After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 786

“Isabella.”

Laura spotted Isabella and made her way over, waving with a warm smile. “Isabella, you look gorgeous tonight.”

Isabella grinned. “Laura, look at you. You’re stunning.”

“Oh, come on. You look just as amazing.”

Honestly, no one in the room could hold a candle to Isabella. There were a few who might come close, but most people just relied on makeup to get by. Isabella didn’t need any of that. She was effortlessly beautiful, all on her own.

“Linda.” Laura greeted her next.

Linda smiled back and glanced around the crowd, searching for someone.

Laura leaned in. “Douglas is over there.”

She nodded in his direction, noticing how Douglas was standing a little too close to Melissa. It was obvious. Douglas definitely liked her.

Linda chuckled. “You two go ahead and chat. I’m going to say hi to my brother.”

She gave a friendly nod to Harold and Jesse, but completely ignored Ethan, who was quietly following Isabella around. The White Group and the Adams Group were still rivals. Linda had always thought Ethan was a jerk when it came to relationships, so she never bothered being friendly.

Once everyone settled in, the conversation picked up right away. They talked about everything, and sometimes joined the executives for a bit of small talk.

Isabella took Laura around, introducing her to a bunch of company heads and a few heiresses. Most of them seemed decent enough. The ones who acted all nice on the surface but were snakes underneath only got a polite nod from Isabella. She never bothered with them. She knew who talked behind her back and who had teamed up with Natalie to pull shady tricks. With Harold’s help and her own memories from before, she already knew who she could trust.

“Where’s Barbara tonight?” Laura asked suddenly.

Lucas had invited everyone, but Barbara was nowhere to be found.

They both looked up. A guy they didn’t recognize stood there, holding two glasses of red wine and smiling at Isabella.

“Hi, can I help you?” Isabella asked, polite but a little cautious.

“My name’s York Austin. I’m not here to bother you, I just wanted to make a new friend.” His smile was gentle and he seemed harmless as he offered her a glass of wine.

“York, thank you, but I’ve already had way too much to drink tonight. I really can’t have any more,” Isabella said. She picked up her juice from the table and smiled. “Would you mind if I toast you with fruit juice instead?”

York kept smiling. “That’s my mistake. Sorry for being too forward.”

He held out his wine and clinked her glass, then nodded politely at Laura before tossing back his drink.

“Isabella, I won’t keep you any longer,” he said, raising his empty glass with a friendly smile before walking away.