After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 534

Ethan pulled out his phone and called Stephanie.

When she picked up, his voice was low. “Grandma, did you bring Isabella back to the Adams Estate?”

“No, she wants to stay at her mom’s place for a few days. Her mom’s looking after her.”

“I wanted to bring her home, but she didn’t want to come. She’s in a hurry to cut ties with us,” Stephanie said, letting out a sigh.

“Ethan, there’s no point in avoiding this. Isabella’s made up her mind.”

“We’re on our way home now. Since you and Isabella are getting divorced, it felt awkward to stay at Cynthia’s. They were polite but distant. We aren’t really family to them anymore.”

They used to look down on Cynthia. Now, Cynthia didn’t want anything to do with them. Honestly, they had no one to blame but themselves. Ethan brought this on himself.

“I’m heading to Cynthia’s now.”

After hanging up, Ethan turned to leave and told Susan, “If Isabella comes back to pack up while I’m gone, do whatever you have to do to stop her. Make sure she waits for me.”

Susan followed him out, asking, “Are you going to try to bring Isabella home?”

“She probably won’t come back with me. I’ll just stay there tonight.”

It was his last chance. Ethan needed to try, one more time.

“Ethan, bring a couple changes of clothes. You probably don’t have anything over there.”

Susan knew Cynthia had moved out of the Lane family home. If Cynthia was still there, Ethan would have spare clothes. Back then, if Ethan got drunk at the Lane house, he’d just spend the night, and there were always clothes waiting for him.

“I don’t feel like going upstairs to pack. Susan, can you grab a couple outfits for me and drop them off at Cynthia’s later?”

Laura was the first to notice him. She nudged Isabella, whispered, “Ethan’s here.”

Everyone turned to look at him.

Cynthia got up first. Her voice was gentle. “Ethan, finished with work? What brings you here? We’re all looking after Isabella, so you don’t need to worry.”

“I wrapped up everything at work, Mom. I can take a few days off,” Ethan answered, but his eyes never left Isabella.

Isabella met his gaze. He looked thinner, tired in a way that made her heart twist. He actually looked worse than she did, and she was the one who’d just gotten out of the hospital. She’d spent a week there, surrounded by people who cared—her mom, her uncle, friends who brought her food and drinks every day. She felt like she’d put on weight.

Ethan walked over, stopping right in front of her. He looked down at her, eyes locked on her delicate features.

“Isabella, I’m sorry I wasn’t there to pick you up from the hospital.”