Chapter 5 In the end , Victor said nothing . He turned and went after Seraphina , leaving me exposed to the whispers of the crowd . " That's Victor Lowe's little songbird ? Daring enough to crawl into Alexander Crestfall's bed ? " " Word was that Miss Sterling was going to confess tonight . And she ruined it all . " " No surprise - trash dragged out of Shadowland will spread her legs for any man who crooks a finger . " The venomous gossip rippled through the guests like wildfire - until Alexander's gaze swept across the room . The noise died instantly , the air so sharp it stung . When the door shut , silence engulfed us . He buttoned his shirt slowly , deliberately , every motion precise . The heat of moments ago had evaporated , as if it had never existed . I stayed kneeling on the tangled sheets , waiting for the dark god of Shadowland to deliver his judgment . But instead , a strange calm filled me . Like a heavy weight had finally slipped from my shoulders . Whether Alexander meant to kill me or make me wish I were dead - I was ready . " Isabella . " His voice cut through the quiet . " Marry me . " My head snapped up , stunned . His gaze was shadowed , unyielding . " The Crestfall family code . Outside my wife , I touch no one . " It wasn't a choice . Not for me . The scandal had already broken ; Crestfall stock was plummeting . Alexander couldn't let it go unanswered . I never learned what threats or leverage he used against the Lowes . All I knew was that , despite their fear of Victor's wrath , the Lowe family agreed to hush it up - passing me off as a so - called " adopted daughter , " By nightfall , they shoved me into a gown and forced me through a hasty wedding ceremony no Chapter 5 6.49 % one dared to bless . But the world had already moved on . Seraphina , devastated , threatened to shave her head and retreat to a convent . Victor stayed glued to her side , guarding her every breath . My existence was nothing to him . Three days later , when Alexander and I returned to the Lowes ' estate for the first time as husband and wife , he spoke casually , as if delivering market news , " Victor proposed to Seraphina . " The words hit me like a blade to the chest . My nails dug into my palms until they broke the skin . Only after a long silence did I manage to choke out , " Mr. Lowe has finally gotten what he wanted . That's ... good for him . " Alexander's eyes stayed on me , unblinking . His stare felt like it was stripping me bare . When his hand suddenly lifted , I recoiled instinctively . " We're still in the car ... " I stammered . His hand hovered midair - catching a single tear . Only then did I realize I was crying . And crying for the wrong man . " What are you crying for ?" His low laugh was almost tender . With his thumb , he brushed away the wetness at the corner of my eye . " Fine . Tonight , I'll let you rest . >> I turned toward the window quickly , hiding my face . But I couldn't erase the past three days . The world whispered of Alexander's cold restraint . Behind closed doors , however , Alexander Crestfall was nothing short of a beast . Three nights straight , I hadn't left the bed . His hunger was relentless , shameless . At his worst , he wouldn't even let me walk to the bathroom - he carried me there , and back . If not for today's obligatory visit , with reporters staked out at Lowe's Manor , he would never have let me out of that room . When the car stopped at the gates , Alexander reached out his hand . I hesitated , frozen . For the first time , he let something like vulnerability slip into his voice . " Mrs. Crestfall . The whole 6.49 % city knows you seduced me . Don't you think you owe me ? " I thought of the headlines calling him the victim of a scheming woman . Guilt pricked me , sharp and sour . I placed my hand in his . From the front gate to the grand hall , every step felt like walking through a minefield . Not until the butler informed us , " Mr. Lowe has taken Miss Sterling to the stables , " did I finally breathe again . Mrs. Lowe's attitude toward me was ... delicate . She held my hand with surprising warmth . " Victor's stubborn . I had hoped to see him married to someone kind , patient . Since fate has tied you to the Crestfalls , treat this house as your own . You'll always be welcome here . " But I wasn't fooled . Her kindness was borrowed , conditional - because Alexander , even now , was in the study negotiating business with Victor's father . Chapter 6 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!