The ballroom erupted into chaos. Gasps and shocked whispers echoed from every corner of the room as the scandalous video played in front of the elite crowd. The image of Victoria and Marco together—locked in a passionate embrace—was burned onto the screen for everyone to see.
Isabella stood frozen in place, her breath caught in her throat. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of what was happening. This can't be real. This can't be happening.
Next to her, Alexander watched the scene unfold with a cold, calculating expression. His arm remained possessively around her waist, as though grounding her in place while the world around them crumbled.
"Alex," Isabella whispered, her voice trembling. "What did you do?"
He didn't turn to look at her. His eyes remained fixed on the stage, where her father stood, momentarily stunned into silence. "I told you, Isabella. They needed to be taught a lesson."
Isabella's heart pounded in her chest. She had expected some kind of retaliation—some calculated move to assert dominance—but nothing like this. Exposing her sister's affair in front of hundreds of powerful people, ruining not only Victoria's reputation but also Marco's and the entire De Santos family's? It was too much.
"Turn it off!" Rodrigo's voice boomed through the microphone, snapping Isabella out of her daze. Her father was livid, his face turning red with fury. He gestured wildly to the staff, trying to stop the video from playing, but it was too late. The damage was done.
Victoria stood in the center of the ballroom, her face pale and her eyes wide with shock. She looked like a deer caught in headlights, utterly unprepared for the public humiliation that had just befallen her. Marco, who had been by her side only moments ago, quickly stepped away, his face a mixture of horror and shame.
"You—" Rodrigo stormed off the stage, his gaze locking onto Alexander with murderous intent. "You did this."
Alexander remained calm, his grip on Isabella tightening just slightly. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Rodrigo."
Isabella could feel the tension crackling in the air. Her father was moments away from losing control, and Alexander was pushing him further. The crowd, which had been murmuring in disbelief, was now openly discussing the scandal, their eyes darting between the De Santos family and Alexander.
"Get out!" Rodrigo spat, his voice shaking with rage. "You're no longer welcome here, Gray. You and that woman—"
"Careful," Alexander warned, his voice low and dangerous. "You might want to think twice before you insult your daughter in front of everyone."
Isabella's heart sank. She knew this would only escalate further. Alexander's revenge was complete, but the cost was more than she had bargained for.
Rodrigo's hands clenched into fists, his entire body trembling with barely controlled rage. He was humiliated—his carefully crafted image of power and control shattered in front of his peers. And for a man like Rodrigo De Santos, that was unforgivable.
"How dare you," Rodrigo growled. "You think you can humiliate my family like this? You think you'll get away with it?"
Alexander smirked, the expression chilling. "I didn't humiliate your family, Rodrigo. Your family humiliated themselves. I just gave everyone a chance to see the truth."
Isabella's pulse quickened, a deep sense of dread settling in her gut. She had always known Alexander was dangerous, but this... this was beyond anything she could have imagined.
Victoria, still reeling from the revelation, finally found her voice. "You—" she stammered, her face flushed with fury and shame. "You ruined me, you—"
But before she could finish her sentence, Marco stepped forward, grabbing her arm. "Don't," he hissed through clenched teeth. "You've done enough damage."
Victoria's eyes widened in disbelief as Marco pulled her toward the exit, leaving the ballroom in stunned silence. The crowd parted as they passed, whispers following them like a shadow.
Rodrigo watched his daughter and son-in-law disappear through the doors before turning his venomous gaze back to Alexander and Isabella. "You think this is over?" he snarled. "You think you've won?"
Alexander's smirk faded, replaced by a cold, calculating stare. "I don't play games to win, Rodrigo. I play to end them."
Rodrigo's face twisted with rage, but before he could respond, Elena, Isabella's mother, stepped forward. Her eyes, usually so composed, were filled with anger and betrayal as they landed on Isabella.
"You," Elena said coldly, her voice barely above a whisper. "You brought this man into our lives. You let him destroy us."
Isabella's heart clenched painfully at her mother's words. "Mama, I—"
"Enough," Elena snapped, her composure breaking for the first time. "You've done enough, Isabella. I don't know what you were thinking, coming here, but you've only brought more shame to this family."
Isabella felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She had been hurt by her family before, but this—this was different. This was the moment she realized that no matter what she did, she would always be the outcast in their eyes.
Without another word, Elena turned her back on her daughter, leaving Isabella standing in the middle of the ballroom, surrounded by eyes full of judgment and disdain.
"Let's go," Alexander said, his voice a quiet command. He took Isabella's hand and began leading her toward the exit, his presence a shield against the glaring stares of the crowd.
As they stepped out into the cool night air, Isabella couldn't hold back the tears any longer. They spilled down her cheeks silently as she walked beside Alexander, her mind spinning with the aftermath of the night's events.
"Why?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Alexander glanced at her, his expression softening just slightly. "Because they needed to know that you're not someone they can step on anymore. You deserve better than the way they've treated you."
"But this..." Isabella wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "This isn't what I wanted."
Alexander stopped walking, turning to face her fully. His gaze was intense, but not unkind. "I know. But sometimes, to get what you want, you have to burn down the past first."
But at what cost?
As they walked toward the waiting car, Isabella couldn't help but feel that this was only the beginning. The battle lines had been drawn, and the war between the Grays and the De Santos had only just begun.