After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 908

When Isabella realized the bouquet was made of money, she shook her head and tried to hand it back. “Stephanie, I really can’t accept this.”

“Why not? Is it too small for your taste?” Stephanie teased, a playful smile on her lips. “Honestly, Ethan is so stingy. He’s got all that money, but this is the best he could do? He should have sent you nine hundred ninety-nine roses.”

“It’s not about the size,” Isabella explained, her voice gentle but firm. “Ethan and I are never getting back together. I don’t want to accept any gifts from him, because if I do, he’ll think there’s hope. And I just... I don’t want him to get the wrong idea.”

“I know you’d love to see us reconcile, Stephanie, but that’s never going to happen. I won’t remarry him. Since that's the case, I can’t let him think otherwise.”

All Isabella wanted was a clean break. She wished they could just go their separate ways and never cross paths again.

But Ethan wouldn’t let that happen. He lived right next door, popping into her life whenever he felt like it. Staying strangers forever just wasn’t an option.

Stephanie shrugged. “Look, whether you want to get back together or not is up to you. If Ethan wants to chase after you, that’s his business. When people are trying to win someone over, gifts are pretty normal.”

She pushed the bouquet into Isabella’s arms. “Ethan made me promise to hand this to you myself. He said if you really don’t want it, just toss it in the trash. Once he’s given a gift, he won’t take it back.”

“Isabella, come on. Do me this one favor. He’s heading out on a business trip and won’t be back for at least ten days, maybe longer. You won’t even see him for a while. What’s the harm in keeping one little bouquet?”

Isabella let out a sigh. “Stephanie, I just can’t. And the car he gave me—once it’s fixed, I’m returning it. If he doesn’t want it after it’s repaired, I’ll buy him a new one.”

Stephanie tapped her gently on the forehead. “Ethan owes you so much. Whatever he gives you, you should just take it. It’s the least he can do.”

Stephanie walked inside beside her. “Ethan has so many people working for him. Having Susan here a bit longer won’t make a difference. Let her stay with you for now.”

“She can come back to my place when Ethan returns.”

Since Stephanie insisted, Isabella didn’t argue.

With the conversation shifting, Isabella ended up bringing the money bouquet inside without even thinking about it.

She set it down on the coffee table and went to pour Stephanie a glass of water. While she was gone, Stephanie quickly took the flowers from a nearby vase and swapped them out for the money bouquet, making sure it was front and center.