After I Stopped Loving Him novel Chapter 495

Ethan collapsed to his knees, fists pounding against the floor as if that could make any of this less real.

He’d had her right there, by his side, and never once had he truly appreciated her. He was always so gentle to Natalie, but when it came to Isabella, all he offered were harsh words and cold shoulders. Every time she and Natalie argued, he always took Natalie’s side. It didn’t matter how many times Isabella tried to explain herself. He never believed her. Not once.

Now she was gone. Just like that. Out of his life forever. Only now did he realize how much it hurt, how empty he felt, how desperate he was for Isabella to still be alive, to still be his wife. He kept thinking, if he could just turn back time, he’d do everything differently. He’d learn to trust her. He’d stand up for her. He’d treat her the way she deserved. But none of that mattered anymore. He’d run out of chances.

“Ethan.”

Jeremy crouched down and tried to help him up. Susan stood nearby with her hand pressed over her mouth, tears streaming down her face.

Isabella’s death had shocked Susan, but even more, it left her aching. Just days ago, Isabella had been laughing and breathing and living. Now she was gone. Susan cried, not just for Isabella, but for Ethan’s raw, aching grief. Her heart broke for him.

“Isabella isn’t coming back. She’ll never wait for me to come home again. She’ll never cook for me or complain about my late nights. She’ll never nag me about the little things.” Ethan’s voice was thick with regret. “I’m the worst. She made me meals every single day, and I almost never even touched them. I was so paranoid, thinking she’d poison me or try to trick me somehow. I was always on guard, always pushing her away. I don’t deserve to be called human. I really am a bastard.”

Jeremy and Frank finally managed to pull him up and guide him to the sofa. They sat him down, but neither had any idea what to say. Isabella’s death made it painfully clear that Ethan had cared for her more than he ever let on, maybe more than he even realized himself. It’s just that it took losing her to see that.

But it was too late. Way too late. This time, Isabella wasn’t just running away from home. She was really, truly gone. The only way Ethan could see her now was through old photos, if he even had any. Their marriage had been so cold, there might not even be a single picture of her in the house.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify