After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 581

Ethan didn’t say a word.

He knew he’d treated her badly before, but honestly, it was nothing compared to what he’d seen in his dreams. In the dream, he and Isabella were always fighting. Every few days it was something small, every week or so it was something bigger, and it always seemed to come back to Natalie.

He’d been awful to Isabella. Anytime she and Natalie clashed, he never listened to Isabella’s side, never believed her. He always took Natalie’s part, no questions asked.

After a long, heavy silence, guilt finally got the better of him. He looked at Isabella and said quietly, “Isabella, I’m sorry. I didn’t even realize how much I was hurting you.”

“I was wrong. I want to change. I will change, I swear.”

Isabella gave him a small, tired smile. “That’s not my problem anymore, Ethan. Since you’re the one moving out, I’ll stay. I drank too much last night and I’m still not feeling great. Please, just go. I need some extra sleep.”

“Alright. You rest. I’ll pack my things and I’ll be gone before dark, I promise. Can Susan and the others have a few more days to get their stuff together?”

He’d already worked things out with Edward about buying the house. Half the money was paid and he’d pay the rest once the paperwork was done. Edward still needed time to sort through his own things, but he’d told Ethan to just take all the furniture if he wanted. Edward couldn’t be bothered to deal with it.

Neither of them needed the money. All their other homes were already fully furnished. If they moved the extra furniture, there was nowhere for it to go anyway.

Edward would need a day or two to pack up what mattered and get out. Ethan didn’t want to sleep in someone else’s bed, so he’d have to hire people to move out the old stuff. If Susan and the others didn’t mind, he’d just give it all to them.

She’d really let him go. No matter how much he did for Natalie from now on, she wouldn’t get jealous again.

Ethan looked at her for a long time, something complicated flickering in his eyes. Then he left her room and went back to his own to pack. He’d lived in this villa longer than anywhere else, and he had so much stuff. Even a full day might not be enough to get it all together.

He didn’t go back to ask Isabella for more time. He quietly stuffed his suitcase, then pulled it out the door. Standing in the hallway, he glanced at Isabella’s room, his eyes clouded with so many emotions.

How had things ended up like this?