vows of vengeance

Lyric: (whispering, eyes scanning the crowd) "You know, this isn't exactly what I had in mind for my future. A marriage to someone like you? A PR stunt in front of a room full of people who can't see through the lies we're selling?

Kael: (eyes narrowed, voice cold) "I didn't ask for this either, but the sooner we get through it, the sooner we can go our separate ways. Just keep up the charade, Lyric. We're not here to make friends."

Lyric: (smirking, her voice dripping with sarcasm) "Oh, don't worry. I'm excellent at pretending. After all, I've been pretending to like you for years."

Kael: (glancing at her, a flicker of something darker in his eyes) "Trust me, I'd prefer to keep pretending if it means we don't end up in each other's way. But we both know how this is going to play out."

Lyric: (leaning in, her tone softer but still filled with defiance) "Do we? Because I'm not so sure anymore. This little arrangement... I can't help but wonder if it's changing us more than either of us wants to admit."

Kael: (pauses, eyes briefly meeting hers, before he steps back with a tight smile) "That's where you're wrong, Lyric. This is just a temporary detour. I don't do feelings."

They share a tense look before turning their attention back to the crowd
----
Lyric Caldera and Kael Rivenhart are heirs to two powerful rival families, locked in a bitter feud for decades. When a scandal threatens both their empires, their parents strike a deal-a forced marriage to unite their families and secure their futures. Neither Lyric nor Kael wants the union, but they are bound by duty and a shared animosity.

As they navigate public appearances and maintain the image of the perfect power couple, their mutual disdain gradually gives way to undeniable chemistry. But when a betrayal from within their families threatens everything they've built, they must decide whether their marriage will remain a façade-or if it can transform into something real.