Married To The Mad Vampire Lord novel Chapter 393

Chapter 393: Betrayed by loved ones

"Isabelle, I lost the lands and the money in the next rounds. It is a huge amount, and my father will not let it slide just like that. He might even disown me for it. I... I made a huge mistake, falling for those bastards’ tricks." He yanked at his collar and paced the space before her, agitation written in every movement, while she stared at him in utter disbelief, her breath catching as the weight of his confession sank in.

She had never seen Deven in such a state, nor had she ever imagined he would risk gambling his father’s money like that. But then, everyone had flaws and did things that made them imperfect, just like how she always sneaked out to meet him when her parents trusted that she was their obedient, innocent Isabelle, not knowing the things she longed to do with the man she loved.

She didn’t love him any less for hearing that he had gambled. She reached out and took his wrist, but she was startled when he flung her hand away in a violent motion that struck her face by mistake. The sudden sting made her gasp, her fingers flying to her mouth where the back of his hand had landed.

She saw regret immediately flash across his face when he realized what he had done, his expression twisting in horror as he quickly began to apologize. Gently, he pried her trembling fingers away from her lips, which were slightly bleeding. "I am so sorry, I didn’t mean to. Oh Lord in heaven, I hurt you, sorry, forgive me," he stammered, his voice breaking as he pressed his handkerchief against her lips to stop the bleeding.

Seeing the deep remorse in his eyes and knowing it had not been intentional, Isabelle managed a faint, reassuring smile, though her lip throbbed painfully. He hurriedly took her small hand into his, holding to it as though afraid she would pull away, his gaze searching her face.

"I am in deep trouble, and my head is all messed up. I am sorry, my dove." He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles tenderly, his voice weighted with guilt. She let her forgiveness show in her eyes before stepping forward, resting her head softly against his chest, seeking comfort in his arms despite the pain on her lips.

"It’s fine, it doesn’t hurt, Deven," she whispered, brushing aside her own pain. Then, as if his troubles were now hers as well, she continued softly, "We can find a way out. Perhaps I can talk to my pa and get him to help you. He will do whatever I ask, and—"

"And the scandal it will bring, that I gambled my father’s money away? It will ruin my reputation, Isabelle. You can’t tell anyone about this, because I have found a way to get everything back," he told her, stepping back from her hug as he looked into her curious, trusting eyes.

"What way?" she asked softly, a knot forming in her stomach at the strange urgency in his tone. Was he going to gamble again?

"While we were playing, my friends mentioned to the men that I was engaged to a beautiful woman. The men who have beaten me made an arrangement with me because they believe I won’t be able to do it. They bet that if I do it, everything they won will be mine again." He reached out to hold her hand. "So, Isabelle, I want you to cooperate with me and understand why I did what I did. I will still love and marry you no matter what, but I want you not to blame me for this."

Before Isabelle could think or ask what he meant, her husband-to-be opened the door of the small house they had given the name "Our Heaven," and then he pushed her inside, slamming the door behind her. Isabelle lost her balance and fell into the dark room, hearing the lock click as Deven locked it from the outside. Panic gripped her heart as she stumbled up to run to the door, but just then a hand gripped her wrist.

Isabelle’s heart slammed against her ribs in fear as she turned to find three strange men eyeing her, smiling in a lecherous way that made her skin crawl, one of them holding her wrist with rough fingers. She yanked her hand away.

"Wh-who are you?" she stammered as she began to step back, edging closer to the door like a cornered bird.

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