After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 952

Barbara shook her head, a hint of exasperation in her voice. “I told you, you should’ve let me invite Isabella over for dinner. But you wanted to do it yourself. She hasn’t even accepted your feelings yet. When you invite her, it feels like you’re trying to introduce her to the family, like some big, official thing. Of course she’s going to say no. It’s different with me. I’m her friend, we work together, we’re close. If I ask her to come for dinner, it’s just normal.”

Harold went quiet for a moment, then sighed. “I wanted her to come as my girlfriend, but she turned me down. Even if Mom had gone to invite her, she would’ve said no. I just… I don’t know when she’ll ever accept how I feel.”

Barbara glanced at him. “What if she never does? Will you keep waiting around for her? Isabella told both of us that if you meet someone nice, you should go after them, not waste your time on her. And honestly, I think she and Ethan still have things to figure out. What if, in the end, she chooses to go back to him? Or something unexpected happens between them? Are you still going to wait?”

Harold looked down, his voice steady. “I’ve already said it. No matter who she picks, I’ll respect her decision and wish her the best. But Barbara, seriously, can’t you help me out a little here?”

She gave him a look. “What can I do about your love life? It’s not like I haven’t talked you up to Isabella. I’ve set up so many opportunities for you, and you’ve taken them. It’s not that I don’t want to help, but I really can’t do anything more. Hasn’t she given you any kind of sign?”

Harold thought back to earlier, remembering the way Isabella had looked at him when he left. For a second, she’d just stared, then she’d reached out and touched his face. He lifted his hand, almost feeling her touch again. “She looked at me, really looked, and then… she touched my face. Do you think that means anything?”

Barbara’s face lit up. “Of course it does! That’s definitely a sign. If she didn’t care at all, she wouldn’t have touched you like that. This means you’ve got a real shot. You just have to keep at it. I’m rooting for you.”

Harold grinned, relief and hope written all over his face. “That’s what I thought too. Alright, I won’t give up.”

The two of them kept chatting, their conversation softening as the night wore on, until finally they decided to call it a night.

***

But Isabella barely slept. All night long, she drifted through nightmares, reliving the memories of when her grandparents and uncle had almost sold her. Each time, she’d wake up gasping, only to fall back into the same terrifying dream.

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