After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 1205

Harold was convinced that once they tracked down the mastermind and threw them behind bars, his family would be safe again.

Barbara nodded in agreement.

"Keep this between us for now," Harold instructed. "Don't say a word to Isabella, and definitely don't tell the elders until we have solid proof. With all our resources combined, there's no way this bastard stays hidden for long."

Barbara nodded again.

"From now on, everyone in the family travels with a security detail."

Barbara nodded a third time.

She had always hated having bodyguards hovering around, finding it pretentious and suffocating. The Carter family preferred to keep a low profile, and she had never felt in danger before.

But today had shattered that illusion completely.

"How is Claire?" she asked suddenly.

She remembered her childhood best friend who had been with her when the attack happened.

"She took a few hits and is resting in another wing of this hospital. We haven't told her you're safe yet. Do you want to go see her?"

Barbara immediately swung her legs off the bed. "Of course. She was dragged into this because of me. She must be terrified."

Even a grown man would be scarred by what they went through, let alone two regular women.

Harold wrapped a supportive arm around his sister and escorted her down the hall.

When Isabella returned a little while later with several bags of takeout, she noticed only one bodyguard standing outside the door. "Where did everyone else go?"

"Mr. Carter took his sister to visit Claire Miller."

Claire Miller was Barbara's most loyal childhood friend.

Isabella nodded and stepped inside. She placed the food on the small coffee table in the seating area, then pulled out one of the meals and handed it to the guard at the door.

"I got enough for you guys, too."

The guard thanked her warmly as he took the container.

"She's safe now. Ethan, thank you. I appreciate you putting the past aside to help."

"It was Grandma's call, but even if it hadn't been, I would have had Jeremy and Frank step in. Harold and I might be rivals, but we're not blood enemies. Barbara is your friend. If we can help, we will."

"But while Jeremy was digging around, he uncovered something. Something that ties back to you. That's why we need to talk."

"Wait, did Barbara say anything to you after she was rescued?"

"No."

But the way she had looked at her was enough to send her stomach into knots.

Ethan was about to say something else when another phone rang on his end. "Jordan is calling me," Ethan muttered in frustration. "I need to take this. We'll talk when you get home."

The line went dead.

Isabella stared at her phone, her heart hammering against her ribs. What exactly had Jeremy found?