“Ethan, put out the cigarette and sign these papers for me, will you?” Frank sounded tired but determined. “You can’t just keep avoiding this. Isabella isn’t going to let you hide, either. She got discharged today, so I bet she’ll show up tomorrow to deal with all the paperwork.”
Ethan took a slow drag, blew out a cloud of smoke, and finally asked, “Is tomorrow the weekend?”
If it was, maybe he could buy himself a little more time.
“It’s Thursday.”
Ethan didn’t say anything. He just sat there, lost in thought, until finally he got up and headed back to his desk. He crushed out his half-finished cigarette and sank into his chair.
Frank followed him and sat down, watching him for a moment. “Want some water?”
“Actually, could you make some tea? I haven’t slept well in days. I’m running on coffee and tea at this point. Let’s have a couple of cups.”
Ethan needed a moment to pull himself together before getting back to work.
Frank nodded and left for the break room. A few minutes later, he came back with a tray, the teapot still steaming. He set everything down, poured Ethan a cup, and poured one for himself.
“This is your own doing, you know,” Frank said quietly. “Who are you trying to impress with all this moping? If you knew you couldn’t let Isabella go, you should’ve never told her why you really married her. Things could’ve been different.”
“She’s just getting started. She’s making her own money now. She doesn’t need you anymore. If you want her back, you have to be genuine. She’s not coming back for anything less. The truth is, you’ve lost your advantage.”
Frank looked at Ethan, his voice softer now. “Why did you tell her everything, anyway? And on your wedding night? You hurt her more than you realize. Now you’ve left yourself no way out.”
Ethan was quiet for a long time. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely above a whisper. “I didn’t love her back then. I just wanted to use her. But she loved me. I married her, but I never planned to actually be with her. I told her the truth that night so we wouldn’t have to… you know, actually be together.”
He let out a short, bitter laugh. “Back then, I was scared she’d make me be a real husband. Now, I wish I could, but she doesn’t care anymore.”

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan)
Author, please get your characters names right. You always messing them up!...
I wish Harold will win Isabella's heart. I was so sad when Isabela was taken for granted coldly and cruelly by her supposed to be husband, and trapped,mocked and humiliated non stop by Natalie. This was so cruel, both don't deserve Isabela' forgiveness I wish for a happy ending between Isabela and Harold, he has the right to be happy after the long wait....
Frankly, the story initially was going quite good and the pacing was just right. unfortunately after Ethan got the dream of his past life, the story has been going in circles. Ethan's spouting the same nonsense every time he sees Isabella, they both have same conversations over and over. The authors monologue too has been the same for almost 400 chapters. Irrespective of which character the writing the just a repetition of what someone had gone through in the past and what made a certain character feel the emotions. York got introduced in 800 chapters yet nothing significant happened till date. Isabella is soft with Harold and kind of disgusted with Ethan, yet it is not entirely clear with whom she might end up. If she stays single i am fine with it but the story is clearly about Isabella and Ethan so almost 1000 chapters without seeing any progress in their relationship is frustrating. Except for being blindly in love and few aggressive instances with Isabella, Ethan actually isnt a bad person so i am fine if he can win her back. Even though Harold is coming off as a good second lead, i am somehow unable to warm upto him. Even the bad people in the story are not really facing any real consequences. I hate Jackson for his hypocrisy. I hate Jordan and Natalie for their self-righteouness and selfishness. I also hate Deborah, except when she is handing it out to Natalie. I am almost on the verge of dropping this story....
Why are they acting like kids 🤣😭...
Ethan is actually not that bad if we take out his blind love for Natalie...