“So, no, I’m not accepting a settlement. Nadine can go ahead and spend some time in jail. How about that?”
Natalie’s face turned dark with anger. She pointed at Isabella, her mouth opening and closing, but she just couldn’t get the words out.
Isabella wasn’t bothering to hide it anymore. This was payback. She hated Natalie, plain and simple.
And Natalie hated her just as much.
There was no coming back from this. No forgiveness, not in this lifetime.
Natalie didn’t even want to make peace. What she wanted was for Isabella to disappear for good.
“Oh, and don’t even think about spreading rumors about me and Harold. Don’t go around saying I have no shame, flirting with him before my divorce from Ethan, or that I’m still clinging to Ethan after the split.”
“If these stories get out of hand, I’ll sue you for defamation just the same.”
No one had actually told Isabella that the Franklin family was stirring things up about her, but she knew how they worked. They were probably already at it, and the gossip just hadn’t reached her yet.
She remembered all too well how Nadine had teamed up with Natalie to go after her in the past. She knew the Franklin family’s tricks inside and out.
Pansy’s face shifted for just a second.
Isabella caught it and knew for sure the rumors were already flying.
“Do you honestly need anyone to make things up? Is it even gossip if it’s true? You went after Harold while you were still married. Don’t think I didn’t notice. The second you and Ethan got divorced, Harold confessed to you.”
“Harold was waiting outside the registry office with flowers. Everyone saw it. Even after your divorce, you can’t let Ethan go. Who doesn’t know about all this?”
Isabella walked to the door, opened it, and motioned for them to leave.
Pansy looked like she wanted to say something, but Natalie had already grabbed her purse and stormed out.
Pansy could only sigh, picking up the gift box and the stack of money before hurrying after Natalie. When she passed Isabella, she stopped for a moment and said, “Isabella, you’ll regret this.”
“Don’t think you can do whatever you want just because Ethan’s on your side. One day, you’ll end up worse than Nadine.”
If Isabella wouldn’t agree to settle, then at worst, her daughter would spend a few months in jail. But the way Isabella was throwing her weight around with Ethan behind her, everyone could see it. Even if people did business with her now, the second she lost her support, they’d all turn on her.
That would be the Franklin family’s chance to hit back.
For now, they had to swallow it. They couldn’t touch Isabella, not with Ethan ready to protect her at any moment.

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...