After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 690

Barbara was just giving Harold a quick heads up. Once he got the message, she hung up almost right away.

Harold stepped back into the café.

Ethan was still sitting exactly where Harold had left him, his coffee untouched.

A girl approached Ethan, phone in hand, chatting with him for a moment. She was probably asking for his social media. With a face like his, Ethan was used to strangers coming up and trying to get his contact info.

Harold didn’t catch what Ethan said to her, but he did see the girl leave looking disappointed.

It wasn’t surprising. There were always girls interested in Ethan, but none ever seemed to get close. Even Isabella, the woman he had actually proposed to, never got his real affection. So what chance did anyone else have?

Harold slid into the seat across from Ethan, acting casual.

“You really can’t catch a break, can you? Can’t even drink a coffee without someone trying to add you online.”

Ethan raised an eyebrow. “Like you’re any different.”

Harold grinned. “But I never give anyone a chance. My love life’s actually simple. Not like you, carrying Natalie around in your heart.”

Ethan let out a long breath. “I’ve already said I’m letting go of Natalie. I told her to her face — she needs to stop coming to me. She’s married to Jordan now. Three’s a crowd. I’m done. I don’t want to be stuck in the middle anymore.”

Harold gave him a look, half amused, half skeptical. “You loved her for years. You used to swear you’d love her forever. And now you’re just walking away?”

“And your marriage to Isabella? That could have gone so differently. If it weren’t for them, you and Isabella might still be happy together. Do you really think she just stopped loving you overnight? No. You kept hurting her, little by little, until she finally gave up.”

Ethan wanted to argue. He opened his mouth a couple times, but nothing came out. Everything Harold said was true.

“So, why’d you ask me here? What did you want to talk about?”

Ethan stared at him for a while before answering. “Forget it. Doesn’t matter anymore. Nothing I say changes the fact that we’re rivals now.”

He paused, then added, “Does your family know how you feel about Isabella? After what she went through with my family, I doubt she’d ever want to marry into another wealthy family. Not unless your parents actually like her, for real.”