After I Stopped Loving Him novel Chapter 609

She used to think he was the only man in her world.

Now, he was the one she kept locked out of her heart.

“Who told you?” Isabella asked, her voice calm but not exactly friendly.

Did he seriously have people following her around?

“I stopped by your shop tonight, but you weren’t there. I talked to your staff. They said you went out to deliver medicine,” Ethan explained.

Isabella pressed her lips together, trying to hide her annoyance. “You beat up Harold so badly I had to bring him something for the pain. Just cleaning up after your mess.”

“Ethan, you’ve had time to cool off. Can we just—” she started.

Ethan cut her off, sounding tired. “Isabella, I’ve been waiting here for two hours. Can I come in and sit down? Maybe we can talk inside.”

She hesitated, then asked, “Don’t you still have your key?”

She didn’t remember him giving it back.

Ethan’s voice was gentle for once. “This is your home now. Even if I still had a key, I wouldn’t come in without your say-so. I’m not trying to make you mad.”

Isabella bit back a sigh. “Fine. Open the gate, move your car. I need to park.”

Once she’d given him the okay, Ethan unlocked the front gate, got back in his car, and drove it inside. Out of habit, he parked right by the front door.

He realized too late that maybe he shouldn’t have, but Isabella was already pulling in behind him, so he just let it go.

He got out to close the gate behind them.

Isabella didn’t bother waiting. She went straight inside.

She took the glass but just set it down, untouched.

Ethan took a sip of his, then sat down across from her, making sure she’d see the bruises still coloring his face.

He’d iced it earlier, so the swelling was mostly gone, but the purple bruises stood out. He hoped, maybe, she’d ask if he was okay.

He finished his water, then rubbed his cheek, flinching a little, like it still hurt.

“Natalie spent all afternoon fussing over you. Still not healed?” Isabella finally spoke, her words sharp and a little mocking.

He blinked, surprised she knew about Natalie being at the hotel.

“Isabella, there’s nothing going on between me and Natalie. I’ll admit I used to love her, but that’s over. She did come to the hotel, but I took care of myself. I put the ice on my face, not her. I promise, from now on, I’ll keep my distance.”