After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 70

Natalie only took a tiny sip of her drink.

Jordan leaned in and quietly told her not to have any more.

“I just had a little,” she said with a soft smile.

Ethan watched her, clearly worried. “Why can’t you drink? You usually handle it better than any of us. Are you feeling okay?”

Natalie’s smile was gentle, and Jordan’s eyes softened as he looked at Ethan. “We’re not sure about something yet, so we’d rather not talk about it for now. Once we know for certain, we’ll let you know.”

Ethan blinked, feeling a little left out. He thought they were still the kind of friends who told each other everything. Now it felt like they were keeping secrets. Maybe things really wouldn’t ever go back to how they were.

He couldn’t help the ache in his chest. The three of them had always been inseparable, growing up together, but now Natalie and Jordan had quietly become a couple. He was the outsider. Just seeing Natalie meant coming up with some excuse that made sense. That was why he’d chased after Isabella, why he’d married her, just so he could have a reason to come to the Lane family house.

Sadness settled over him as he picked at his dinner and sipped his drink. By the time they finished eating, he’d had more than a few glasses. He wasn’t outright drunk, but the alcohol made his emotions feel sharper, more unpredictable.

Night had fallen outside, the dark sky pressing against the windows. The sound of waves crashing on the shore drifted in on the wind.

“Jordan, Natalie, I’m going to head out. Isabella should be home by now,” Ethan said, getting up from the table.

“Alright. Get some rest. Let’s go out on the boat again tomorrow,” Jordan replied, walking him toward the door.

They made their way through the garden. At the front gate, Jordan walked ahead and pushed it open.

“You’re still planning to go out on the boat tomorrow?”

“Natalie says she feels fine and we don’t know anything for sure yet, so as long as we’re careful, she wants to go. And if she wants to, I’m definitely going to make it happen.”

Ethan tried to keep his tone steady. “Just… be careful. If Natalie really is pregnant, you need to take care of her.”

Jordan nodded, his expression softening. “Of course. When I told Natalie how I felt, I promised I’d love her and take care of her forever. I meant it.”

All Ethan could see was the way happiness seemed to wrap around Jordan, like he was glowing from the inside out. It made Ethan’s heart squeeze tight with jealousy he couldn’t quite hide.