Never Again Yours (Isadora and Magnus) novel Chapter 496

At those words, Isadora stopped struggling.

It was as if she’d only now truly absorbed the news—*Pudding is dead*.

But before she could react further, darkness overtook her, and she fainted.

***

Isadora woke slowly in her hospital bed.

Through the haze, she heard men talking outside her door.

Kemp’s voice was respectful as he reported to Victor, “Mr. Fitzgerald, we’ve confirmed it—Rowena took one of Mrs. Fitzgerald’s sweaters, laced it with poison, and used it to lure Pudding outside. When Pudding picked up the sweater and carried it back, that’s when he was poisoned.”

Victor’s voice was icy, colder than she’d ever heard it. “Do whatever it takes. Find her.”

Isadora sat up in bed, a chill settling deep in her bones.

Victor turned at the sound and saw her awake.

Kemp quietly slipped out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

Victor’s gaze lingered on her pale face. He reached out and gently brushed a stray lock of hair from her temple, his voice rough and low. “Isadora, you’re pregnant. You can’t get agitated right now.”

Isadora managed a bitter smile.

“So Pudding died because of me. Rowena was after me all along. Pudding only died because he loved me.”

Victor’s hands rested on her shoulders, his eyes dark and intense. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he struggled to speak. “Isadora, it wasn’t your fault. It was mine. I failed to protect Pudding.”

Tears welled in Isadora’s eyes.

Victor hated seeing her like this. He tried to comfort her, “You need to rest for the baby. Please don’t overthink it. I’ll take care of everything.”

But Isadora suddenly shoved his hands away.

She glared at him, her voice trembling with anger. “Rest? How can you tell me to rest? Does Pudding’s death mean nothing to you?”

She let out a shaky laugh, her words like icy blades. “Of course. You never really cared, did you? All you care about is your proposal.”

The accusation struck Victor like a knife to the heart.

He stood frozen, as if all the blood in his body had turned to ice; pain flickered in his dark eyes, impossible to hide.

Isadora saw it, and a pang of guilt twisted inside her.

She hadn’t meant to say that.

But she had nowhere else to put her grief.

She was terrified she’d say something even colder if she kept going.

Turning away, she lay down and pulled the blankets over her head, her voice dull and muffled. “I just want to sleep for a while.”

Out in the hallway, Finley listened to every word and felt his anger rising.

He reached for the doorknob, but Nanette caught his arm.