After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 1006

Ethan watched Sophia, already catching on to what she was getting at. If she had brought this up just thirty minutes ago, he would have gone off on her, defending Natalie without hesitation. He never would have believed Natalie was behind Isabella’s death. But after seeing the video from the Lane family’s housekeeper, Ethan couldn’t help but wonder if Natalie had really been pulling the strings this whole time.

The footage was clearly from the security cameras. The housekeeper must have witnessed Natalie push Cynthia, but there was no way he could have recorded it himself. He must have copied the clip from the surveillance system after following Natalie to the hospital. Ethan was pretty sure the Lane estate’s cameras were wiped clean by now.

Sophia, worried that Ethan would lash out, drew back, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just thought it seemed a little too convenient, that’s all.”

“Ethan, stop looking at me like that. Think whatever you want, alright? I’m staying out of it. I…I’m going back to my room.”

With Ethan’s stare making her even more nervous, Sophia turned and hurried out, disappearing behind her door.

Ethan didn’t call after her. He didn’t say anything at all. Instead, he kept walking downstairs.

“Ethan.”

Stephanie sat on the living room sofa with a book in her lap, her reading glasses perched on her nose. When she spotted Ethan heading for the door, she called out to stop him.

Even though he was in no mood to linger, Ethan had no choice but to go over to his grandmother. “Grandma, did you need something? I really have to go.”

“Sit down, Ethan. I want to talk to you for a minute.”

Stephanie took off her glasses and set them down. “You and Isabella were married for three years. Sure, you slept in separate rooms, but Isabella tried everything to win you back from Natalie. It didn’t work, but are you really going to tell me you felt nothing for her?”

“You did care, Ethan. Even if you won’t admit it, Natalie could see it. That’s why she was so threatened by Isabella. That’s why she had a reason to do something drastic.”

Stephanie paused, watching as Ethan sat there, his face blank but his eyes full of pain. She went on, her voice gentle. “Right after you two divorced, she made her move, made it look like Isabella died during the kidnapping. She knew you, Ethan. With you and Isabella divorced, she figured all you’d do was take care of the funeral, maybe buy her a spot at the cemetery, and then let her fade from your life. She thought your heart would naturally go back to her.”

“You’d go back to treating Natalie like she was everything to you, loving her and putting her first, just like before. She and her husband could keep taking advantage of your kindness. How many times have I tried to warn you about this? You never wanted to hear it.”