After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 520

When Ethan walked in, Isabella was already full. She couldn’t eat another bite, not even the dinner he brought with him.

Linda and Barbara, her business partners and close friends, were hovering nearby. They cared about Isabella, fussing over her, and Ethan knew better than to get in the way.

Later that night, Ethan insisted on staying at the hospital with her. Isabella tried everything to convince him to go home, but he leaned in, his voice low against her ear. “Isabella, I want to know what happens next in the dream.”

At home, he’d slept but hadn’t dreamed at all. The only time he’d had that strange dream was here, while sitting by her hospital bed. Maybe he needed to be close to her for it to happen again.

Isabella went quiet for a moment, lost in thought. Then she looked around and said, “You should all head home. Ethan can stay.”

She turned to her mom. “Mom, you too. Don’t come too early in the morning, okay? You and Uncle need your rest.”

Ethan chimed in, “Mom, I’ll look after Isabella. Please go home and get some sleep. Tomorrow I’ll have Susan drop off breakfast, so you don’t need to get up early to make it.”

Cynthia could sense they were keeping something from her, but she let it go. After a few gentle reminders for Isabella to take care, she grabbed her bag and left with Laura and the others.

Soon, the room was empty except for Ethan and Isabella. Night had settled outside, everything dark and quiet. Isabella’s condition was stable and getting better every day. The doctors would only pop in for a quick check during shift changes. She didn’t even need an IV at night anymore.

“I didn’t dream at all when I slept at home,” Ethan said, sitting down beside her bed. He started peeling an apple, his hands moving with practiced ease. Isabella couldn’t help but wonder if he’d peeled this many apples for Natalie before.

Still, Ethan’s dream about Cynthia’s death only made her more certain Natalie had orchestrated everything. Natalie wanted both her and Cynthia gone. After Isabella died, Natalie would take care of Cynthia too, then tell everyone her mother just couldn’t stand the grief.

“Who do you think killed me?” Isabella asked, her eyes locked on Ethan’s face.

Ethan tightened his lips before he answered. “I don’t know. I woke up before I saw who it was.”

He didn’t mention that his grandmother suspected Natalie.

“In the dream, you weren’t quite the same as you are now. I think you’d made too many enemies, and whoever did it was careful, covering their tracks. It must have been someone with power and influence. Honestly, it’s not easy to guess who it was.”