Natalie sighed. “Isabella, you know I hate tea. Why do you keep making it for me? I just want water. Put a couple of spoonfuls of glucose powder in my glass, so it tastes a little sweet. Otherwise, I can’t drink it.”
“Unless I’m seriously dying of thirst, I won’t touch plain water.”
Isabella’s tone was cool. “When guests come, it’s only proper to serve tea.”
She stood up and poured a cup for Pansy herself.
Natalie’s face turned red with frustration.
Isabella didn’t even look at her. She poured a cup for Natalie, then one for herself. After setting down the teapot, she sat back down and dismissed Nana, certain she could handle the situation herself.
Pansy placed the gifts she’d brought on Isabella’s desk.
Isabella glanced over. Jewelry boxes and a couple of packs of health supplements, by the look of it.
“Isabella, I’m here today to apologize on behalf of my daughter,” Pansy said, her face full of regret. “She shouldn’t have caused you trouble that night, and she definitely shouldn’t have smashed your car out of anger.”
She apologized first, then gently pushed the gifts in Isabella’s direction.
“Isabella, these are just a small token from us. I hope you can forgive Nadine this time. I promise, once Nadine is out, I’ll make sure she learns her lesson.”
Natalie jumped in. “Isabella, you should just accept it. The Franklin family has tried everything to make things right.”
“They’re giving you a new car, a hundred grand for your troubles, and they’ve apologized. What more do you want? Nadine knows she was wrong. She’s promised never to touch your car or your things again.”
Isabella’s tough attitude left no doubt for anyone, not the Franklins, not even Natalie. If anyone dared damage her things again, she wouldn’t even pretend to be polite.
She was different now. Stronger. With Ethan and Harold backing her, she had the kind of power Natalie used to enjoy. Two men supporting her, and in Cabinda, that meant she could do as she pleased.
Now, Isabella was the one everyone in town watched out for. No one would dare cross her. In fact, there were probably plenty of people trying to get on her good side.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan)
I will be devastated if Isabella and Ethan will get back together. Please, writer, Isabella deserves Harold....
Author, please get your characters names right. You always messing them up!...
I wish Harold will win Isabella's heart. I was so sad when Isabela was taken for granted coldly and cruelly by her supposed to be husband, and trapped,mocked and humiliated non stop by Natalie. This was so cruel, both don't deserve Isabela' forgiveness I wish for a happy ending between Isabela and Harold, he has the right to be happy after the long wait....
Frankly, the story initially was going quite good and the pacing was just right. unfortunately after Ethan got the dream of his past life, the story has been going in circles. Ethan's spouting the same nonsense every time he sees Isabella, they both have same conversations over and over. The authors monologue too has been the same for almost 400 chapters. Irrespective of which character the writing the just a repetition of what someone had gone through in the past and what made a certain character feel the emotions. York got introduced in 800 chapters yet nothing significant happened till date. Isabella is soft with Harold and kind of disgusted with Ethan, yet it is not entirely clear with whom she might end up. If she stays single i am fine with it but the story is clearly about Isabella and Ethan so almost 1000 chapters without seeing any progress in their relationship is frustrating. Except for being blindly in love and few aggressive instances with Isabella, Ethan actually isnt a bad person so i am fine if he can win her back. Even though Harold is coming off as a good second lead, i am somehow unable to warm upto him. Even the bad people in the story are not really facing any real consequences. I hate Jackson for his hypocrisy. I hate Jordan and Natalie for their self-righteouness and selfishness. I also hate Deborah, except when she is handing it out to Natalie. I am almost on the verge of dropping this story....
Why are they acting like kids 🤣😭...
Ethan is actually not that bad if we take out his blind love for Natalie...