After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 897

Her father had always supported him, no matter what he decided. This time was no different.

The only one who had reservations was his grandmother. She thought Isabella’s background wasn’t good enough for him, and she didn’t like that Isabella was divorced and still somehow tangled up with Ethan. That made it hard for his grandmother to accept her.

Even so, he stood his ground. His grandmother, to her credit, was willing to give Isabella a chance, just to see what she was really like.

At least his family didn’t freak out like Ethan’s had. Harold remembered how Ethan had clashed with his family when he wanted to marry Isabella. It had been a huge deal back then.

But Harold’s family wasn’t like that. No one would put their foot down or try to control his choices. They’d all promised to respect what he wanted. Even if his grandmother didn’t totally approve, she wouldn’t go out of her way to make things difficult. Harold really believed that if Isabella agreed to marry him, he could make her happy.

Isabella sighed. “Harold, if I go to your house for dinner, nobody’s going to buy that it’s just a meal. It’s basically meeting the family.”

“We’re not even at that point yet. And honestly, your grandmother probably isn’t thrilled about us, right? If I go with you and meet her now, I’m just opening myself up for more of what I got with Ethan’s family—awkwardness, or worse.”

Harold shook his head. “Isabella, it’s not like that. My grandmother isn’t that kind of person. She actually respects you, and she hasn’t tried to stop me from going after you. She said she’d respect my choice.”

“My marriage is up to me,” he added quietly. “If I ever get married, it’ll be to the woman I love.”

But Isabella still said no.

Going to Harold’s house and meeting Salome wasn’t just dinner—it was a big step. She and Harold weren’t there yet. She hadn’t even decided how she felt about him.

“Let’s talk about it another time, Harold.”

He took a deep breath, trying not to let his disappointment show. Pushing her wouldn’t help. Isabella was keeping her guard up.

At least she wasn’t shutting him out. She was still willing to be friends, and that was something.

“Alright,” Harold said, forcing a small smile. “Maybe another time.”

He realized he’d been moving too fast. He hadn’t even won her heart, and here he was, trying to introduce her to his family. Of course she wasn’t ready for that.

No one—including himself—could have predicted he’d fall for his friend’s wife.

Back when Ethan and Isabella were still married, Jesse had picked up on it before anyone else. He’d even pulled Harold aside a few times to warn him. Harold hadn’t thought much of it. He figured he just felt sorry for Isabella, thought she was caught in the middle and didn’t deserve it.

Little by little, though, he realized Jesse was right. He really had fallen for Isabella.

While she was still married, Harold kept his distance for the sake of her reputation. He avoided seeing her, only running into her now and then through Barbara.

Now he could finally pursue her openly.

But Isabella was still hurting. She wasn’t ready to even think about another relationship.

All he could do was wait.

Someday, he hoped, she’d return his feelings.