After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 893

“I was always making you look bad, you know. I told Jordan that your mom brought you into the Lane family just to steal his dad’s love. I wanted him to hate you, to push you away, to feel like your mom’s love was something he had to fight for too.”

“Jordan and I grew up together. He always trusted me more. That’s why he started to dislike you, and it just got worse.”

Isabella didn’t say a word.

When she and her mom first moved into the Lane family, she was so little that most of it was a blur. By the time she could actually remember things, all her memories were of Jordan being mean to her, picking on her, demanding that her mom only show him affection and not her.

She always thought Jordan just hated her. But now, after hearing Natalie’s explanation, Isabella realized that maybe, once upon a time, Jordan hadn’t always felt that way about his stepsister.

“And now Ethan cares about you,” Natalie went on, her voice tight. “He used to care about me the most, dote on me. But ever since you showed up, his attention started shifting. He treats you better and better.”

“His affection should be mine. Even if I didn’t marry him, I don’t want him marrying anyone else. I don’t want him liking anyone else either.”

“But you took his attention, his feelings. That’s why I hate you. That’s why I can’t stand you.”

Natalie looked so smug, like she’d managed to keep both men wrapped around her finger. Like she believed they could only ever see her.

But then her face twisted with anger, her eyes cold and sharp as knives as she stared at Isabella. If looks could kill, Isabella would have been gone a thousand times over.

“I never tried to steal Ethan from you,” Isabella finally said, her voice steady and quiet after Natalie finished.

“Ethan was the one who came to me. He was the one who pursued me. I never made the first move.”

“He loves me, you know. He’d rather hurt you—an innocent woman—just to see me more often.”

Isabella let her rant, let her gloat.

But when Natalie was at her most triumphant, Isabella looked up, her voice cool and calm. “Funny, isn’t it? Now, the person he wants to marry is me, not you. You keep throwing yourself at him, but he acts like you’re poison, like just touching you would kill him.”

Natalie’s pride vanished in a heartbeat.

No matter how much Ethan might have loved her before, the truth was, he didn’t want her now.

Isabella always knew exactly where to twist the knife.