After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 496

“I’ve already got people looking into it,” Stephanie said. “Doesn’t matter who did it, as soon as we have proof, they’re getting arrested.”

She hadn’t managed family matters in years, but Isabella’s death changed everything. Stephanie reached out to old friends, pulling every string she could to find out who was behind it all. She couldn’t shake the feeling that a woman was involved. The way Isabella’s face was slashed, it just felt personal. Isabella had always been beautiful. Whoever did this must have been jealous, not satisfied just to kill her but determined to ruin her looks too.

“Grandma, we’re all in this together. We’ll find out who did it and get justice for Isabella,” Frank promised. He hated that his grandmother had to worry about this at her age. They all had their own connections. If everyone put their feelers out, there was no way the killer could hide. Even if whoever it was tried to run, as long as they had evidence, the police would track them down.

Stephanie nodded. “I really think it’s a woman. She must have hated Isabella so much. After Isabella and Ethan split up, she probably thought Isabella had no one left to protect her. So she found someone to kill her, and then made sure to destroy her face.”

“Isabella had enemies everywhere, though. It could be anyone,” someone murmured.

Frank thought for a second. “The person she fought with most was probably Natalie. But honestly, I don’t think Natalie’s the type. And now that Ethan and Isabella are divorced, Isabella wouldn’t have any reason to go after Natalie anymore.”

“There’s also Sophia,” someone else said. “Sophia absolutely hated Isabella. Every time they met, it turned into a shouting match, sometimes even a fight. But Sophia always ended up on the losing side.”

Frank let his words trail off. He couldn’t bring himself to suspect Sophia.

Stephanie’s face hardened. “Sophia’s a spoiled brat, but I don’t think she’d ever hire someone to kill. She’s just not that bold.”

Jennifer looked at Frank, eyes sharp. “Frank, how could you even think Sophia would do something like that? Sure, she didn’t like Isabella, but that doesn’t mean she’d go that far. She’s been home every day lately. And anyway, Sophia hasn’t spent any big money recently. If she was going to hire a killer, she’d need to pay them, right?”

Jeremy woke up right away, catching Ethan as he tried to slip by. “Ethan, where are you going?”

Ethan’s voice was soft. “Isabella’s scared. I just want to talk to her.”

Jeremy’s eyes widened. “Ethan, Isabella is gone.”

Frank woke up too and together, he and Jeremy hurried over, gently pulling Ethan back.