After I Stopped Loving Him novel Chapter 123

Sophia leaned in, her voice gentle but insistent. “Ethan, maybe you should get checked out at the hospital. Or we could call our family doctor to take a look at you.”

“It’s nothing, really. Just a little cold. I went to the beach with Jordan over the weekend. We stayed up drinking all night, then I got hit by the sea breeze. That’s all.” Ethan left out the part about searching for Isabella on the shore after midnight. If Jennifer found out, she’d definitely rip into Isabella. Again.

Jennifer already had plenty of issues with Isabella. They’d fought about his marriage so many times, it was almost routine, and it had taken ages for Jennifer to finally give in. Even after that, she never really accepted Isabella.

“What were you thinking, going to the beach this time of year? The wind is so strong. You drink, you stand out there in the cold, of course you’d get sick,” Jennifer scolded, but there was a softness in her eyes.

Ethan hesitated, then said, “Jordan brought Natalie out there, so I just tagged along.”

Jennifer didn’t say anything for a moment.

“Does Isabella know you’re sick?” she pressed.

“She does. She brought me some herbal tea this morning. Said it helps with fevers. My main problem was just the fever anyway. After I drank it, I actually felt a bit better. I even saw a doctor. The medicine tasted horrible, though. I took it once, my fever went down, so I thought I was fine and didn’t bother taking the rest.”

“She lives in your huge house, with staff waiting on her, gets everything handed to her, plus a generous monthly allowance. What more could she possibly want?”

“Why make things so complicated? Just have her stay home, be a good wife, and focus on giving you a couple of sons. That’s what matters.” Jennifer’s tone was low but persuasive. She clearly wanted Ethan to cut Isabella’s monthly money. Three hundred thousand a month was just ridiculous.

Sophia nodded in agreement. “Exactly. The women in our family don’t have to work. She should just relax at home. If she’s bored, you could move Susan and the other staff to your other houses. Let Isabella clean the villa herself, go buy groceries, cook her own meals. Let her see what being a regular housewife is like. She won’t be bored then.”

Sophia’s lips curled into a secret smile. That villa was huge. If Isabella had to clean it herself, she’d be exhausted. Sophia thought to herself, if Isabella dares to go up against me, she’ll learn who she’s dealing with. After all, I’m the one everyone in the Adams family dotes on.