After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 775

She let out a small laugh. “You go ahead and sit. I’m just going to let Isabella know. Then we can wander around the neighborhood for a bit.”

“Sounds good,” Jesse replied, feeling lighter than he had in a long time.

Laura wasn’t shutting him out anymore. Things between them were starting to feel more like an actual relationship.

As Laura slipped inside, Jesse pulled out his phone, about to text Harold, when Ethan suddenly appeared at his side.

“Trying to give Harold a heads-up?” Ethan asked.

Jesse jerked in surprise. “Ethan, do you have to sneak around like that? You almost gave me a heart attack. Seriously, you can’t just appear out of nowhere.”

“I talk to Harold every day,” Ethan said, his tone sharp.

Ethan rolled his eyes. “You two are on the same team now, always plotting against me.”

Jesse sighed. “Plotting against you? What have you lost, exactly? Ethan, you’re acting like a porcupine these days, ready to snap at anyone who gets too close.”

Ethan made a noise of annoyance and dragged Jesse over to his table, pushing him into a chair.

“Harold and I might not be friends anymore, but you and I still are. Since we ran into each other, let’s catch up.”

If Jesse wanted to keep Ethan distracted, he couldn’t exactly text Harold to warn him.

He let out a helpless laugh. “Ethan, you’re reading too much into this. I wasn’t going to warn Harold. We just talk business sometimes.”

“We can talk business too. Our families have a bunch of projects together. Just pick one. I’m game.”

Jesse shook his head. “Ethan, you’re making this way harder than it needs to be.”

“You might think it’s pointless, but it’s not to me.”

Jesse looked at him, at a loss for words.

He knew the prices by heart, being a regular here. After paying, he glanced once more toward the back, then finally turned and left.

His bodyguards followed him out. The ones he’d assigned to protect Isabella stayed behind in the cafe.

When Isabella heard Ethan had left, she didn’t say a word.

For the next two days, every time Isabella came to the cafe, Ethan would show up, quietly order a coffee, sit for a while, then leave again.

That evening, Isabella was invited to a business banquet. Ethan hadn’t planned to go, but when he heard she’d also gotten an invitation and knew she’d be attending, he decided to go after all.

Isabella came home early to change into her evening dress and fix her makeup.

Ethan got home before she did. He stood out on the second-floor balcony, which faced the front gate. From there, he could watch as Isabella’s car passed by the house.

He was waiting for the chance to head to The Cabinda Hotel for the banquet with her.