After I Stopped Loving Him novel Chapter 670

“I’m not really that close with Melissa,” Linda said, picking at the edge of her coffee cup. “She’s always got this wall up, you know? But I’ll give her this, she’s never talked trash about me.”

Isabella grinned across the table. “So, that’s your standard? If someone hasn’t gossiped about you, they’re a good person?”

Linda laughed, shaking her head. “Not exactly, but in our circle, not saying anything bad about me already puts someone ahead of most. There are so many people who can’t stand me.”

Isabella leaned in, her eyes twinkling. “That’s just jealousy. You’ve got everything. A great family, brains, beauty, talent, and let’s not forget your fifteen brothers who treat you like a princess. Honestly, who wouldn’t be jealous? Even I am.”

Linda smiled, looking a little embarrassed but not denying it. “I know I’m lucky. My family pampers me and has my back, so I get to live however I want. I know those people are jealous, so they talk about me behind my back, calling me arrogant and spoiled, saying I act like I’m better than everyone else.”

She shrugged, a little smirk on her lips. “And honestly, I kind of do look down on them. They’re so fake. Not many people in our world are genuinely decent, so I just keep my distance. I don’t have the patience for their two-faced games. You, though, you envy me, but it’s not in that destructive way. You’re just honest about it. I might not argue with those other girls, but I’m not stupid. I know who’s actually sincere with me and who just wants something from me.”

Isabella laughed. “Well, I definitely want something. I want you to take me with you to make a fortune.”

Linda laughed. “When you reach my level, making money isn’t even about the money anymore. It’s just the satisfaction of doing it.”

Isabella leaned back, thinking it over. “Maybe. I’m not there yet, so I can’t say. I’ll see if I can get there after a decade or two of hard work.”

But the truth was, Linda already had more money than Isabella could dream of. She’d inherited a fortune, her family would give her even more, and if she ever got married, her brothers would shower her with gifts. The kind of wealth Linda had was out of reach for most people, unless they happened to catch the perfect wave at the perfect time. But that era was gone. These days, everything was a struggle. The market was tough, the economy was shaky, and competition was more cutthroat than ever.