After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 346

Isabella let out a breath and finally relaxed, convinced Ethan had just been messing with her.

She let go of the blanket, gathered it up as she walked into the room, and tossed it onto the sofa. Her head was pounding, but she managed to grab some fresh clothes and head straight for a hot shower.

After brushing her teeth, she breathed into her hand. The smell of last night’s drinks still lingered. “Way too much alcohol,” she muttered. “I can’t let this happen again. Drinking only gets me into trouble.” And sometimes, trouble you really wish you could forget.

She stepped out of the bathroom just as someone knocked on the door. She didn’t even need to guess who it was.

Isabella hesitated for a second, then went over and opened the door.

It was Ethan, of course. He stood there, already dressed in one of his usual black suits. He seemed to have a thing for them. With those looks and that build, he made anything look runway-worthy.

“Head hurting?” he asked, sounding genuinely concerned.

“It feels like my brain’s about to explode,” Isabella admitted. “Can you ask Susan to make me some honey water?”

“I already did. And don’t worry about breakfast. Hangovers are rough. Susan will bring it up for you. Just eat and rest, alright? No work today. We’re not hurting for money. You don’t need to push yourself so hard. Take a couple of days, eat well, relax. You’re getting way too thin from all this stress.”

Ethan reached out to touch her face, but she gently brushed his hand away. He didn’t push it.

He flashed a tiny smile. “By the way, I was just teasing you earlier. Nothing happened last night. I slept out on the sofa, and only lay down next to you when I woke you up. I actually tried to take you back to your own room, but I didn’t have the key. That’s why you ended up here instead.”

He paused, then added, “You know, you’re the first woman to ever sleep in my bed.”

“Should I be paying rent?” Isabella shot back, raising an eyebrow.

On the way up, Susan crossed paths with him, carrying Isabella’s breakfast. Ethan stopped her. “Keep an eye on her today. Don’t let her go out. Make sure she rests. If she still has a headache this afternoon, call the family doctor.”

Susan nodded. “Of course, Mr. Hayes.”

Ethan stepped aside so she could go upstairs. He hadn’t even had breakfast himself, but there was no time.

Isabella had no idea he’d skipped his own meal. She just enjoyed Susan’s thoughtful care. After eating and finishing her honey water, she called Laura, then sent a voice message to her editor to check in about work. That done, she crawled back into bed for another nap.

Meanwhile, over at The Sanctuary, Jackson stood at the villa’s front door, pressing the doorbell over and over.

It took a while, but finally Cynthia came out. The moment she saw Jackson waiting there, she froze.