After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 484

Jordan shot Deborah a sharp glare, then stormed out of the room.

Deborah dabbed at her tears, looking as if the world had wronged her.

Once Jordan was gone, she let out a secret, satisfied huff. In her mind, he was still way too inexperienced to take her on.

Jackson took a slow breath, trying to keep his cool. “I told you to stay away from Jordan and Natalie. Do my words mean nothing to you?”

He glanced at her bruised cheek. “Put some ice on your face when you get home.”

Deborah’s voice trembled, thick with grievance. “Jackson, I swear, I didn’t start anything. They came at me first.”

“If they hadn’t touched me, I wouldn’t have fought back. I’m not the type to just sit there and take it.”

Jackson knew the truth. Jordan and Natalie were furious about his affair, even more so than Cynthia had been. He understood why. With Kevin in the picture, Jordan’s place in the family felt threatened.

“What were you doing over there anyway?” Jackson asked, meaning her visit to the Lane Estate.

Deborah lifted her chin, stubborn. “That’s going to be our home. Why can’t I check it out?”

“You’re about to divorce your wife. We’ll be married sooner or later.”

Jackson exhaled, fighting for patience. “At least wait until the divorce is final. Wait until we’re actually married before you go over there acting like you own the place. Natalie’s been running the household since she married in, of course she’s going to be upset if you try to take over now.”

He didn’t need anyone to tell him what had happened. Deborah had gone to his house, put on airs, and tried to call the shots. No wonder she and Natalie had clashed.

Deborah slid onto his lap and draped her arms around his neck. “Jackson, I don’t care. When I’m your wife, I want to be in charge. You’ll be the head of the family, but I want to be the lady of the house.”

“If Natalie keeps running things, she’ll make life miserable for me and Kevin.”

“You and Cynthia never had kids, and even then, Natalie still bullied her in a thousand little ways. Now that I have Kevin, won’t she see us as her biggest threat?”

As soon as the office door clicked shut, Jackson pressed his fingers to his temples, feeling a headache coming on.

Cynthia had been his wife for twenty years, always keeping the house in order, never giving him trouble. She was patient, gentle, never picked fights with Jordan or Natalie, at least not openly.

Deborah wasn’t even officially part of the family yet, and things were already falling apart.

Jackson had a sinking feeling his home would never be peaceful again.

Still, Natalie had crossed a line.

Deborah was his woman now, and for Natalie to hit her was like slapping him in the face. It was pure disrespect.

He’d have to bring it up with Natalie at breakfast tomorrow.