After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 573

Melissa never said a single bad word about Linda. If anyone tried to talk trash in front of her, Melissa would just walk away without a word. Sometimes, if she felt like it, she'd push back with a few sharp comments. In Linda’s eyes, Melissa was someone with her head on straight, always fair and upright, but just naturally distant. She was so cold and reserved, Linda couldn’t imagine what kind of guy could ever break through her walls.

“Alright,” Barbara said with a nod.

Once they had everything settled, Barbara and Harold left together.

As soon as the car drove away from the hotel, Barbara turned to Harold with an apologetic look. “Sorry you came all the way out here for nothing. I really didn’t expect Ethan to show up.”

She was the one who’d texted Harold, hoping he could take care of Isabella when she saw how drunk she was getting.

“It’s fine. There’s always next time. As long as Isabella doesn’t go back to Ethan, I still have a shot,” Harold replied with a small smile. “Ethan is still my biggest competition. He’s trying to win her back.”

Barbara let out a bitter laugh. “Now he wants her back? Where was all this effort before? He broke her heart into pieces. Does he honestly think saying sorry makes everything okay?”

“Isabella’s not going back to him. Earlier, she didn’t even want him to drive her home. She kept muttering about how she was finally free and didn’t have to die anymore.” Barbara fell quiet, thinking it over. “Harold, are you sure there’s nothing shady going on with Isabella’s kidnapping? Why would she say that leaving Ethan means she doesn’t have to die?”

“I checked it out. There’s no hidden mastermind. The kidnappers the cops caught all said they just wanted to grab Ethan and hold him for ransom. It was their plan, no one paid them off or anything like that.”

“When they get their divorce papers, I’m going to tell Isabella how I feel. I’ll chase her openly, no more hiding it. Even if she turns me down, I’ll stay by her side.”

He honestly believed that, with time, he could win her over and make her believe in his love.

“I’m rooting for you,” Barbara said, “but you have to get your family on board, too. We might think Isabella’s amazing, but to the older generation, she’s still a divorced woman.”

“I’m worried they’ll object. The Adams family elders never really accepted Isabella when she was with Ethan. That was always a sore spot for her. Now that she’s finally divorced, she’s not going to want to fall back into the same trap.”