“Whether he’s really blind or just pretending, I just hope that when Isabella asks for a divorce, he’ll let her go and give her the freedom she deserves,” Barbara said quietly.
Harold paused before answering. “That’s hard to know for sure. Haven’t you noticed? Ethan’s been treating Isabella better lately. I think he’s finally starting to see how great she is. Maybe all my talking finally sank in a little.”
“I do like Isabella,” Barbara admitted, “but if Ethan can finally let go of Natalie and actually make a life with Isabella—if he can make her happy—I’ll honestly wish them well.”
Barbara let out a long sigh. “Let’s just see what happens.”
Harold didn’t say anything else. He agreed. It was out of their hands now. If Ethan and Isabella ended up happy together, he’d support them. But if Ethan kept Isabella in a loveless marriage, if she finally left and got her freedom back, Harold would go after her himself. He’d give her the happiness Ethan never could.
Whatever happens, it’s up to fate now.
***
Isabella had no idea what Harold and Barbara had been talking about. After they left, she ordered a taxi and turned to Ethan. “My mom moved out of the Lane house. I’m going to check on her.”
“Your driver had to leave, and I don’t have time to take you back to work, so I called you a ride. I already paid for it,” Ethan said.
Ethan just stared at her, speechless.
“I’ll go with you to see your mom,” he offered. He really didn’t want to go back to the office by himself. Not unless Isabella took him.
“That’s not necessary. My mom’s not in the best mood right now. We need to talk, just the two of us. You wouldn’t get it, so it’s better if you don’t come.”
He hadn’t mentioned that last part to Natalie.
Isabella just looked at him for a long moment, not saying a word.
Ethan felt her eyes on him and leaned back in his chair, trying to look all handsome and cocky. He grinned. “What, Isabella? Are you finally realizing how good-looking I am?”
“Guys who are too handsome are nothing but trouble. And you, you’re a real handful.”
Ethan’s smile faltered. How was he trouble?
“Did you really say that to Natalie?” Isabella almost wanted to laugh. Ethan knew better than anyone how greedy and possessive Jordan and Natalie were about the Lane family’s money. Thirty million from Jackson probably already made Natalie’s heart ache. For Ethan to look her in the eye and say Cynthia deserved at least three hundred million… it was like poking Natalie right in the sore spot. She must have been furious.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: After I Stopped Loving Him