Chapter 123 This Time, He Breaks Her from Within
Isla's breath came in ragged bursts of rage. The impulse to end her own life had twisted into something darker—the urge to wrap her hands around Isabella's throat and squeeze.
Juniper's brow arched slightly. This was an unexpected bonus. Isla's hatred for her daughter had just burrowed even deeper.
Benjamin's voice cracked like a whip. "Isabella, that's enough!"
"I'm too much?" Isabella pointed at Isla, her laugh sharp and bitter. "What about her? I was shipped off to my grandmother's house the day I was born. How many times did she visit me? And when I finally came home, how did she treat me?
"She never once treated me like her real daughter. Nothing but contempt and mockery. She gave all her love to Beatrice. So I hated Beatrice. And when Beatrice finally died, she just transferred all that affection to Juniper. So I hate Juniper too. Every time I hurt her, every time I made her suffer—it was payback for what Isla did to me."
Isla's entire body trembled. She actually stepped back from the window ledge.
"You're admitting it. Finally dropping the act." Her voice shook. "I knew it. I always knew you were manipulative. You killed my daughter. You tortured my goddaughter."
She stared at Isabella like she was looking at her mortal enemy.
Isabella lifted her chin, her expression dripping with contempt. "That's right. I wanted to hurt them. And when you're dead, I'm going to take over everything. I'll move back into your house. I'll throw out every single thing that belonged to Beatrice. And there won't be anyone left to stop me."
Isla swayed on her feet, fury making her unsteady. "Over my dead body! I will never let you back in that house. You will never touch Beatrice's things."
Isabella's smile was cruel. "You're going to be dead anyway. Dead people can't stop anything. I can do whatever I want, and you won't even know. So go ahead—jump. What are you waiting for?"
The sharp crack of William's palm echoed through the room. "Isabella, enough! Are you really going to keep pushing until she's dead?"
Isabella met his eyes, and for the first time, there was no emptiness there. Just defiance.
"Yes! That's exactly what I want. You can beat me to death if you want—it won't change anything. I came here knowing she wanted to die. I'm counting on it."
Isla lunged forward, and Benjamin barely caught her in time, terrified she might collapse.
He was caught between two impossible choices. Isabella's words cut just as deep into him.
Isla reached Isabella and slapped her twice, hard enough to leave marks.
"I'm telling you right now—I'm not going to die. I'm going to survive. Your plan isn't going to work."
Isabella's frown was almost bored. "You don't have the guts to jump. You're just putting on a show. You're the fake one here. Let's see how long you can keep this up."
Benjamin finally snapped. He shoved Isabella backward.
"Isabella, stop! Are you trying to destroy us all?"
Isabella stumbled, her weakened body nearly giving out, but her expression remained defiant.
Benjamin waved his hand in defeat. "William, get her out of here."
William had already reached his limit. He grabbed Isabella's shoulder and dragged her toward the door.
Benjamin looked stricken. Juniper immediately stepped in. "Godfather, don't worry. I'll keep an eye on her for you. You take care of Godmother."
Benjamin had no one else to turn to. He was grateful for her offer.
"Thank you, Juniper."
Juniper turned to Isla. "Godmother, please rest. I'll be back soon."
William had known Isabella was cruel, but he'd never imagined she would actually try to drive her own mother to suicide.
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn't have believed anyone could be this evil.
"Isabella, you keep testing my patience. Do you think I'm joking when I give you warnings?"
Isabella didn't respond. She didn't even look at him. The words she'd said back there should have been enough to keep Isla from trying to kill herself. That was all that mattered.
Seeing her ignore him, William pulled out his phone and called the butler.
"There's a box in the corner of the closet. Bring it to me."
Isabella's eyes went wide. That box contained her grandmother's belongings—the only things she had left that mattered. She'd kept it hidden in the back of the closet, never taking it out.
How did William even know about it?
"What are you doing?"
William's expression was ice. "You'll find out soon enough."
Isabella knew what he did when he was angry. He always found ways to make her suffer.
This time, he wasn't choosing physical punishment. This was something worse.
The bodyguard arrived quickly with the box. William threw it to the floor. Handkerchiefs and letters—letters her grandmother had written to her—scattered across the tiles.
Isabella tried to reach for them. William's glance was all it took. The bodyguard grabbed her and slammed her against the wall.
She was pinned there, helpless, forced to watch as the precious items lay on the floor. Tears streamed down her face.
"Mr. Spencer, I was wrong. I shouldn't have said those things. Please forgive me. If you're still angry, hurt me instead—punish me—I don't care. Just please give those back to me."
"Those things are important to me. They're all I have left of my grandmother. Please don't destroy them."
They were Isabella's last connection to anything good in her life. She couldn't lose them.
William had no intention of showing mercy. She'd defied him. Now she'd pay the price.
"You think begging will work? I gave you warnings. You ignored every single one. Today, you're going to learn."
He gestured to the bodyguard. "Burn it. All of it."
"No! Don't burn them! Mr. Spencer, hurt me instead—please, not those—"
Isabella tried to break free, but the bodyguard pressed her harder against the wall, her cheek scraping the paint.
William pulled out a lighter and picked up one of the letters. The handwriting was delicate, every line filled with a grandmother's love for her granddaughter.
The edges of the paper were worn thin from being read over and over again.
Those letters were the only thing that had kept Isabella alive.
"Someone like you doesn't deserve these."
He held the letter up in front of her face and flicked the lighter.
The flame caught. It felt like it was burning straight through Isabella's chest.
She thrashed against the bodyguard's grip, screaming. "Stop! Put it out! Please!"
Her cries meant nothing to William. If anything, they made him angrier.
"This is what happens when you don't listen. Watch closely."
"Don't burn any more—please—"
William raised his hand. The bodyguard gathered the rest of the items into a pile. The fire spread quickly, smoke filling the hospital room.
Isabella could only watch as everything she treasured turned to ash. And William's face showed no satisfaction. No remorse.
"I remember your grandmother still has the cottage." His voice was casual, almost conversational. "Next time you make me angry, I'll have it bulldozed. Then you'll have nothing left at all."
Isabella stared at him in horror. She knew he meant it. He would actually do it.
And for the first time, she was truly afraid.