After I Stopped Loving Him novel Chapter 282

Ethan sat in silence for a long time before finally speaking. “Isabella, I told you, I’m not going to divorce you.”

Isabella didn’t answer. Did he really think it was just his choice to make?

Her silence told him everything. She was slipping away from him, little by little, and he could feel the panic rising inside him. He didn’t even know what he could do to stop it.

He’d given her money. He’d given her gold. What else was left? Did she actually want his love?

“Isabella…”

“Ethan, I’m driving,” she cut in, eyes on the road. “Can you stop talking for a second? If you distract me, both our lives are literally in my hands right now.”

He pressed his lips together and turned to stare out the window, his mood dark. It was becoming clearer every day—he didn’t have any control over her anymore. She wasn’t afraid of him at all.

Was it because he’d treated her too well? Maybe Jordan was right. Spoil a woman and she’ll just take you for granted.

When they reached the airport, Cynthia had just landed and called Isabella.

“Mom,” Isabella answered right away. “Did you just get off the plane?”

“Yes, I’m at baggage claim now. Are you here already?”

“We just arrived. I’ll come find you after I park the car.”

Cynthia said okay, then hung up. Her phone rang again almost instantly—it was Jackson.

“Hey, honey, are you back?” Jackson asked. “Do you want me to send a driver, or will you just grab a cab?”

Jackson hung up, but before he could get back to work, his other phone buzzed—the one he only used for calls with his other family.

He picked up.

“Hi, honey.” The voice on the other end was sweet and playful. Jackson felt himself soften right away. “Hey, baby. What’s up?”

“It’s my birthday today. You promised you’d come have dinner with me, take me shopping, and go to a movie. You didn’t forget, right?”

“I could never forget about you,” Jackson said, his voice full of affection. “Did you get the gifts I sent? Did you like them?” It was Deborah’s thirty-sixth birthday, and he’d arranged for an impressive delivery earlier that day.

“I loved them. The bouquet was gorgeous, and the jewelry and skincare stuff are perfect. But honestly, what I want most is for you to come celebrate with me tonight.”