After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 980

"Yeah, maybe I'm not as good as she was. But if she was really that amazing, how did everyone treat her? Now it's my turn, and just because I won't let people walk all over me, suddenly I'm the problem. Natalie, don't you think this is just karma coming back your way?"

"You..." Natalie jabbed a finger at Deborah, her jaw clenched in anger, itching to slap her.

There were footsteps in the hallway.

Without warning, Deborah lifted her hand and slapped herself, the sharp crack echoing through the room.

Natalie stared at her, completely thrown off by what just happened.

"Natalie, you can call me whatever you want. Say I'm shameless, say I'm a bitch for being with Jackson, but I'm with him because we actually love each other. I don't care that he's older than me. He's your father-in-law. Can't you show a little respect, instead of always calling him an old man? Why are you hitting me, anyway? What did I even say that's so wrong?"

"What did I do wrong? Ever since I married Jackson and moved in, I've treated you and Jordan like my own kids. I've always tried to be good to you, and still, you want to hit me. I don't need you to see me as your mom, but I am your elder. Is it really so hard to just call me by my name? You keep calling me a bitch. Am I a bitch just because I went after real love?"

"She's always yelling at Jordan. I know I'm not his real mom, but I am his stepmom, and it breaks my heart when Natalie goes off on him. I just asked her a couple questions, and she went straight to violence. I'm married to you now. We're a real couple, but she still calls me a bitch. She even said I brought Mandy here because I wanted to share you with her. I would never do that, and Mandy wouldn't either. You're my husband. Why would I share you with anyone?"

"She says Harold and I are just after the Lane family's money. But the Lane family is yours. You're still young, everything belongs to you. What am I even trying to take? As long as you're okay, you'll take care of Harold and me, right? You're all we have. But Natalie keeps making it sound like we're just using you, like we're only here for the money or to climb the social ladder."

"Jackson, think about it. I've been with you for years without any title or status. Did I ever make a scene? Did I ever ask you for anything? Everything I have, you gave to me. What we have is real. I care about you as a person, not because of your money. Harold is your son because you wanted him. You said having just Jordan wasn’t enough, that we should have more kids. You even said Jordan might not be able to handle things on his own, and that he might struggle just to keep up."