After I Stopped Loving Him novel Chapter 673

“Ethan, you’re not seriously thinking of changing your mind, are you?” Isabella asked, her voice careful.

Ethan paused. “If I did, would you hate me for it?”

“Ethan, how could you go back on your word? You always say you keep your promises, that you never break them…”

He cut her off. “Just answer the question, Isabella. Be honest with me.”

She took a breath. “I wouldn’t hate you. Hating someone else just makes life harder for yourself, so what’s the point? But I would file for divorce. I don’t want to be tied to you anymore.”

Ethan’s tone turned bitter. “So you really wouldn’t hate me? Even if I changed my mind and decided not to divorce you, you still wouldn’t hate me?”

She was quiet.

“No love, no hate. I get it now, Isabella. See you at City Hall at two-thirty this afternoon.” Ethan ended the call without waiting for a reply.

He tossed his phone onto the desk. For a moment, he just stared at the pile of paperwork in front of him. Suddenly, he swept it all onto the floor, the papers scattering everywhere. He got up, walked to the window, and lit a cigarette. He smoked one after another, barely noticing the time passing.

He had no idea how many cigarettes he’d gone through when someone knocked. His secretary poked her head in to say Natalie had arrived.

That snapped him out of it. He crushed out the half-smoked cigarette.

Natalie walked in, wearing a simple white dress. Her hair fell all the way to her waist, loose and perfect, glossy black and silky smooth. Ethan always loved her hair.

She’d known him for years, but it was rare to see him smoke this much. She hated smoking, and both Ethan and Jordan knew it. Neither of them ever smoked around her. If they had to smoke for business, they’d keep away from her for days just so she wouldn’t have to smell it.

Ethan moved away from her, heading back to his desk. He saw the documents scattered everywhere and kicked them, sending the papers flying even farther.

Natalie followed him. She set down her bag, crouched, and carefully picked up every sheet, stacking them neatly and putting them back on his desk.

“Did the sky fall or something? I’ve never seen you this upset. And you’ve smoked so much, the whole place stinks.”

“Ethan, you know I don’t like it when you or Jordan smoke. I can’t stand the smell.”

Ethan slumped into his chair, his face twisted in pain. “The cooling-off period is over. Isabella and I can get our divorce certificate today.”