Chapter 181 Rodolfo and Hermione Died
The entire hall fell silent. The livestream chat froze. Everyone stood frozen in place.
William stormed onto the stage and ripped the design from Isabella's hands. In front of everyone, he tore it to shreds. Shreds of paper drifted through the air, some settling against her pale cheeks.
"Champion?" He laughed coldly, his voice laced with mockery, amplified through the microphone and echoing into every corner of the hall — and into the ears of countless viewers watching the stream.
"This garbage deserves an award? Isabella, you really think you can use these pathetic tricks to play innocent? To finish your sister's dream?"
Isabella's entire body trembled. She reached down to gather the torn pieces, but he grabbed her wrist violently, his grip crushing her bones.
William leaned in close, his voice cutting like a blade. "You're the one who killed your sister. What right do you have to talk about her dreams? Everything you draw only defiles her memory."
He paused, a cruel smile twisting his lips. "To me, these designs are worthless."
Every word sliced through Isabella's heart like a dull knife — slow, deliberate, merciless. This was the award she'd fought so hard to win, the dream she'd tried to fulfill for her sister. Now the design lay in shreds at her feet, along with what little dignity she had left, ground into the dirt.
The livestream chat exploded. Some dug up old scandal photos of her. Others condemned William's behavior. Arguments erupted in every direction.
William didn't care. He dragged her off the stage like she was an object, lifeless and disposable.
Isabella didn't resist. Her eyes were hollow, like a marionette with its strings severed. She was still trapped in shock.
Her obsession lay in ruins.
She had no right to blame William. She believed she deserved all of this.
The helicopter flew back to City A, but it didn't land at Rosewood Estate. Instead, it headed straight for her old hometown.
The roar of the rotors startled the nearby residents. Rodolfo and Hermione hurried outside just in time to see a tall man dragging a familiar figure down from the cabin.
Rodolfo recognized her first. "Is that… Isabella?"
Hermione gasped. "It is! It's Isabella! What's going on?" She rushed forward, but William's bodyguards blocked her path.
They watched helplessly as the man dragged Isabella toward the newly rebuilt cottage, his presence menacing, clearly intent on something terrible.
Rodolfo shouted, "Isabella, what's happening?"
Isabella heard his voice. She froze for a moment, then looked at them in panic.
She shook her head frantically. "Go back inside! Don't come out!"
She didn't want them to know she was married. She didn't want them to see her like this.
William ignored them. He hauled her straight to the cottage.
"You care so much about this place, don't you? Then I'll let you watch. I'll let you see how the cottage you built with your own hands gets torn down."
Isabella's eyes widened in horror. "No! William, please don't touch it. It took so long to rebuild. Please, just leave it alone."
William knew full well that she'd broken down the last time the cottage was destroyed. But he couldn't stop himself. Every time he thought of her and Donny, he lost control.
"You had the nerve to flirt with another man, and you still want to keep this dump? Last time, I didn't let you watch your grandmother's cottage get destroyed. This time, you're going to see every second of it."
"No!" Isabella grabbed his arm. He shoved her off. She lunged at him again. "Punish me instead! I'll do anything you want! Just don't destroy it!"
She dropped to her knees, her voice shaking. "Please. I'm begging you. Leave it alone."
William looked down at her, a cruel smile curling his lips. "No."
He waved his hand. A bulldozer rumbled forward. Its iron arm rose, smashing through the garden wall, ripping the freshly planted roses out by their roots.
"No—!" Isabella screamed and tried to run forward, but Dylan grabbed her. If he hadn't, she would've been crushed by falling debris.
Rodolfo and Hermione exchanged a glance. They rushed forward, swinging sticks at the bulldozer.
"Stop! You bastards, you can't do this!"
Hermione threw her arms out in front of the machine. "Don't you dare! Who gave you the right to treat Isabella like this?"
Isabella saw the two elderly people standing beneath the crumbling wall. Her whole body shook with terror.
"Get back! It's dangerous!"
She didn't understand how things had spiraled so far out of control.
She looked at William desperately. "Make them stop! They're going to get hurt!"
William didn't even blink. "Then they deserve it."
Isabella stared at him in disbelief. How could he say something like that? Even if there was blame, it was hers to bear.
The next second, the bulldozer's arm swung wildly to one side, slamming into a stone pillar. The pillar toppled over, crashing down on Rodolfo and Hermione with a sickening thud.
Blood pooled quickly in the dirt.
Their eyes were still open, fixed on Isabella. Their voices came out in faint whispers. "Isabella… don't be afraid… don't cry…"
"This is… as far as we can protect you… From now on… take care of yourself."
Isabella stared at the spreading pool of red. She stared at the two people who had loved her since she was a child, now lying broken in front of her. All the strength drained from her body. She collapsed to the ground, unable even to cry.
She crawled forward on her knees, her hand trembling as she reached out, but she couldn't even lift her fingers.
Her mind screamed in silence. Don't die… This wasn't supposed to happen…
The workers panicked. William frowned and dragged her back, looking down at her. "See that? That's the price of obsession. Anyone who helps you gets dragged down with you."
Isabella's pupils dilated. She stared at the bodies on the ground.
"Save them… please…"
Dylan checked their pulses and shook his head. "Mr. Spencer, they're gone."
Isabella felt the world tilt.
Rodolfo and Hermione had died trying to stop the workers from tearing down the cottage?
Her sister had died because of her too.
She was a curse. She didn't deserve to live.
Her body swayed. She coughed up a mouthful of blood. Her vision went black, and she collapsed completely.