns every single wedding gift to Isabella.” She picked up the gift list, skimmed through it, then rolled it up and shoved it into Natalie’s hand. “Natalie, go through this list right now and return everything that belongs to Isabella. All of it.”

“Mom…” Natalie’s voice trembled, and this time, her tears were real. Ethan and Isabella had crushed her dignity. She could almost deal with it coming from Isabella—they never got along anyway—but Ethan was different. He was her childhood friend. He’d always spoiled her, forgiven her mistakes, never once raising his voice at her. Whenever she cried, he’d be the first to feel sorry for her. But now, even as she sobbed, he wouldn’t look at her. He hadn’t looked her way once since he walked in.

He was being so cold, so heartless. And it was all Isabella’s fault. Isabella had changed Ethan, stolen his attention, his love. In her mind, Natalie cursed Isabella over and over. If looks could kill, Isabella would have been long gone.

“Go.” Adelina’s voice was sharp and final. She didn’t want to throw her own daughter under the bus, but there was nothing she could do. Ethan had made his demand, and Natalie had no choice but to give in. It wasn’t worth losing everything over a few gifts.

She wiped her eyes, seething. “I’m not letting her off easy. Even if Ethan gets all those wedding gifts back, I’ll never let her and Ethan live happily ever after.”

Jordan pulled her into his arms. “Natalie, this is my fault. I’m not good enough. The wedding gifts I gave you weren’t as fancy as what Ethan gave Isabella. You were jealous, that’s why you did it.” He hesitated, his voice softening. “If you’d chosen Ethan, he would have given you even more.”

Isabella’s words still echoed in his mind, sharp and painful. He knew Natalie’s actions were driven by jealousy, envy, and a bitterness that he couldn’t fix.