Chapter323 Serene and Beautiful
Isabella was taken aback. The thing she had been desperately trying to grasp was effortlessly torn from her by another.
A collective gasp echoed through the room as Sebastian rose to his feet. Isabella's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at him.
Sebastian returned her gaze, his voice steady. "I'm sorry, but I can't allow people to continue misunderstanding Alexander."
Isabella's face drained of color, her mind reeling. The whispers around her swelled into a cacophony, and she felt as though the world had spun off its axis. Sebastian was acting out of character, and she felt as though she was losing her grip on reality.
Suddenly, the room began to spin, and Isabella collapsed into the sea of onlookers.
---
Half an hour later, the banquet hall had regained its composure. The Montgomery family and the girl had departed.
Alexander held Victoria's hand in a vice-like grip, never releasing it as they navigated the room. Victoria complied, understanding that this was not the time or place for a tantrum.
The Harrington family stood united by her side. What reason did she have to cause them any embarrassment? By now, she was well aware that the entire city knew of her connection to the Harrington family, and her status as Alexander's wife. She was resigned to the fact that she had to maintain her composure that night.
By half past eleven, most of the older guests had retired, leaving only the younger crowd. Victoria was feeling the effects of the alcohol and the mental exhaustion. She looked up at Alexander and murmured, "I want to go home."
"Why?" Alexander asked.
"I'm feeling dizzy," Victoria replied.
That night, Alexander had provided her with a sense of security that made her unusually candid with him.
Alexander's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he released her hand, wrapping his arm around her slender waist instead.
"Can't you hold on any longer?" Alexander asked.
Victoria was rendered speechless by his tender gaze. Her mind was foggy, but she found herself unable to look away from him.
Alexander smiled at her response and whispered, "I understand."
He held her close, letting her lean into him, before glancing around the room.
Several people nearby approached them. Benjamin observed, "She looks like she's really had too much to drink."
"Is this appropriate?" Edward asked, his brow furrowed in concern.
Alexander's expression hardened. "I will take care of her."
Victoria heard Alexander's words and smiled, her expression dazed.
"It's twenty minutes until midnight," Olivia chimed in, glancing at her wristwatch.
"Alright, we won't bother you any longer. We'll handle things here," Benjamin assured them after hearing Olivia's reminder.
Alexander glanced down at the woman in his arms, aware that she was still lucid, albeit barely.
"Then let's go back," Alexander said.
"Okay, goodbye," Victoria managed, waving a polite farewell to Olivia and the others.
"She looks so naive," Olivia remarked as she watched Alexander lead Victoria away.
"It's probably her first love," Edward mused quietly.
Olivia shot him a look. "Sounds like you're an expert."
Edward grinned knowingly. "You can tell at a glance."
"You're full of it," Olivia retorted, playfully shoving him towards the door.
Edward merely laughed, allowing Olivia to push him.
Benjamin sighed in exasperation. They were such a quarrelsome pair.
It was anyone's guess when the remaining guests would call it a night. They were all night owls, after all.
Soon, they were in the privacy of the hotel's exclusive suite.
Alexander carried Victoria inside, closing the door behind them. The room was a haven of tranquility.
He looked down at the woman in his arms, her drunken state rendering her almost unrecognizable. His voice was deep as he asked, "Why are you staring at me?"
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