After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 1076

"Isabella said she'll come visit you next week when she has time. You two can catch up on all your little secrets then."

Ethan looked up at his grandmother, surprised.

Stephanie gently tapped his forehead. "Did you think I was blind? It's obvious you and Isabella share a secret—something huge that the rest of us know nothing about."

"Every time one of you ends up unconscious and wakes up, you both act so strangely. I figured it out a long time ago."

"But it's your secret to keep. If you don't want to tell me, I won't pry."

"Grandma..."

Ethan's voice thickened with guilt and immense gratitude. "I'm so sorry for everything I've put you through. And thank you... thank you for not giving up on me."

"I raised you myself," Stephanie chided softly. "You're my eldest grandson. Out of all the children in this family, you're the one I dote on the most. How could I ever abandon you? But you certainly have been a headache."

"You refused to listen to a word of my advice. If you had just paid attention for once, we wouldn't be in this massive mess. But despite your stubbornness, you're still my grandson. I'm too old to hold onto grudges against you."

"Even though you've made terrible mistakes, all I want is for you to be happy. You can always start over. You're still young, and you have your whole life ahead of you. Don't let a couple of failed relationships ruin your hope for the future."

Ethan went quiet for a moment before whispering, "We'll see."

Romance was the last thing on his mind right now.

"Maybe once Isabella actually marries Harold, I'll think about moving on."

Stephanie raised an eyebrow. "So you haven't given up? You still want to win her back?"

"More than anything. I dream about remarrying her. I want to make up for all the pain I caused and love her the way she deserves to be loved. If she would just give me one more chance, I swear I'd give her the world. I'd never let anyone disrespect or hurt her ever again."

Not even his own parents.

Ever since his accident, he could sense a shift in how his parents viewed Isabella. His mother, in particular, seemed to harbor deep regrets.

But her remorse was too little, too late. Just like Ethan, she only recognized Isabella's true worth after they had already lost her.

And there were no do-overs in life.

He remembered what Isabella had told him when she demanded the divorce. She said she needed to leave him, to escape his toxic world, just so she could stay alive.

At the time, he had no idea what she meant.

After waking from those visions, he understood with terrifying clarity.

Everything she had done was simply a desperate bid for survival.

Natalie... was infinitely more venomous than he had ever imagined.

And Ethan knew he bore a massive share of the blame for creating the monster she became.

Ethan felt nothing but revulsion for himself. Once Natalie married his best friend, he should have severed ties and maintained a respectful distance. But he hadn't.

When he married Isabella, he should have committed to her completely. He failed at that, too.

Even his own family considered him a despicable bastard.