Trust is a weapon, betrayal the price. Pearl and Travis, locked in a battle of wills, once more. In a world where loyalty is currency and treachery the cost, who will truly wield the power? A broken bond, tested by deception-who will stand, and who will fall?" ➯ "I was running from danger. Kidnapping me, Travis? Very classic," I spat, rage curling hot in my chest. My fingers found the vase beside me - smooth, cold, heavy - and I didn't hesitate. I swung hard. He ducked just in time, but not fast enough. The glass sliced across his cheek, a ribbon of red blooming below his eye. He didn't even flinch. "You were covered in blood," he growled, voice cracking at the edge. "You died." "And you expect me to believe you saved me?!" I screamed, grabbing the nearest box and hurling it at him. It crashed into his shoulder with a dull thud, and this time - he stopped. His eyes locked on mine, dark and unreadable, a storm swelling beneath silver. Blood welled slowly beneath the cut, trailing down his face like a single crimson tear. I stood there panting, chest heaving, the next object clenched in my fist like it was the only thing tethering me to control. If he took one more step, I'd throw it. I swore I would. Then - his voice came, low, almost a whisper. Not to me. Not really. "How do you... always seem to unravel everything?" "Get lost, Travis!" "You're in danger" he said breathlessly, raking his hand through his hair. "And when was your help ever needed?!" "You do not know what you're doing!" He yelled. "I guess things never change. We will always be screaming at each other's face but you wanna know the difference... I do not give a fuck about you, Travis!" He let out a breath, raking his hair. "Is your empire slipping? It's all crumbling, right? But guess what...this is just the fucking beginning!" He turned away, his hands still in his hair. "Your little charade, doesn't change shit! You should have let me die!" "I should have"

In a world bound by a single, dangerous agreement, 'marriage' is just a mask, and Pearl and Travis are caught in a game where trust is as fleeting as loyalty. _________________________________________ "It's none of your fucking business! You don't control my life, Travis. This isn't real, this ring is just... Isn't real! I won't be faithful to you or nobody!" I exclaimed. "I don't wanna do this" "Of course, you don't " "I don't wanna fight with you! What do you want from me? What do you fucking want? Should I fucking leave?!" He thundered and I paused, his eyes were eminent with rage, my heart beating heavily against my chest. "Tell me, Pearl" he took a step closer. "You're such a manipulative prick! You dragged me into this shit and-" "You hate me" he completed flatly "I hate you so much, I fucking hate you!" I gritted in rage. "Then say it" he urged. "Say it, Pearl. Tell me to leave. There's nothing that could change the way you feel about me." His voice dropped, rough and edged with something raw. "Say it. Should I leave?" His silver eyes pierced through me, sharp and unrelenting, daring me to do what he already thought I would. My breath caught in my throat as the weight of his words hung heavy between us, suffocating in their intensity. We were both breathless, caught in the throes of anger and something deeper-something we weren't ready to name. The room was too small, too quiet, except for the sound of our ragged breathing. "Yes," I finally forced out, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to sound strong. "Leave. Right now."