After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 388

Ethan and Isabella didn’t get back to The Adams Estate until a little after seven that night.

Even though Isabella had been Mrs. Adams twice now, she’d never actually stepped foot on the estate before. Just like all the rumors said, the place was massive. The front looked sleek and modern, but once you got to the back, it turned into this whole other world — sprawling gardens in that old Georgian style, and rows of classic villas straight out of another era.

She sat quietly in the car, watching as the scenery slipped by, bit by bit, until the car finally pulled up in front of the main house.

There were a few people waiting outside. Leading the group was Mike, the estate’s head butler. He was Susan’s husband. Susan had worked for the Adams family for almost twenty years, but Mike had literally grown up here. His family had served the Adamses for generations. He’d tried to make it on his own for a while, but after things didn’t go as planned, he came back and spent more than a decade working his way up. Now he was the head butler, and everyone — even Stephanie — showed him real respect.

Mike smiled warmly as he walked down the steps. The rest of the staff followed, everyone moving together, looking perfectly professional.

“Ethan, Isabella,” Mike greeted them, his voice friendly but formal.

The staff behind him all offered polite hellos.

Ethan nodded, then turned to Isabella. “Babe, this is Mike. He’s the head butler here.”

Isabella looked at Mike and gave him a small nod.

“He’s Susan’s husband,” Ethan added.

“Oh,” Isabella said. That explained why Susan had been so close to Ethan all this time — she was married to the estate’s head butler.

“Mike, are my parents and the rest of the family back?” Ethan asked.

“They’re all here,” Mike replied.

“Ethan, Isabella, come inside. Stephanie’s been waiting for you,” Mike said, his tone extra respectful when he spoke to Isabella.

“You really don’t have to compare yourself to Natalie. Or anyone else,” Ethan said, a little softer now. “You’re you.”

Isabella looked at him for a second, then let out a dry little laugh.

She didn’t say anything else. Ethan heard her laugh and it stung, but they were already inside the main house, so he bit his tongue and said nothing.

“Grandma, we’re home!” Ethan called out as they stepped inside. His voice echoed through the big entrance hall.

Everyone turned to look.

Ethan held Isabella’s hand tight, making it obvious to everyone just how close they were as he led her toward the waiting family.