After I Stopped Loving Him novel Chapter 44

Isabella didn’t hesitate. “Relax. I’m not the cheating type. At least not before we’re officially divorced.”

“You want a divorce?” Ethan’s tone dropped. It was only their fourth day of marriage, and already she was tossing around the word like it meant nothing.

He didn’t know why, but it really rubbed him the wrong way. Divorce shouldn’t be something she said so easily. If it came to that, it should be him who brought it up, not her.

She shot him a look. “Are you seriously planning on staying married to me forever? Don’t you want to ride off into the sunset with Natalie?”

Ethan’s jaw clenched. “So you’re just going to sit back and do nothing?”

“Isabella Lane, are you trying to stir up trouble? Hoping Jordan and I will end up hating each other?”

She gave a short, sarcastic laugh. “You know the saying, don’t mess with a friend’s wife.” Her tone made it clear she didn’t believe he lived by that rule. If he did, he wouldn’t be scheming to get closer to Natalie Gates.

“Isabella Lane!”

She grinned. “Okay, okay, I’ll stop. Ethan, can I get an advance on my allowance?”

He went quiet for a long moment, then asked, “How much do you need?”

“At least a few million. Honestly, the more the better.”

More silence.

She waited, but when he didn’t answer, she figured she wasn’t getting a dime. That was fine. She knew he wasn’t in this marriage for love. She was just a pawn in his game.

She got up, scooped up her flowers and chocolates, and started heading upstairs.

“I’ll give you ten million.”

Ethan pulled out his wallet, took out a card, and held it out to her. “There’s a few million on here. I don’t remember exactly how much.”

“To finally marry Natalie Gates.”

Ethan hesitated. “I’m not planning to break up Jordan and Natalie. Yes, I love her. I’m insanely jealous of Jordan…” He paused for a long moment. “But like I said before, I just want to see her from time to time.”

“So as long as Natalie Gates is happy, that’s enough for you?”

She couldn’t help rolling her eyes. Now, that was real love.

Ethan’s voice was low. “Loving someone isn’t about keeping them for yourself. It’s about letting them be happy. If Natalie and Jordan are happy together, that’s all I want.”

“Then what’s your condition?”

Ethan went silent again. Two whole minutes ticked by before he finally spoke. “Stop talking about divorce.”

Isabella just stared at him, lost for words.