After I Stopped Loving Him novel Chapter 1044

“I don’t want to see her,” Ethan finally said, his voice low but steady.

He added, “Tell Lawrence I don’t have the energy to talk to Natalie right now.”

He wasn’t feeling well, and honestly, Natalie wasn’t someone he was desperate to see. He just… needed a break. Maybe one day, when he was better, he’d think about it. Just not now.

Stephanie nodded. Into the phone, she told Lawrence, “Ethan can’t see her. Please let her know she should go home.”

She ended the call, set the phone carefully on Ethan’s bedside table, then turned to him. “You need to rest. Don’t think about anything else, okay? The best thing you can do right now is focus on getting better.”

“Even if you’re dying to get out there and fix everything, you’ll need your health first. Take care of yourself. That’s what matters most.”

Ethan looked at his grandmother. She’d always taken care of herself, always looked so much younger than her age. Lately though, she seemed so much older. That was his fault.

He’d let her down.

He made her worry, maybe even made her age overnight.

Maybe if he’d just listened to her, everything would be different. He wouldn’t have lost Natalie. He wouldn’t have lost Isabella.

Back when Jordan confessed to Natalie, Ethan hadn’t even tried to fight for her. He just let her go without a word. But after she was married, he’d gone and hurt someone else—Isabella—who’d done nothing wrong.

If it weren’t for him, Isabella would still be alive.

Sometimes he still dreamed about her. It always felt so real, like it had actually happened.

“Let go of the past. All that’s over now. What’s important is that you look forward. Yes, you wronged Isabella, but you apologized. You did what you could to make it right. She accepted your apology and your help, so she doesn’t blame you anymore.”

“What’s done is done. She doesn’t love you, and she doesn’t hate you. That’s as good as it gets. When you’re better, you can start again. I can help introduce you to some good girls.”

Ethan managed a sad little smile. “Grandma, I’m not ready for anything like that. Not now. I don’t even want to think about a new relationship… I just want Isabella to be happy with Harold.”

“But I’ll still look out for her, even if it’s from a distance. I’ll keep watching over her quietly. When she and Harold finally get married, when they start a family, and I know for sure there’s no chance for me, then I’ll let Harold take over. She’ll have somebody to protect her.”

Who knew if he’d ever move on.

He had no idea how long it would take to let go of the guilt. Or how long it would take to stop loving Isabella.