After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 178

Ethan closed his eyes for a second and when he looked up again, he didn’t meet Natalie’s gaze. His voice sounded tired, almost defeated. “Natalie, I’m really not feeling well today. You should go home before I pass whatever this is on to you.”

Natalie’s worry was obvious. “Where’s Isabella? You’re sick and won’t see a doctor, and the herbal tea she got you clearly isn’t working. Look at you. You drank that stuff and now you’re feeling even worse.”

“It isn’t Isabella’s fault. I was already fighting off a cold. Then I had a few drinks last night. The fever hit hard after midnight. Susan woke me up earlier and I took some medicine to bring it down.”

That was the only reason he even had the energy to talk now.

“Ethan, you really should see a doctor. Or at least have the family doctor come by. Get a proper prescription and actually take it on time. You can’t just ignore this.”

“I’m fine. Really. My immune system’s strong.” He tried to sound convincing, but it didn’t quite land. “If you want, call the family doctor right now. I’ll wait until he checks you over and makes sure you take your medicine before I go home.”

Ethan shook his head. “I don’t want to see a doctor. Once the fever breaks, I’ll be okay. I don’t have any other symptoms. Natalie, please just go home. If I get you sick, Jordan will have my head.”

He kept insisting, so Natalie finally stood up. “You need to look after yourself. Call Isabella and tell her to come back and take care of you. It’s not like you can’t afford her. Why is she out there running around anyway?”

“Jennifer went to talk to Cynthia today, hoping she’ll get Isabella to stop putting herself in the spotlight. Ethan, you can’t keep spoiling her like this. Your family has rules. If Isabella doesn’t follow them, what happens when your brothers get married? Their wives will think they don’t have to follow the rules either. The Adams family will be a mess.”

“There have to be rules. That’s just how it is.”

“All of our families have traditions. Everyone has to stick to them.”

“Natalie.”

She was almost at the door when Ethan called her name. She turned back, and he said, “Isabella’s busy with her business. She won’t have time to be jealous of you. Do you get what I’m trying to do?”

Natalie blinked, caught off guard. After a moment, she nodded. “I get it. Rest up.”

She headed out, her steps suddenly lighter. So that was it. Ethan was doing this for her, keeping Isabella busy so she wouldn’t have time or energy to be jealous. That way, Natalie would be safe.

Still, it felt like Isabella was getting the better end of the deal. What if her business actually took off and she became some big-shot career woman? Honestly, it would be better to keep her at home. If Isabella ever dared to lay a finger on her, Jordan would never let her get away with it.