After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 1004

Ethan woke up with a pounding headache, the bitter taste of last night’s alcohol still on his tongue. For a second his mind was blank, but then reality rushed in, heavy and unforgiving.

He remembered. Isabella and her mother were gone. Cremated. The grief had crushed him, so he drank until he couldn’t feel anything at all.

Isabella…

The simple thought of her, the way she died, sent a sharp ache through his chest. His eyes filled with tears. There was no one here to see, so he let himself cry for real, not caring how loud or broken he sounded.

Right then, his phone buzzed on the nightstand. He wiped his eyes and forced himself up, the room spinning a little as he reached for it. The caller ID showed the Lane Family’s housekeeper. Odd. The housekeeper rarely called unless something serious happened.

His heart sank. Was it Natalie? If anything happened to her now…

He answered immediately, voice rough. “What’s wrong? Is Natalie okay?”

A strained, desperate voice came through. “Mr. Adams, please help me. I don’t want to die.”

Ethan blinked in confusion. “What’s going on? Why would you say that?”

“I’m about to send you a video. You’ll understand once you see it. I don’t know if I’ll survive this. This is all the evidence I have, and if something happens… at least someone will know the truth.”

The call ended before he could say anything more.

Moments later, a message popped up. The housekeeper had sent a video. Ethan and the Lane family were close, so he and the staff had each other on social media. It wasn’t unusual for the housekeeper to send him things. Whenever Isabella went home and fought with Natalie, he’d get a message, a photo or a video as proof.

This time, he opened the video with a strange feeling twisting in his gut. His hand started to tremble as the footage played.

No way. This couldn’t be.

She hurried after him. “Where are you going?” Her voice was soft but tense.

“Are you still chasing the truth about Isabella? She’s gone, the kidnappers are dead. The case is closed, Ethan. Maybe… maybe you should let it rest.”

Sophia’s fear was obvious. She was scared the real culprit was Natalie, and if it was, then Sophia had played a part in bringing Isabella harm.

But Ethan didn’t slow down. “Isabella and the kidnappers dying together? That’s no coincidence. Someone was behind it all along. Unless I find out who, Isabella will never rest in peace.”

“I’m not letting this go,” he said, determination clear in his voice.

Sophia hurried in front of him, blocking his way. Her voice dropped to a shaky whisper. “What if the person responsible is someone you’d never expect? What will you do then?”

Ethan’s eyes went cold. “It doesn’t matter who they are. When I find who did this, I’ll make sure they pay. Isabella deserves justice. She can’t have died for nothing.”