After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 1218

Isabella glanced back at him. "Ethan, you don't need to walk me. It's not far. I literally live next door."

"I'm walking you. Even a few steps can be dangerous. What if a lunatic is hiding in the bushes by your front door?"

"You're being paranoid. This is an upscale neighborhood. The security here is top-tier."

But Ethan refused to budge, so Isabella had no choice but to let him tag along.

When they reached the first floor, Stephanie was nowhere to be seen. She was likely still lingering in the backyard, deliberately giving the two of them privacy.

The older woman was clearly exhausting every option to push them back together.

Isabella understood her intentions, but a reconciliation with Ethan was entirely off the table.

The two stepped out of the main house and walked across the front courtyard in silence.

A bodyguard, spotting them approaching, quickly moved to open the wrought-iron gates.

"Ethan, just stand at the gate. You can watch me walk inside from here."

"I've already come this far. A few more steps won't kill me."

Ethan walked her right up to her porch, waiting as she unlocked the heavy front door. He stood completely still, watching as she stepped inside, shut the door, and disappeared into her house. Only when there was no trace of her left did he finally tear his gaze away.

He turned and headed back.

After a few strides, he spotted Susan supporting his grandmother near the entrance.

"Grandma," Ethan called out.

Stephanie gave him a pointed look. "How did it go? Why didn't you make her stay a little longer?"

It was incredibly rare for Isabella to seek him out voluntarily. Couldn't he have used a little charm to keep her around?

"We just talked. It's not that I didn't want her to stay—she wanted to leave, and I couldn't stop her."

Ethan paused, his voice softening. "And even if she did, it wouldn't change how I see her. If she ever wanted to come back to me, I'd still marry her in a heartbeat and spend the rest of my life treating her like a queen."

Stephanie let out a heavy sigh. "Words are cheap now. You already lost her. Getting her back isn't going to be a walk in the park."

"Did you tell her what Jeremy found out?"

Ethan gave a low hum of confirmation.

"She had already pieced most of it together. Grandma, do you really think Harold will break up with her?"

"It's hard to say. We'll just have to wait and see. If they really do split, you better work harder than you ever have in your life to win her back. If you still can't, then you'll just have to let her go."

"True love doesn't always mean ending up together. As long as she's happy, that's what matters—even if it's not with you."

"Though, obviously, it would be best if you two worked it out."