After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 398

Ethan thought for a moment, then said, “No, it’s fine. You can go ahead and clock out.”

He figured he’d be able to talk Isabella into letting him stay the night. If not, it wasn’t the end of the world. He could always just walk out to the street and catch a cab home.

“I’ll wait until you’re inside before I leave,” the driver said, a little hesitant. He was worried Ethan might not even make it into the house. Isabella was seriously mad tonight. You could still see the red, swollen mark on Ethan’s face, a reminder of her anger. It was strange seeing someone as powerful as Ethan just stand there and take it, never fighting back.

“No, really, you can go now,” Ethan told him.

The driver had no choice but to leave.

Once the car pulled away, Ethan grabbed his bags and made his way to the front gate. He pressed the doorbell, and not long after, the main house door swung open from the inside.

Ethan felt a rush of relief, the tension in his body fading. Isabella was there. She was going to let him in… or so he thought.

Instead, she stopped a couple steps back from the gate, her figure clear through the metal bars. She didn’t unlock anything. She just stood there, looking at him.

“Isabella, I’m sorry,” he started, his voice soft but desperate. “I know I’ve said it a hundred times, and it doesn’t take away what I did, but I really do know I messed up. I want to make it right. Give me a chance to prove it, please.”

“After you left, my family all took turns yelling at me. It made me realize how messed up I’ve been, chasing after Natalie for years. I hurt her, I hurt myself, and I hurt you the most. Isabella, just give me a little time. I know I can let go of Natalie.”

His shouting started to draw attention. Lights flicked on in the neighboring houses. Some people opened their windows or stepped out onto their balconies, annoyed and yelling at him to quiet down. They didn’t care who he was. To them, he was just some obnoxious guy disturbing their night.

Feeling embarrassed, Ethan stopped yelling. He set his bags down, pulled out his phone, and called Isabella. She actually picked up.

“Isabella, this house was my gift to you,” he said, his voice shaking with frustration. “I paid for all the furniture. And now you won’t even let me in?”

Her voice was cold and steady. “Out of all the wedding gifts you gave me, this house is the only one that’s actually in my name. What’s the matter, Ethan? Are you planning to take it back and hand it over to your precious Natalie?”