After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 555

The bodyguards Ethan hired to protect Isabella were loyal to him, too. That thought made him feel a little better.

Isabella came downstairs. She didn’t rush him or say anything, just walked over quietly. As soon as she appeared, Ethan stood up and said, “I’m ready. Let’s go.”

Isabella let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. At least he wasn’t going to back out at the last minute.

Ethan reached for her hand, but Isabella pulled away before he could touch her. She wouldn’t let him hold her hand. What kind of couple walks into a divorce office holding hands? It wasn’t like they were getting married.

Ethan had drunk too much the night before, so he couldn’t drive. Isabella could have, but she’d just gotten out of the hospital yesterday. Ethan wouldn’t let her drive either. So, in the end, their driver took both of them to the civil affairs office.

The entire ride there, neither of them said a single word.

They arrived faster than Isabella expected. The car stopped in front of the building, and the driver turned to let them know. “Ethan, Isabella, we’re here.”

Ethan looked at Isabella, but didn’t move. Deep down, he wished she’d change her mind, that she’d turn and say she didn’t want to go through with it.

Isabella grabbed her purse, opened the door, and stepped out. When she noticed Ethan wasn’t following, she turned and called out, “Come on, let’s go in. We might have to wait in line.”

These days, there really were more people getting divorced than married.

“Isabella.” Ethan’s voice was low and rough. “Are we really doing this?”

“I never joke about things like this.”

Ethan just stared at her for a long moment before finally getting out of the car. He kept thinking about the dream he’d had, the one where she asked for a divorce. She had been determined, just like now. He hadn’t wanted to let go, but she wouldn’t stay.

Ethan thought she was softening. He reached out and grabbed her hand, his voice shaking with hope. “Isabella, just give me another chance. Let’s not get divorced yet. Give me some time. If I can’t do it, we’ll get divorced then. I won’t drag you down. We’ll have a clean break.”

“You still care about me, don’t you? I mean, you see how much I’m smoking and you know it’s bad for me.”

Isabella pulled her hand away, hard. “Ethan, I’m not worried about you. I just can’t stand the smell. It’s awful.”

“We can’t go back. Don’t forget, I ended up so horribly because of you.”

As soon as she mentioned the nightmare from her dream, all the color drained from Ethan’s face. He couldn’t say anything to beg for forgiveness anymore.

“It should be our turn soon. Let’s go inside and wait, so we don’t miss our number.” Isabella just wanted to get this over with. The longer they waited, the more likely something would go wrong.