After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 822

This wasn’t his home anymore.

He’d given the house to Isabella. Now, this place belonged to her.

Susan gave him a gentle nudge. “Ethan, you can’t act like you used to. This is Isabella’s home now. You’re a guest here.”

Ethan turned and walked back to his grandmother’s side, lowering his voice. “Grandma, I’m just used to things being the old way. I’ll remind myself, from now on, I’m just a guest here.”

Stephanie didn’t let up. “When you come here, if Isabella invites you to sit, you sit. If she asks you to leave, you leave. Don’t forget where you stand. You’re a guest, Ethan.”

“I know, Grandma,” he said quietly.

Stephanie turned to Susan. “Susan, if I’m not around and he shows up, remind him, will you? I’m worried he’ll never really change.”

Susan nodded with respect. “Of course, Stephanie.”

She’d already done more than enough for Ethan. Once she noticed how much he cared for Isabella, her attitude toward Isabella changed—she treated her with real respect and always took her side, never siding with Natalie anymore. She’d pulled Ethan aside more than once to talk some sense into him.

But back then, Ethan had been stubborn, impossible to move. Losing Isabella was the only thing that finally woke him up.

Susan led Ethan and Stephanie inside.

She showed them to their seats and poured them some warm water. “Stephanie, Ethan, make yourselves comfortable. I’ll go prepare breakfast. Isabella said if you haven’t eaten yet, you should stay and join us.”

“Thanks, Susan. That would be great.”

Susan headed to the kitchen.

Ethan sat on the sofa but couldn’t seem to sit still. He kept getting up, pacing a little, then sitting right back down. Finally, Stephanie looked at him and sighed. “What’s gotten into you? Can’t you keep still for even a minute? Where’s your composure?”

Ethan gave her a sheepish look and sank back into the sofa.

“Grandma, I’m just anxious.”

He hadn’t even been waiting that long, but to him, it felt endless.

“You can wait without getting up every two seconds,” she said.

Stephanie gave him a look. “For now, you should stop bothering her. Give her some space.”

“But I’m trying to win her back.”

“Even so, let her breathe. You’re smothering her.”

Ethan fell silent, staring at the floor.

Isabella came back downstairs not long after, changed into fresh clothes. She headed straight for the kitchen, rolling up her sleeves to make breakfast. Susan told her everything was ready, but Isabella shook her head. “I promised Harold I’d make him breakfast today.”

Just then, the doorbell rang.

“Susan, can you get the door? That must be Harold.”

“Of course,” Susan said.

On her way out, she glanced over at Ethan sitting on the sofa. She let out a silent sigh, then hurried out of the main house to let Harold in.