Chapter 201 A Newly Imagined Character
Zack could not speak. He had already distributed the money from Juniper's black card to his friends and family. If he exposed her, William would wipe them all out, and his friends and family would end up with nothing.
As long as he kept his mouth shut, Juniper would still look after his family.
To save his life, he revealed something else. "Mr. Spencer, I really don't know about these things. Lester never let me participate in internal matters, only had me carry out tasks. But I am certain that the livestream incident last time was fake."
William looked at him in shock. "What did you say?"
Zack told him, "When Lester kidnapped Ms. Tudor, he initially wanted to sleep with her to disgust you, but Ms. Tudor was too seriously injured at the time. Lester could not bring himself to do it when he saw her bloodied, and even found a doctor to treat her."
He continued, "Lester did not want to miss this opportunity, so he found a woman with a similar build to do the livestream, while Ms. Tudor was resting in the room the whole time."
"When he discovered you were coming, Lester, to disgust you, pretended to have sexual relations and quickly stripped her clothes to take incriminating photos. He never touched Ms. Tudor from beginning to end."
William clenched his fists, his pupils slowly dilating. It felt like a knife twisting in his chest.
He recalled the scene when he found Isabella, convinced she had been violated by Lester. He was burning with rage at the time, completely disregarding her weak and injured body, humiliating her in every way until she passed out...
He remembered the vivid red blood in the bathtub—all his sins.
At that time, he had only one thought—to claim her entirely as his own.
He had never believed Isabella or truly investigated these matters.
How could he do such cruel things to her?
William let out a breath and asked coldly, "What else have you not told me?"
Zack shook his head. "Mr. Spencer, I have told you everything I know. I really do not know who is helping him behind the scenes. Please spare my life."
William raised an eyebrow at Dylan. "Chop off his fingers first."
Lester had cut off one of Isabella's fingers back then. Since his fate was uncertain, those who had participated would pay this debt.
Dylan immediately ordered the bodyguards forward. Zack retreated in panic but was held down by two men, trembling and begging for mercy.
"Mr. Spencer, I know I was wrong. Please spare me, please."
William turned away. Since nothing more could be extracted, Zack had no reason to remain. He gave Dylan a look and walked out.
The screams behind him were deafening, but they did not relieve his anger at all.
His chest felt like a huge stone was blocking it, making it hard to breathe.
In just a few months, the harm he had done to Isabella was something he could never make up for in his lifetime.
He missed Isabella but was afraid to see her.
Back in the hospital room, Isabella was still unconscious. The gauze on her forehead was seeping blood—how much that must hurt.
"I'm sorry..."
"I'm so sorry..." Words only he could hear.
William crouched by the bed, chin resting on the pillow, staring at her intently.
Isabella did not wake until noon the next day. The first thing she asked when she saw William was, "Where is my dad? Is he awake? Is he out of danger?"
William, afraid she would get agitated and try to get up, held down her shoulders before answering. "Do not worry. He is still in the ICU. The doctor said his condition has improved, and he should be fine."
"Really?" Isabella was somewhat doubtful.
William nodded. "Really. You have a knee injury and cannot get out of bed. When you are better, I will carry you over to see him."
Isabella asked carefully, "Can I go see him now?"
William explained, "No one can go in right now. If you want him to wake up soon, you need to follow the doctor's orders."
Isabella wanted Benjamin to wake up soon, so she was willing to obey.
"You must be hungry. Is there anything you want to eat? I will have the servants make it."
"I want fried eggs, or boiled eggs are fine too. Is that okay?"
William's heart ached. "Let us not eat eggs anymore. Do not mention them either."
Isabella asked in confusion, "Do you not like Beatrice anymore?"
William was stumped by this question. His love for Beatrice seemed to have been buried underground with her death long ago.
As for his feelings for Isabella, after these months of intimacy, it was impossible to say he did not love her.
He had never felt such obsessive possessiveness, even toward Beatrice, only toward Isabella.
Especially when he learned she was his savior, all those feelings he had not wanted to admit, those uncertain emotions, became clear. He admitted—he was hopelessly in love with Isabella.
But facing Isabella's serious expression, he was actually afraid to tell her the answer.
He was not sure how Isabella would react if she heard that he loved her.
Isabella continued, "If you like Beatrice, you should like everything Beatrice liked, right?"
William frowned. "What if I said I do not like Beatrice anymore, would you..."
"How can you not like Beatrice? Beatrice was so wonderful. She was the best person in the world. Without Beatrice, there would be no me. Without Beatrice, there is no meaning. I love Beatrice the most."
Isabella angrily interrupted him, visibly agitated. She could not accept William not liking Beatrice, and would not allow it.
She had married William following Beatrice's dying wish. She was living in Beatrice's place.
William should always love Beatrice.
William saw her face turn pale and gently held her shoulders.
"Isabella, calm down. I was just joking with you. I do not dislike her. I... like Beatrice."
Hearing this, Isabella's rapid breathing slowly calmed down. She looked at William, as if seriously confirming this with him.
"You really like Beatrice?"
"Of course."
Isabella took a deep breath and finally showed a smile of relief. But the moment she turned her head, she suddenly froze, looking at something with curiosity.
William frowned slightly and asked tentatively, "Isabella, are you seeing Amara once more?"
Isabella shook her head. "Can you go out for a moment? She seems a bit shy."
William was confused. There were only the two of them in the room—who would be shy?
Could it be...
Could it be that she had imagined a new person?
William felt extremely anxious. John had told him that if this happened, it would be very bad.
He nodded helplessly. "Okay, I will not disturb you."
He slowly backed out of the room and hurried to psychiatrist Dr. Cameron Vaughan's office.
"Dr. Cameron Vaughan, she seems to be seeing a new person. She should be starting to interact with them now."
Cameron's expression was grave. He quickly turned on the room's surveillance. Sure enough, he saw Isabella walking toward the corner, opening her arms in a hugging gesture. He turned up the volume and could clearly hear the sounds inside.