After I Stopped Loving Him novel Chapter 1212

As they got older, the pull of their hometown grew stronger.

Cynthia's family had been dirt poor. With their parents gone, she and Zachary had struggled just to survive. It was only after Cynthia married Jackson that she was able to financially support her younger brother.

With her help, Zachary had built a nice house in the suburbs, gotten married, and started a family. She had even pulled strings to get him a good job—though not at The Lane Group. Jackson had always been deeply paranoid about his in-laws, whether it was Cynthia's family or his current wife Deborah's relatives. Zachary always credited his success to his sister, but Cynthia knew the truth: if it wasn't for him protecting her, her vicious ex-in-laws would have sold her off ages ago.

"You should go with them," Isabella encouraged gently. "It's where you grew up too. With the bodyguards, you'll be perfectly safe. Plus, everyone in that town knows each other. If anything looks off, the neighbors will help."

Cynthia smiled softly and nodded.

During her miserable marriage to Jackson, she was rarely allowed to visit her family. Jackson thought the town was beneath him, and Jordan outright refused to go, complaining about the rural setting. Now, she was finally free. She didn't have to walk on eggshells for anyone.

"Mom, I'm going to run over to Ethan's place to ask him something," Isabella said, checking her watch.

"Now? It's completely dark out. People will gossip," Cynthia warned.

"Let them. I have nothing to hide."

Isabella grabbed her phone and headed for the door.

Cynthia could only call after her, "Just don't stay too long!"

"Mr. Ethan barely touched his dinner. He just had a few bites and a sip of soup. He looks so stressed. He's been on the phone with Jeremy all evening, and no one knows what's wrong."

"Even Madam Stephanie couldn't convince him to eat. His body is still recovering, and he needs his strength. Could you talk some sense into him?"

As Susan closed the heavy front doors, Isabella frowned. "He still hasn't eaten?"

"Just a few bites. I know he's hungry, he just has zero appetite." Susan practically pleaded with her eyes, hoping Isabella would show some pity for her former husband.

"Susan, he's a grown man about to turn thirty-one," Isabella said dryly. "He's not a toddler. If he's hungry, he'll eat. If he's not eating, it means he doesn't want food. You don't need to baby him."