After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 349

Jackson sat in silence. He knew exactly how much Cynthia had given over these past twenty years. She might not have been able to help him in business, but she kept the house running, took care of his parents, and raised the kids without ever complaining. With her there, he always felt safe, like nothing could really go wrong. She gave him a home that felt solid, a kind of peace he never had before.

His first wife never managed that, even when she was alive. She came from money, was used to getting her way, and he used to love that about her when he was young. Their marriage wasn’t bad, but from the time they started dating to when she passed away, it hadn’t even lasted twenty years. He’d been with Cynthia longer than that. Maybe it wasn’t some wild, passionate love, but there was real family between them.

He knew he’d messed up. The affair. The secret child. He knew he’d let Cynthia down, but he just couldn’t bring himself to tear the family apart with a divorce.

“Cynthia, can’t you give me another chance?” Jackson’s voice was rough, pleading. “I swear, I won’t see Deborah again. I’ll just send her money every month, nothing more. Cynthia, we’ve been married twenty years. Even if there’s no love, there’s still family. Do you really want to leave me and watch everything we built fall apart?”

“Look at Jordan and Natalie. They don’t want you to go. Jordan’s even argued with me about it. I lost my temper and slapped him, and now he won’t talk to me. I haven’t even had the courage to go home and face him.”

“Cynthia, please, just give me a chance. I promise I won’t see Deborah again.” Jackson’s voice was softer than she’d ever heard, almost desperate. He had never lowered himself like this for anyone, and he truly believed he’d done all he could.

Cynthia knew he wouldn’t agree to a divorce right away. She looked at him, her voice steady. “Jackson, let’s both take some time to think about this, all right? If you won’t consider Ms. Dale, at least think about Kevin. If we get divorced, I’ll be the one hurt. But if we don’t, it’s not just me who’ll suffer. Ms. Dale will be hurt too. Jackson, some mistakes just can’t be undone.”