Harpin’ On With Harper, Backstage at Climax Control 432, Monaco
Sunday the 10th of August 2025, 23:00pm

*on camera, start vlog, promo part one*

Three weeks ago Harper did what many thought would never happen, she dethroned Victoria Lyons and won the Bombshell Roulette Championship from her on the cruise! But with her first challenger Alicia Lukas lurking on the horizon she finds herself lost in thought as she films her first promo for the upcoming Clash of the Champions match in Mykonos, Greece.

”It’s been what? Three weeks since I defied everyone’s expectations? Twenty one days since I ended the tyranny of Queen Victoria over the Bombshell Roulette Division? And yet, it still doesn’t feel real.” Harper stated as she looked at her Bombshell Roulette Championship which was currently sitting on her lap while she sat on a crate. ”Two long years, many, many, many attempts and heartbreaks later? I finally have my first championship belt in SCW.

Off course, the question that lingers on every new champion’s mind when they win it is this: who is up first?” Harper added as she rested the title over her shoulder. ”First challenger? First opponent since willing the gold, hell, even your first interviewer as champion, those thoughts have a way of sneaking up on you no matter how long you’ve been in the game! Now, at the start of the cycle Alicia Lukas won the right to challenge me at Violent Conduct, but that’s not the match I’m talking about.”

Harper added as she stood up, holding her title proudly.

”Believe me, I’ll get to the rematch with Alicia soon, hell I gave you guys a preview of some of my talking points for her earlier, but next week in Mykonos? I’m facing someone else who shocked the SCW Universe this year.” Harper states as she folds her arms. ”Just for completely different reasons, many had written off Mercedes Vargas as a spent force who was basically trotted out whenever the bosses needed a challenger for one of the Bombshell Division’s titles and pretty much everyone expects her to fail.

Except when it came to Into the Void in Paris back in May when Mercedes won the Bombshell Internet Championship from Bella Madison.” Harper states as she brushes some hair over her shoulder. ”Since then? She’s been aligned with Crystal Caldwell in her latest search for relevance and she even lost the title to Lillith Locke at Summer XXXTreme.”

Harper shakes her head.

”The fact that this match is being advertised as  Clash of the Champions match should tell you everything: it didn’t take Mercedes long to win the title back with Crystal’s help! Now she and Lilith are set to face off in a Falls Count Anywhere Match for the title at Violent Conduct but before that?” Harper smirks as she pats her title. ”We’re dusting off our old rivalry from my first few months as an SCW Bombshell.

What’s the old saying Mercy?” Harper asked before immediately answering. ”Harper beat me once? Shame on you, Harper beat me twice? Shame on me, Harper beat me three times? Shame on Mercedes and her delusions of relevancy!”

*end vlog*

Harper’s Hotel Room, Mykonos, Greece
Wednesday the 13th of August 2025, 16:00pm

Harper was now in Greece and while she had been enjoying her time in Mykonos her looming first match as champion is weighing on her mind, especially knowing that the woman who brought her into SCW in the first place was going to be in attendance.

”So Wrestleleague finally cleared you and Josh to show up for SCW while I’m the Bombshell Roulette Champion right as I’m about to have my first match s champion.” Harper commented as she ran a hand through her hair and Jessie nodded on the other end of the video call. ”You think they were waiting for that match to be booked or something?”

”After all I’m seen in the seventeen odd years that I’ve been in this business? I’m not really sure what to think.” Jessie responded as she shook her head and Harper nodded as she got the idea. ”And you’re facing Mercedes for the first time since December 2 Dismember.”

”Just to check but you don’t have any surprise pregnancies this time around, right?” Harper asked and while it was a rather dark joke as Jessie had collapsed during a training session for the previous match between Harper and Mercedes and that was how Jessie’s pregnancy had been discovered? They were still able to laugh about  it. ”I gotta check Jess, that was one of the scariest moments of my life!”

”I know, I know, and trust me, it wasn’t any less scary on my end.” Jessie admitted as she shook her head. ”Look, I could take a pregnancy test if it makes you feel any better Harper but me and Shane haven’t had sex since I gave birth to April last year and I don’t sleep around as much as I did in my younger years, trust me, we’re good on that front!”

”That’s a relief.” Harper commented before shaking her head. ”Though pregnancy tests aren’t always accurate, false positives can still happen.”

”True enough, but trust me, the only way there’s going to be another Salco kid in the world is if Shane was cheating on me.” Jessie responded as she shook her head and Harper nodded. ”And if that was the case? I may or may not bury him under the Home Gym.”

”Classic lawyer response right there! Guess being a mom didn’t loosen your temper that much.” Harper joked and Jessie just grinned. ”Anyway, something seems to have lit a fire under Mercedes’s ass this year because she’s not only won the Bombshell Internet Title but she’s won it twice! Though the second time around was with help from Crystal.”

”Two of my least favourite people on the SCW Roster joining forces, if I were still on the roster as a Bombshell my blood pleasure would be through the fucking roof.” Jessie grunted as she shook her head. ”Look, fire under her ass or not? Mercedes is still the same old bitch she always was, tainted title wins will not change that! Be wary of Crystal and basically worry about out wrestling her.”

”Both of which are a lot easier said than done.” Harper sighed as she ran a hand through her hair. ”So what’s the plan for Sunday? I know Wrestleleague’s show is at Dodge City, Kansas.”

”Me and Josh will be catching a connecting flight to Mykonos first thing Sunday Morning with a layover in Madrid.” Jessie explained and Harper nodded as she got the idea. ”We’ll meet you and Cass at the hotel, just bear in mind that we’ll be sore and tired from our respective matches.”

”I get it, don’t worry, and hay, the tenth year anniversary of your wedding to Shane has just gone, maybe this will be an anniversary gift of some kind.” Harper commented and Jessie groaned. ”Bones aching because you just remembered that it’s been ten years since you got married?”

”Yep! And it still lasted longer than a lot of marriages in this sport!” Jessie responded with a slight laugh. ”See you Sunday Harp.” Jessie added before hanging up.

Harpin’ On With Harper,. Harper’s Hotel Room, Mykonos, Greece
Wednesday the 13th of August 2025, 17:15pm

*on camera, start vlog, promo part two*

We cut to Harper’s hotel room again, this time for her second vlog about the match against Mercedes.

”It’s kinda funny in a way, ain’t it? My first SCW Supercard Cycle as a champion and it’s on a tour themed around partying, yet I’ve never been that much of a party girl!” Harper commented with a slight laugh as she propped the Bombshell Roulette Championship on her computer desk right in view of the laptop’s webcam. ”While my friends were out partying, I was studying, while me friends were off getting knocked up or drunk or both, I was training to be the best athlete I can be.

They called me a loser yet I’m the one traveling the world with SCW while they are stuck at a McDonalds, funny huh?” Harper added before shaking her head. ”Just to be clear on something? I mean absolutely no disrespect to Fast Food Workers when I say that people have to make money somehow, but at the same time? I’m here because I had my priorities straight growing up, and trust me Mercedes, this Sunday? I will have my priorities straight heading into our match!”

Harper stated as she brushed some hair over her shoulder.

”For example? As far as Crystal is concerned? Either the ref sends her packing or I will, you’re not about to screw me the same way you screwed Lilith two weeks ago!” Harper stated as she flipped some hair over her shoulder. ”And on that note Mercedes? I don’t know if you were paying attention to my little spat with Victoria over the past few months but if you have? You’d know one card hold truth about me.

I hold one hell of a grudge!” Harper stated as she glared at the camera. ”I never let go of the fact that Victoria used her Queen for a Day Powers to book me in a handicap match against Juliana DiMaria and Alexandra Callaway and that had the domino effect that led to me holding this title after taking it from her.” Harper said as she held the title up to the camera. ”And that was for something that didn’t involve her getting physical with me, you? Did you really think I forgot?”

Nope.

”December 2 Dismember V, 2023, I’ll be shocked if you don’t remember that show considering you’re practically an encyclopaedia or SCW knowledge Mercedes but then again for everything you’ve gotten right about SCW History you’ve gotten at least ten things wrong!” Harper added as she folded her arms. ”But to make a long story short? You decided to attack me and Jessie with kendo sticks at the first Climax Control after that year’s High Stakes, why? Well, I guess a vindictive old bitch can hold a grudge as well.

I mean, who cares if you got yourself disqualified in our first match, am I right?” Harper asked sarcastically as she ran a hand through her hair. ”That off course led to the No DQ Match between us at that show and while I won that match? Old wounds don’t heal that easily Mercedes, and between you, Crystal, and Alicia lurking in the wings? I guess they’ll be old foes about in this match!”

*end vlog*

Local café, Mykonos, Greece
Thursday the 14th of August 2025, 12:00pm

With Jessie and Josh in America training for their Wrestleleague Matches this week Harper and Cassie have been left to their own devices, today they were enjoying lunch at a local café.

”Man, I haven’t had Greek food since SCW Toured Greece in 2022.” Cassie commented as she leaned back in her chair and Harper grinned. ”And that was three years ago.”

”What about Makayla?” Harper pointed out and Cassie nodded. ”She’s Greek Australian, married to your half-sister and went to culinary.”

”Yeah but Makayla mostly cooks American style food those days, still amazing but not really Greek, plus I haven’t really spoken with her or Krystal since my SCW Career got into full swing.” Cassie responded as she shook her head. ”Pretty sure Krystal still has some resentment over how her own SCW Career ended.”

”I’m sure she’ll come around eventually.” Harper assured her and Cassie nodded. ”So, how’s the leg holding up?”

”Still sore but considering I just had two back to back matches against former World Bombshell Champs? It could be a lot worse.” Cassie responded as she looked at her bad leg. And ‘m grateful to have my first week off of the cycle, give me time to properly rest thing thing.”

”Don’t jinx it!” Harper teased before a waitress came over to take their plates. ”They’ll probably find an excuse to book you for next week’s show knowing your luck.”

”And I’ll still take that if it means me bouncing back from two consecutive losses.” Cassie shrugged her shoulders before the conversation drifted off.

Harpin’ on with Harper, wondering through Mykonos Town, Greece
Thursday the 14th of August 2025, 14:00pm

*on camera, start vlog, final promo part*

As Harper prepares for her final promo for her rematch against Mercedes we see her wondering around Mykonos Town.

”SCW sure picked a beautiful location for the Ladies Night show, didn’t they?” Harper asked as she turned her phone camera around to show the surrounding area. ”Easily one of the pretties places I’ve visited as an SCW Wrestler though I suspect that’ll change in the coming years as SCW takes me to more exotic locales.

Such a pretty place, ironic considering my match against Mercedes will be anything but pretty!” Harper added as she brushed some hair over her shoulder. ”And setting aside the age difference between us Mercedes? We’ve had similar years, haven’t we Mercedes?”

Harper said as she brushed some hair over her shoulder.

”Meaning? We both shocked everyone by scoring a title win that we weren’t supposed too.” Harper added as she patted the Bombshell Roulette Title perched on her shoulder. ”Off course he difference is? You had to win it back through dishonest means after losing at Summer XXXTreme Mercedes, while me? I have only just won this belt and my first challenger is likely to challenge me at Violent Conduct!

Oh and? I don’t plan of losing this title in my first defence!” Harper stated as she flipped some hair over her shoulder. ”What’s that Mercedes? Too soon? Funny, same can be said for your rematch with Lilith but you’re not complaining about that, right?”

It’s that simple.

”Then allow me to give you something to complain about as we have our little bash at the beach! And that something, of course, is me kicking you so hard that you think it’s a Mean Girls reunion and people take you seriously again.” Harper added with a scoff. ”When in fact? It’s been the opposite, you scored some fluke wins, “earned” a title twice and now think you’re hot hit again?”

And with that Harper decided to wrap things up.

”Unfortunately for you Mercedes? I’m your reality check in this situation! Because unlike you? I earned this title and took it off the longest reigning champion the division has seen in years, someone you wrestled once and decided that was enough.” Harper said as she looked at the title over her shoulder. ”And this Sunday? People will think I was the Bombshell Internet Champion and not you because while I put on a show worthy of that title’s prestige? You’ll be embarrassed because the world needs a new hero and she is the Bombshell Roulette Champion Harper Mason! See you in the ring!”

Harper turned off the camera as the scene fades.

Hope.

That was the emotion that I had going into my Summer Xtreme match.

Jubilation.

I felt it coming out of it.

After I showered and dressed out following my match, I found myself in the main dining hall of the ship with the Bombshells World Championship match taking place on some screens around me. Considering that I finally slayed the dragon that was born on this very ship five years ago, I wasn’t paying attention to what was going on. All I cared about was how elated I was that I finally broke through and conquered a succumbing darkness that was in my heart and soul for years and Chelsea LeClair was definitely hearing it through our FaceTime chat we were having.

“How proud I am of you is indescribable…” Chelsea stated with a smile while I couldn’t contain mine. “...a couple of weeks ago, when Amelia pinned you and SCW media was making it a huge deal calling it an upset, you were ready to give up and quit.”

“That seems like so long ago…” I said, taking it in stride.

“I was THIS close to telling you to get out…”

“Chels, I was THIS close to actually getting out. I was so down in the dumps that you didn’t even need to tell me to leave”

“Instead, what I saw tonight was a fire that I haven’t seen with you in SCW in months. It’s amazing how you were able to turn it around so fast… inspiring really.”

“I had to take a LONG look inside…” I admitted. “I faced so many fears and insecurities within me that were born five years ago on this same cruise all because I allowed someone so meaningless to matter so much. I conquered and overcame the worst moment of my entire career on the same cruise that it happened on…”

“Don’t start crying on me now girl…” Chelsea said with a laugh as she was noticing the emotional rise in my voice. I smiled through this feeling ecstatic inside that crying was the last thing I was thinking of doing.

“Ever since I read what my dad wrote me all those years ago about love for oneself being the best thing you can do to overcome all the darkness and hate, it’s opened my eyes in so many ways. I overcame what would’ve been a rock bottom moment for so many, a loss that would’ve signaled a downturn in their careers, and I was able to bounce right back and negate the whole thing. I prevented a spiral of my career and even better, I prevented a second ‘Summer of Hell’ and a relapse back to what I was before. Prior to tonight, I didn’t realize how strong of a person I actually am…”

“I’ve known you since the 4th grade, girl. You’ve always been as strong as you showed yourself to be, you just needed to prove it to yourself.”

I sighed as I nodded in understanding, but also coming to some very brutal realizations that I either hadn’t thought about or avoided thinking about right at the moment I saw Kayla Richards on the screen retain her title out of the corner of my eye.

“I did. I should’ve proven this to myself far earlier, probably the moment I won the world title the first time. Honest to god, with that chamber, I basically handed Kayla the title back and that’s something that cuts me with a deep regret…”

“You’ll win it back from her…” Chelsea expresses with confidence. “You’ve more than learned your lesson now. I haven’t seen you so happy and free since you won the Festivus World Championship the first time… or maybe even your first Bombshells title win. You should celebrate yourself and branch yourself out more and I promise you you’ll have a better experience. Nice to see you out of your room on that cruise by the way. Where is that?”

“Dining hall out in public…”

Chelsea smiled when I said that..

“YES! Put yourself out there more, girlfriend! If not for your co-workers, at least for your fans.”

I felt tentative about it before a pair of young college aged ladies (I could tell they were sisters) approached me with some merch and pens.

“Hold that thought. Talk later.”

I was bewildered to see them considering how long I have shied away from SCW fans.

“That was an inspiring win, Andrea! Holy shit!” the first fan said.

“We’ve been following you since the GCW days nearly a decade ago…” the second young lady added. “Can you sign our stuff for us, please?

My eyes lit up hearing that and I was already feeling the love. An “Undefeated 2021” banner referencing my clean sheet in SCW that year and a poster of Chelsea and I as Sedona Sky from our GCW days were laid in front of me.

“Sure!” I said as I grabbed a pen.

“You are by far our favorite…” I heard. “You’re DIFFERENT from most of the Bombshells.”

I chuckled as I started signing.

“You inspired us to not take shit from anyone and to fight for your beliefs and for yourself…”

I wrote “Remember that your truth is the only truth about you that matters” with great pride knowing I proved that in spades tonight.

“Damn right. Don’t let another person tell you what you are because you know it’s never true. Names?”

“Olivia…”

“And Vivianna!”

“Nice meeting you ladies. Hold on…”

I stood up and walked in between them. I made a phone signal and their eyes lit up and I took a quick selfie with them. After they thanked me and left, I felt this warm feeling in my soul knowing that I was doing what I do with a purpose.

The light’s really beginning to shine now…

Fifteen days later.

“The way you took that notebook that your father meant to give you and turning it into something amazing on that ship was your most incredible moment yet…”

I was sitting with my mother on the couch and the joy from the cruise continued to linger through me.

“Still…” my mother said with an increased sternness in her voice. “...I don’t EVER want to see you put yourself through that meltdown again. It’s not even close to being worth it: no career or wrestling company is.”

I nodded with understanding, but my mother wasn’t done yet.

“I want you to promise me you never will again because you are far too strong and far too great of a person and at what you to do to ever stoop so low and hurt yourself like the way you were doing for years.”

“I promise you I will never do that again because you’re right. On all fronts, I deserve so much better than that. I am done suffering from the empty words and nonsense of people such as this…”

I turned my phone on and logged onto my social media and on to separate tabs on my web browser, I had the timelines of Amelia Reynolds and Kayla Richards pulled up and handed my phone to my mother to show her.

“I took some heat just for expressing myself over how much that win meant to me…” I said with a scoff that showed it wasn’t even bothering me.

“Why is blondie even saying anything to you at all? Didn’t she quit?” my mother asked with an annoyed sigh. I could see her scrolling through the tweets and a bunch of eye rolls.

“You had one bad match and Kayla wants to act like you’re on a downward spiral? You’ve got blondie whining about the fact that you chose not to respond to her words on camera? They’re both acting like you didn’t deserve to win that match and you’ve got Kayla wanting to destroy you and talking to other women saying she’d rather defend the title against her and not you.”

“Yeah. Welcome to what my world is really like, Mother.”

“What in the honest to god high school level bullshit is this? I always knew it wasn’t a great culture because of how you’ve talked about it, but seeing it for the first time just angers me. With all this abuse that you take and how much you’ve been taking it both times you’ve been there, why do you even put up with all this garbage? That’s what I’ve never understood.”

I allowed my mother to continue.

“You did the right thing when you left a few years ago but now I get why you needed to see what your dad wrote to you in that notebook.”

“You knew its contents before I did…” I realized.

“Yes and that’s why I gave it to you knowing it was the best thing that could happen to you at that time. When was that posted? About a week ago?”

“Yeah and honestly? I read that and I just yawned. It’s not even something that bothers me at all…”

“I’m glad…” my mother said with a smile.

“It’s just so… mundane. I made a promise to myself on that cruise that I wasn’t going to let anyone write my story anymore and when I read what Amelia had to say, I felt absolutely nothing.”

“Great, because you’re stronger than her…” my mother said bluntly.

“I stayed through all of that if only just barely and I was able to bounce right back and completely erase it all…”

“While she lost once and quit…”

“Mom, it probably goes a lot deeper than that honestly. I understand that you’re angry over what you read her say about me, but I don’t want to judge her for leaving. It’s none of my business and I’m finally strong enough to be overcoming that negativity”

“You’re a bigger person than I am, but if you were in my shoes as a mother you’d be angry seeing someone talk about your daughter like that. Trust me.”

I smiled as we embraced.

“Thanks for the notebook…” I said as I stood up. “My brothers want me to meet them at dad’s old facility so I’ll be back…”

My mother nodded as I walked out of the front door, that confidence still growing quickly inside me.

“I’m going to win that title…” I told myself in my head as I began to walk over to my brothers. “I’m going to make it to High Stakes with that championship and I am going to get out of there with it. I don’t fucking care what anyone says anymore. It’s going to happen and I am going to make damn sure that does. The way that BITCH talked to me the last time I faced her, so help me on my father’s grave, should I meet her at Violent Conduct, I’m going to make her eat ALL the shit she’s been saying to me…”

I stopped my train of thought when I walked inside my father’s old wrestling facility when I saw decorations everywhere. I gasped with some shock and I saw a poorly designed pinata that was supposedly slooking like Evie Jordan hanging above me. I shrieked for a bit as both of my brothers greeted me with some harmless silly string out of a spray can and I was just taken aback wondering what was going on.

“What are you guys doing?” I asked.

“Celebrating you…” Eddie responded.

“You deserve to celebrate yourself for a change. Here…” Roddy added as he handed me a baseball bat. “Take a swing and put that cunt in your past for good.”

Normally, I wouldn’t be for it but I took the bat and I crushed Evie in effigy finally putting that awful woman in my past for good.

“You deserve nothing but the utmost happiness for all the shit you’ve suffered through for years because of that piece of shit…” Roddy said. “I loved seeing you find your fire again on that cruise and taking that match. You were always the best wrestler in that match and you stood up for yourself, our family and everything that you believed in.”

“For the first time in years, I watched someone that wasn’t carrying a burden anymore…” Eddie added.

“Thank you both so much. It was the first time I felt free in years. This is that win where from now on, I’m going to be more accepting of myself and I will never fall back into that hole again…”

I had to pause and I even expressed a bit of discomfort on my face.

“Shit, I know I’ve said that before only for something else to happen to take that vibe away from me, but this time feels so much different and so much better because this time, I’m going to bask in the glow and enjoy myself for once instead of throwing the moment away worrying and thinking about what’s next so whatever you have planned for the celebration go for it. Wait, you’re inviting…”

“Our whole extended family…” Eddie admitted.

I saw Roddy hang another pinata, this time of Kayla Richards.

“Guys, don’t get too far ahead of yourselves. Kayla might not be the champion I face.”

“She better be!” Roddy said. “Bitch deserves her receipts for the shit she’s been saying about you. I’ll do what I can as I’ve done for months to prepare you.”

“Thanks Roddy and I appreciate it but… I want to do this alone.”

Both of my brothers were stunned by what I just said.

“In our family, for decades, there has always been ONE person in our family that has carried the torch of our traditions and legacies and all I’ve done for years is run from it because five years ago, a worthless person made me think I wasn’t worthy of being the one to carry that. When I became what I was in SCW, it was me avoiding and running away from that responsibility but not anymore…”

I glared at that Kayla Richards effigy in front of me which only ignited my passion further.

“After what I just overcame, I know I can take charge of that tradition and legacy in our family and define it in my own way. I’m not running away from it anymore and to fully embrace our family’s legacy, this title match, especially if it’s against Kayla, is my war to fight and mine to fight alone.”

I could tell that pride was flowing within both of my brothers over what I just said.

“I’m thrilled for you, Andrea…” Eddie responded. “You’re right. That’s exactly what Dad did and would’ve expected out of any of us.”

“It was always your destiny to be the one to carry that torch for a 5th generation…” Roddy admitted. “I think accepting that at last is a cause for celebration in and of itself.”

“I think so too…” I said before I superkicked the head off of the Kayla Richards pinata. “...and the cruise was just the start…”

My brothers expressed their pride in me before they went to the other side of the building to let extended family in and realizing they were all here for me not only taught me to accept and celebrate myself for who I am, but it also made me the happiest I had been in years…

August 8, 2025

When the camera came on, I was in a nightclub in Monaco and I was having a blast. I was in a balcony surrounded by some of my best SCW moments such as my two world title wins, my Internet Championship win, going fourteen and zero in 2021, winning last year’s Belle of the Brawl tournament prior to High Stakes and most recently, winning at Summer XXXtreme just a few weeks ago. There was a “Congrats, Andrea” banner hanging overhead as I was sitting on a chair and as I gathered my thoughts, I realized that I was the happiest I had been in years to be in front of an SCW camera, if not the happiest that I had ever been.

“I will start with a confession in that I know certain people are going to see this and talk their shit but my confession is that I don’t… give a FUCK anymore! What I did at Summer XXXtreme was MORE than just win a match that made me the number one contender for the SCW Bombshells World Championship. It was ME conquering HATRED… brutal, seemingly never ending hatred that I have had to endure from nearly the first match that I ever had in this company all those years ago. When I realized that love for myself was the one surefire thing that would conquer the hatred from other people no matter how legitimate or how petty someone’s reasons might be, I knew that I had finally pulled myself out of the hole I was in for years so I want every single one of you to listen to me when I say that I am DONE holding myself back because I made the bullshit of other people matter. My story in this company might not be perfect and it might not be everyone’s, or hell anyone’s cup of tea. I may not have WORLD TITLE DOMINATION written on my resume, but so the fuck what?

I took that hate, that criticism, that bullshit, all the talk that my career was on a downward spiral and that I was about to crater into nothing the way many other former world champions before me had and I shoved it up the ass of every single critic that had that thought cross their mind simply because I believed in myself for a fucking change, realized how strong and powerful I really am and I tuned out every single ounce of bullshit that was thrown my way going into that match. I understand that my approach, which was not even listening to, let alone respond to, some of the nonsense that came my way rubbed people the wrong way, but that’s a microcosm of the fact that if you don’t like me, like what I have to say, like the way I do things or like that I’m so expressive as I am, good or bad, like that I even DARE be vulnerable and honest… it’s a YOU problem. Your reactions to what I say and do doesn’t concern me and it never should’ve to begin with and it’s OVER! There is no more of me relapsing back to the ‘youth and inexperience’ era I was in when I first came here and making that same stupid mistake over and over again. So whether you like it or not, not only am I the number one contender again, but I’m about to unlock my fucking best era yet…

And I know SOME of you HATE that…

Haters gonna hate bitches.

But this Sunday? I face someone that DOESN’T fall under the the “hate” bracket in Cassie Wolfe…

Don’t get me wrong, Cassie, while I may acknowledge that you’re not someone that is an outspoken hater of me or anything like that, facing you is something that truly carries a significant weight for me because you were in that elimination chamber match where, as much as I hate to admit it, I basically handed Kayla the fucking championship back becauseInstead, I went into it feeling like everyone else, including you, was another obstacle in my path and taking it personally that it wasn’t the one on one rematch that I thought it should’ve been and while yes, I did eliminate you, the title was already lost before I even showed up int he building that night… all because of having a horrible attitude of it all. I know how motivated YOU are going to be coming into this thing even with the injury you’ve suffered to your leg and all, but considering the chip that I have on my shoulder and considering how much I’m pissed off for giving that title away before that chamber even started, for me, overcoming you… or hell anyone else in that chamber match, DOES go a long way for me and trust me when I say that I am VERY motivated now. I’m not only the most motivated that I’ve been since I won the world championship the second time, but I’m the most motivated I’ve EVER been so you’ve got a hell of an uphill battle ahead of you regardless of whether you have a bad leg or not…”

I took a pause as I glanced around and saw some of the pictures of some of the best moments of my SCW career up to this point.

“Summer XXXtreme was just the start of me pushing back against the odds and rewriting the narrative of my career and it’s going to continue with you because my motivation is to take back what I lost at that chamber and overcoming everything that reminds me of that match… which you happen to be one of those reminders. I don’t care if you are seen by some as not being on the same level of a Kayla Richards or anyone in the triple threat match that might get to challenge her next week, I AM treating you like that because in life, the best way to knock down chapters of your past that you’re not proud of… and I am not even close to ever being proud of my attitude in that chamber match as you can probably tell… is to face them head on and overcome them and that's what I did on the cruise when I finally put the events of five years ago behind me and I’ll be one step closer by beating you. You might have been in the chamber yourself and you may have done well finishing third, but I know that you couldn’t understand the level of regret and anger that I have been carrying from that Chamber match because I know in my heart, I should’ve won that thing but I didn’t because of my own doing. So as much as I hate to say it and as much as it’s nothing personal against you, you ARE going to be feeling what I felt in this match because I am NOT going to carry that regret nor that anger in me anymore! This Sunday is when I face up to my mistakes going into that match and get over that match completely because it was my lack of ability to get over that match that dragged me down the last time I faced Kayla and ultimately dragged me down into the pit of darkness I just pulled myself out of in that double jeopardy match…

And if you already think I’m serious, you don’t know HOW serious. I’m talking about the fact that I’d rather join my father in the grave than ever be in that pit of darkness again, that’s how serious I am because I know that the way I had been between the chamber and the cruise was fucking unacceptable of me and I admit, I might even have a little anger toward myself for allowing myself to even fall into that trap to begin with so I’m NOT going to make that same mistake anymore and give YOU the opening that you need to beat me. Look around and see what I’ve done in this company. The pictures are literally right in front of you. Every single one of these moments have happened because I found my inner strength at the right time to overcome a past trauma or a heartbreak to be better and stronger than ever. Winning the world title here the first time overcame my entire pre-SCW past at that point and overcoming all of the nonsense that I dealt with when I first broke in when I dealt with people that did EVERYTHING in their power to make sure I would never amount to anything only to fail. Winning the Internet Championship is what silenced everyone that thought that I didn’t have what it took to last in SCW and it was going undefeated in 2021 that further drove home the point that I was someone that wasn’t going to be messed with anymore. Winning the Belle of the Brawl and to get that main event at High Stakes last year proved that I was able to overcome the awful person that I was the first time I was here and winning the world title the second time was what proved that I can overcome heartbreak on the biggest stage imaginable.

So I had no excuse, honestly, to loop back into the pit that I was in, but not to worry. I addressed and overcame the root of the problem and now there’s no holding back and now there’s no going back to that darkness ever again. Every single huge moment I’ve ever had in this company, Cassie, is because I believed strong enough to face the worst moments that I’ve had that have weighed me down for so long only to overcome them and that’s what will push me to victory against you and it’s going to get me that World Championship back AND give me that lasting reign I’ve been wanting for way too long now. I commend you for being the type of person that comes back and continues to take her lumps over and over again because that reminds me of me when I was starting out and all of that. You’re brave to be competing in this match with the nagging injury that you have going on and everything and you keep coming back no matter how many times someone like a Mercedes Vargas for example, tries to put you through the ground. You’re someone that I find to be very resilient, Cassie. It’s just unfortunate that you’re going up against someone like me who is only starting to realize how resilient and how strong she is in her own right and who will stop at nothing to get what she desires now that she knows that she’s never going to hold herself back with her own demons again…

I do feel bad that you had to be my first opponent after Summer XXXtreme knowing your own physical limitations but also because last week, you had yet another chance to take the next step to get to the next level of your career only to once again fall short and I know that’s a burden to you because I know how passionate you are to want to break through that stubborn ceiling you just can’t get past.

I’ve already seen you on Twitter kind of playing up how tough it is going to be, but when you do something like that, and hell, that goes for whenever you turn the camera on and talk about how much of an uphill battle you have as you have done on numerous occasions, you’re just making the same mistake… albeit on a smaller scale… that I made going into the chamber match and all these other big matches i’ve had where most of which didn’t go my way and that’s defeat oneself before the bell even rings and when you’re adding on the injury mention and belaboring that point, you’re only make it harder on yourself psychologically. You deserve better than that for yourself, Cassie. Honestly! Do yourself a big favor and stop putting obstacles in your own path because there are times, and for you this match is one of them, when acknowledging your obstacles ends up creating a weight for yourself that’s going to drag you down into defeat every single night and prevent you from figuring out what your true potential even is, let alone achieving it. Take it from someone who was doing this to herself for way too long and just kept going through the same fucking roller coaster on a repeated basis. It’s a complete and total insanity that I would never wish upon even the worst people I have ever encountered in my career…”

I took a brief pause thinking about all the people that wronged me along the way, even those in my own family. I thought about the people in SCW that wronged me or tried to drag me down such as Evie, Crystal, Roxi, Kate, and yes even Kayla herself with all the shit that they’ve ever said to me or put me through and I was thrilled to find out that for the most part, I couldn’t bring myself to even hate any of them even if I knew that most if not all of those names were people I would never be on positive terms with.

“...but I’m off that roller coaster now, Cassie. The hardest part is over and now I can focus on what I need to do to become the SCW Bombshells World Champion I have always been beyond good enough to be. This week will continue that journey and these next few weeks of this journey will be a celebration of everything I am capable of before I have the biggest celebration of all. If I can accomplish everything you see here in spite of myself and being in my own way, then God only knows what I’m capable of once I’ve pushed beyond my own inner darkness.

Come Sunday, you’ll experience that answer…”

I took a bit of a breath before I shut the camera off. Some random Pitbull song started playing at the club party below at this point (I couldn’t tell which one, they all sound the same anyway) and I didn’t waste too much time making my way downstairs to continue to have my own fun.

A lot to consider, before leaving for Ibiza
Calaway Estate
Dallas, Texas

“But if I stay here… I don’t want to keep doing the long-distance shuffle. Not just for me but for you and in a way for Ashlynn.”

“I’m not trying to rush anything,”

"It’s just...the idea of waking up next to you, not having to count days or flights or FaceTimes...it sounds like something real. Something we could build. Together.”

Alexandra had LJ had just hung up after a very deep phone call. She hadn’t expected him to ask something so big. It’s true, they had just crossed the year mark a few weeks ago. His need for them to be there with him, to build something real together.

She sat in the quiet after, her fingers loosely wrapped around the phone, heart still echoing his words. They filled the corners of the room like sunlight trying to reach her, but they didn’t quite warm her completely. There was love there, deep and steady. She felt it every time he said her name like it mattered. And the way he talked about a future, their future, not just some vague dream, but a life he wanted to create with her. With Ashlynn.
But that’s what made it harder.

Ashlynn. Her whole world wrapped up in a sixteen-year-old who was already balancing on the edge of adulthood. Confident. Bright. Guarded in ways only teenage girls could be. She had roots here, friends she’d grown up with, teachers who understood her, a social circle she trusted, and a rhythm to her life that Alexandra had worked hard to protect. Taking her away from all that? From everything she knew? It felt like tossing a stone into still water and bracing for the ripple.

Still, the memory of LJ’s voice lingered, warm, steady, full of hope. And God, she wanted that too. Waking up to someone who chose her every day. Building something with hands that wouldn’t let go. She could see it: Sunday mornings with quiet coffee, Ashlynn rolling her eyes at their stolen kisses in the kitchen, a life full of ordinary moments that didn’t have to be packed into weekend visits or countdown clocks.

But love came with risk. And being a mother meant holding two hearts in her chest, not just one.
She rubbed her temple, torn between longing and responsibility. Was it fair to even consider asking Ashlynn to start over at sixteen? To leave the place where she’d kissed her first boyfriend, bombed her math midterm, cried on the bathroom floor after a fight with her best friend?

Alexandra leaned her head back against the wall, eyes closed. The silence wasn’t empty, it was full of possibilities, each one asking her to be brave in a different way. What if Ashlynn hated her for this? What if she pulled away? What if this love, this rare, hard-earned, beautiful thing, unraveled under the weight of reality?

And yet... wasn’t that the gamble of love? That sometimes it asked you to leap, not because it promised a perfect landing, but because the person waiting on the other side was worth the fall?

She sighed and stood slowly, glancing down the hallway where Ashlynn’s door was closed, music leaking faintly from behind it. Her daughter, her world. This conversation, when it came,  would matter more than any she’d had with LJ. Because if they went, they’d go as a we, or not at all.

One conversation at a time, she told herself.

And maybe... just maybe... the rest would follow. For now she needed to focus, she needed to prepare for her match. Bella and Victoria wouldn’t be easy on her. But no one could be harder on her than she herself was at this moment.

---

Short and Simple
Hotel
Monaco

A panoramic drone shot glides over the glittering Monaco coastline. The moonlight shimmers on the water, the yachts are lit like floating palaces, and the distant hum of music from the casinos fills the air. The camera slowly pushes in on the balcony of the Hôtel de Paris. Alexandra Calaway stands there, black silk robe over her exquisite frame, long hair flowing in the breeze, a champagne flute in her hand. She stares out at the city with the calm confidence of someone who already believes she owns it.

"Monaco, The crown jewel of the Riviera. A place where fortunes change hands over the spin of a wheel, where billionaires and movie stars mingle in champagne lounges, where every balcony hides a story worth telling. And tonight, this balcony, this view, this story, belongs to me.”

She takes a moment to look over the railing at the view below. The bright lights of the city, the roar of the nightlife below.

“Look down there, the streets are alive. Laughter, music, the shuffle of chips, the clink of glasses. They came here for a taste of luxury but me? I didn’t come to taste it. I came to take it.”

She took a deep breath, closing her eyes and soaking in the night time air, the sound around her. Breathing it all in she continues.

“And in just a matter of hours, luxury won’t be measured in diamonds or bank accounts. It’ll be measured in blood spilled under velvet ropes. It’ll be measured in broken bottles and shattered egos. Because tomorrow night, in the main event, it’s a VIP Lounge Brawl. Boy do I pity Christian when this is over. Bella Madison. Victoria Lyons. And Alexandra Calaway. One winner. One ticket punched straight to Mykonos, where Kayla Richards and her precious title will be waiting for one of us lucky women."

She swirls the champagne, eyes locked on the glittering coastline.

"You know, I’ve wrestled all over the world. Tokyo. London. Vegas. But there’s something about Monaco that feels somehow fitting. This city understands status. It understands power. It understands that not all women are created equal. Some of us are born to rule and some are born to kneel. Tomorrow night, I will remind the world which category I belong to. But before we get to the fight, let’s talk about my opponents, shall we?"

She leans against the balcony rail, her voice softening but her smirk sharp.

"Bella Madison. Let’s start with you. Because unlike the other name on that list, you’ve earned a certain level of respect from me. You’re a fighter. You don’t hide behind excuses. You don’t need to stab someone in the back to get ahead. You’ve been in wars and you’ve walked away stronger. And I respect that. Truly. In a business full of pretenders, you’re one of the few who can look me in the eye and mean it when you say you’re coming to fight. But here’s the thing about respect, Bella, we both know, respect doesn’t mean mercy. It doesn’t mean I’ll pull my punches. If anything, it means I’ll give you the very best version of Alexandra Calaway and that is not a gift, it’s a death sentence. We both know this.”

She hated that she had to go up against Bella, because she did have quite a bit of respect from Alexandra. That wouldn’t change things in the end though. She would go hard on Bella if it meant the win.

“When that bell rings, the velvet ropes in that VIP section won’t be for keeping people out, they’ll be there to trap you in with me. And when I drive your head through a glass drink tray, when I wrap that hookah hose around your neck and squeeze, it won’t be out of spite, it’ll be out of necessity. Because I’m not stepping into that ring to make friends. I’m stepping in to win. And if I have to break you to do it, Bella, I will."

Her smile fades. The champagne glass lowers. There’s a flicker of heat in her eyes now.

"And then there’s you. Victoria Lyons. You and I we’ve danced this dance before, haven’t we? You’ve been a thorn in my side for too long. You’re like a shadow that lingers just long enough to make me want to burn the whole room down. Everywhere I turn, there you are. Whispering. Plotting. Clinging to whatever scraps of relevance you can get your claws on. And you’ve tried,  oh, you’ve tried, to make me stumble. You’ve tried to make me doubt myself. You’ve tried to make yourself my equal. But you’re not my equal, Victoria. You never have been. And the thing is,  I think you know that. I think that’s why you’re so desperate to make my life hell. Because deep down, you understand the truth: No matter how hard you claw you’ll never reach the throne again."

She sets the champagne down on the balcony railing, her voice hardening.

"I’ve never beaten you before. I’ve never embarrassed you before. But tomorrow night, it’s not just about beating you. It’s about ending this. I’m going to take that leather couch in the VIP lounge, lay you across it, and drive my knee into your skull until you stop moving. I’m going to make you wish you’d never signed the contract for this match. And when it’s over, when the champagne is mixed with your blood on that floor, you’ll finally understand… there’s no room for you in my world."

She picks the champagne glass back up, but doesn’t drink. She turns, facing the camera fully for the first time.

"The VIP Lounge Brawl, what a beautiful concept. Velvet ropes, strobe lights, champagne bottles, hookah hoses, DJ headphones, it’s like they designed it just for me. See, some wrestlers panic when you put them in a chaotic environment like that. They get distracted. They lose focus. Me? I thrive in it. Chaos is my natural habitat. When that bell rings, I’m not just going to use the weapons they hand me. I’m going to turn that VIP section into a masterpiece. Every bottle, every tray, every rope, I’ll use them all. And when I’m done, people won’t just remember the fight, they’ll remember the artwork I left behind."

She sets the glass down completely now. The wind picks up slightly. Her voice lowers, dripping with venom.

"Victoria, I’ve been patient. I’ve been composed. I've listened to every slight you have thrown in my direction and took it with class and poise. But the truth is every time I think about you, my hands itch to tear you apart. You’ve cost me matches. You’ve cost me moments. And tomorrow night, I’m going to take everything from you in return. I want you to feel it. I want you to hear the sound of the glass breaking under your body. I want to see the panic in your eyes when you realize you’re trapped. I want you to understand that when I said I was going to end you, I meant it.”

That was the truth of it. She would make sure to deal with Victoria, however she needed to. By the end of the night, that Bombshell World Title shot would be hers.

“Bella, you’ll get caught in the crossfire. And I’m sorry for that. But you knew the risk the moment you signed your name. Tomorrow night isn’t about who wants it most. It’s about who’s willing to go the farthest. And I’ve been to the darkest corners of this business, ladies. I’ve done things you wouldn’t even whisper about. And tomorrow night in Monaco, you’ll see all of it."

Her tone shifts again, calmer but still deadly.

"And when it’s over, when I’m standing there, hand raised, the winner of the VIP Lounge Brawl,  I’ll get on a plane. I’ll fly to Mykonos. And Kayla Richards, I hope you’re watching. Because I’m not coming to Greece for the sunshine. I’m coming for your title. Climax Control is just the beginning. Mykonos is the destination. And when I get there, I’ll do to you what I did to them. This is the year Alexandra Calaway takes everything."

She picks up the champagne, finishes it in one smooth motion, and sets the empty glass down with a quiet click. She leans forward, eyes locked on the lens, and delivers her final words with icy precision.

"Monaco, enjoy the show. I know I will. Because tomorrow night, the streets run gold and red."

The camera slowly fades to black, with LJ coming out to the balcony and wrapping his arms around Alexandra’s midsection and kissing the back of her head.

---

Its a simple answer Angel
Hotel
Monaco

The scene opens where the promo left off. The champagne glass is still on the balcony railing, the moonlight dancing across the water. Alexandra stands with her back to the sliding doors, her eyes scanning the horizon. The glass door behind her slides open quietly, and LJ steps out, dressed in a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled to his forearms. He closes the door gently behind him.

“You’re out here alone again. Let me guess, running through the match in your head?”

Alexandra doesn’t turn right away. She smirks faintly, still staring at the city lights.

“Always. You know me, I can’t shut it off. Especially not now. Monaco tonight. Mykonos next week. Everything I’ve been fighting for could be decided in the next seven days.”

LJ walks up beside her, resting his elbows on the railing. For a moment, they just stand together, listening to the faint sounds of the city below.

“I get it. I do. But I also know, when you’re chasing the next big thing, everything else starts fading into the background. But there are bigger things that we need to discuss, certain questions that have been asked.”

That makes Alexandra turn her head, her eyes narrowing slightly, not in anger, but in that sharp, analytical way she does in the ring.

“Don’t. You know Ashlynn and you are my whole world. You both are. But right now, I’m—”

“—Right now, you’re Alexandra Calaway, wrestler, Bombshell, contender. But what happens when you’re not in fight mode? What happens when the match is over? Have you given any more thought to what I asked you last week? About you and Ashlynn moving to Vegas with me?”

Alexandra looks away, back out over the harbor. She grips the railing a little tighter, her nails tapping lightly against the metal.

“I’ve thought about it. Believe me, I have. Vegas is tempting. I mean, you’ve built a life there. And Ashlynn would love the change, new schools, new energy. But LJ, you know what that move would mean. Vegas would be home base, and home base means commitment. It means, less running, less chasing every booking around the globe. And I’m not sure I’m ready to slow you down. Not yet. You are young, but I know that this, us, is real.”

LJ turns toward her fully, his expression gentle but firm.

“I’m not asking you to stop being who you are. Lord knows I’m not, hell I’m here too. I’m asking you to give yourself and us a foundation. You’ve been living out of suitcases for years and long flights home to Dallas, Angel. Always on the move, always somewhere else. Vegas could be the one place you come back to. A place where Ashlynn knows her bedroom’s always waiting for her. A place where I’m always with you. No more long flights and scheduled facetimes.”

Alexandra exhales slowly, her gaze drifting down to the empty champagne glass.

“You make it sound so simple.”

“It is as simple as breath love. You just have to decide what matters more chasing the gold every second of every day, or having something solid to come home to when the chase is over.”

A beat of silence. The waves crash softly below.

“Let me get through this VIP Lounge Brawl. Let me get through Mykonos. If I win that title shot, everything changes. I just, I can’t divide my head right now. Not when Victoria’s in that match. Not when Bella’s in it. But after, I promise. We’ll talk. And I’ll give you an answer.”

LJ studies her for a moment, then nods. He leans in, kisses her temple, and rests his forehead against hers briefly.

"Fair enough Angel. Just, don’t take too long to decide, okay? Because I’m all in on this. On us.”

Alexandra finally turns fully toward him, a small but genuine smile tugging at her lips.

“Me too.”

They stand together for a long moment, the city lights reflecting in their eyes. Then, from somewhere down on the streets of Monaco, the distant sound of music swells, a reminder of the world still moving around them. The camera slowly pulls back from the balcony as the scene fades to black.

Amù Monte Carlo was Monaco’s refined tribute to Italian coastal cuisine. A gem amongst gems that drew the locals of Monaco just as easily as it did those that were visiting the small Riviera nation from afar. Tucked along the waterfront of Larvotto Beach, Amù possessed whitewashed stone walls, vibrant ceramic tiles imported from Amalfi, and lemon trees in terra-cotta pots along the open-air dining space. The sea breeze carried hints of salt, basil, and woodsmoke from the kitchen’s handmade pizza oven.

The restaurant’s name itself, derived from the Neapolitan expression for love, was more than a themed place to dine. It was the very mood and ambience brought to life. Inside, the very atmosphere hummed with romance and elegance. The tables were adorned with hand-painted plates and Mediterranean flowers atop the crystal blue linens. The menu was coastal Italian done with precision and passion. Handmade pastas with local seafood, fried calamari, and classic desserts such as roasted pineapple or tiramisu were some of the much desired fare offered. Not to mention a wine list that made the palates of many an enthusiast heavy with desire.

In short, it was an experience to be treasured and it left Carter himself wondering just how far in advance his husband had planned this little extravagance in his favor. And knowing Miles, it was in Carter’s favor. Miles was the sort who would have been perfectly satisfied dining on fish n chips from a street vendor and called it a day. And to be perfectly truthful, so would Carter himself. Carter adored things like that, but Miles also loved spoiling his husband just a wee bit so who was he to argue?

As the taxi arrived discreetly at the entrance, there were but a few curious paparazzi who caught a glimpse of the couple. Carter looked flawless in a light rose colored silk suit while Miles himself was a breath-taking sight, sporting a tailored slate-blue jacket and open-collar shirt. And by breath taking, it was obvious he had stolen his husband’s breath away from the very offset. Carter thought the look overall was a marvel but if you were to ask Miles, it was the tight slacks that stole Carter’s breath.

The two-time SCW Couple of the Year arrived just as the sky was painted with an array of deep color combinations, among them purples, roses, oranges and yellows painted and swirled together as twilight took prominence in the sky and the sun succumbed to the sea.

A hostess greeted them almost instantly. “Buonasera, Signori. Welcome to Amù.” She said, her smile warm and inviting. At first, Miles had wanted to respond in French, knowing that it was the official language in Monaco albeit not the primary. Italian and English were also spoken largely by locals. After a bit of a disaster with a street vendor when Miles had mixed up his French verbs, he had opted to toss the French lessons aside (for now) and just go with the flow.

“Party for Miles McKinney-Kasey?” Miles said, using his legally married name rather than just his own given surname that he retained for his wrestling career.

“Ah, yes.” The hostess smiled as she looked up from her docket between the two. “Please, follow me.”

They were escorted past diners who couldn’t help but glance up at the passing couple. Not because of their respective fame, but because of their presence. Miles walked with relaxed confidence, always aware of where Carter was beside him. And Carter? One could tell just by his posture and smile that he was thrilled to be here and with his arm in Miles’s own, the love and adoration he had for the man at his side.

The restaurant opened into a breezy patio overlooking the Mediterranean on wicker furniture, where their reserved table was nestled in a quiet corner flanked by olive trees and soft, flickering lanterns. The view was all moonlight on water and Miles had a rather difficult time drawing his husband’s attention away from it.

As they took their seats, their server presented them with a bottle of lightly chilled Brunello di Montalcinoé and a personalized amuse-bouche, a delicate, golden-brown fritto misto on a miniature lemon leaf. The small card at the center of the table read “Welcome to Monaco, Carter and Miles ~ with love, Amù.” This was not a recognition of their ‘celebrity status’ but a genuine welcome to all who visited their establishment.

The mood that surrounded them and everyone else was an effortless luxury. This wasn’t the place to make a scene. Carter loved this place. He loved Miles. But something in the air tonight wasn’t right. The two had placed their orders; Carter wanting the Linguine alle vongole and Miles the grilled Simmental beef filet. That left for a casual conversation and munching from the antipasto platter brought to them, while gazing at the wondrous beauty of the Mediterranean that surrounded them.

“Alright. What’s going on?” Carter finally broke the temporary silence between the two of them. There was never a loss for words between Miles and Carter from the very first moment that they had met, but ever since they had arrived in Monaco, it felt as if something had been gnawing at his husband’s mind and Carter was determined to get to the heart of the matter - whatever it was.

Miles smiled faintly. “What makes you think something’s going on?”

“You’re vibrating like a jackhammer.” Carter answered. “And you haven’t let go of your phone since we left the flat.”

Miles finally set the phone down beside his water glass and leaned back. “It’s about Kevin,” Miles finally said.

Carter straightened up in his seat and asked, “Is he okay?”

“He’s holding on.” There was a brief pause before Miles found his words to continue. “Stronger. His therapist says he’s making progress. Slowly, but it’s there.”

“Good.” Carter reached for his glass of wine, not sipping yet. “I’ve been thinking about him. After what you told me happened when LJ visited him, I couldn’t stop. It’s also why I haven’t. I didn’t want to overwhelm the kid.”

Miles nodded and a silence fell between them, filled with the hum of distant conversation and the clink of cutlery. Amù was not a loud place. The ambiance gave people space to be quiet and sometimes that felt more dangerous than noise.

Carter tilted his head. He knew there was more to MIles’s mood and if he had to dig deep to get Miles to open up, then he would. “This isn’t about his recovery, is it?”

“No. It’s not.” Miles responded before quickly amending, “Well, not just that.”

Carter raised his eyebrows, waiting and silently [prodding Miles to keep going. Miles inhaled, chest expanding. “I told him he could move in with us. After he’s discharged.”

Carter blinked. “…You what?”

“I told Kevin that … if he wants … he can live with us.” MIles waited, then added. “That we’d be his guardians. Permanently.”

Miles then sat back and waited, the food that had just been delivered to their table all but forgotten as Carter stared at him. The pause stretched long. The discomfort was worse than an itch that you were unable to reach.

The breeze stirred the edge of the linen tablecloth. Down below, waves lapped quietly at the base of the marina.

Carter’s voice came quiet. “And you didn’t think this was something that we should have talked about first?”

“We are talking about it.” Was Miles’s only answer before Carter interrupted, “Yeah, after the fact!”

Carter quickly checked himself and his tone, knowing this was not the place for any sort of emotional outburst. Like any married couple, Carter and Miles have had disagreements. Even a handful of arguments. It was normal. But not a full blown fight. And never in public.

Carter went on to say, “Miles, I know how big of a heart you have. I know you only want what’s best for everyone. But you effectively backed me into a corner that I’d be unable to get out of without looking like a Disney villain! What if I didn’t want someone else moving in? What if I wasn’t ready to be someone’s guardian? This isn’t a decision that you can make unilaterally and then discuss with your husband after!”

Miles looked stricken and said, “I meant to. I did but … he needed something. A promise. Some kind of future. His parents are out of the picture. Permanently. He’s alone. I couldn’t just let him go back into the system.”

Carter’s fingers curled around the stem of his glass. “And I understand that. I do. But you’re not alone, Miles. We’re a team.”

“I know.”

“Do you?” Carter asked, not angry but hurt. “Because right now, it kind of feels like you made a life-changing decision for both of us and you’re asking for acknowledgement afterward.”

Miles looked down, ashamed. “It wasn’t meant to be that. It wasn’t even meant to be a decision. It was a promise that, if he had nowhere else he’d have us. It didn’t feel like a decision. It felt like the bare minimum.”

Carter didn’t respond right away. He looked out toward the horizon, eyes slightly unfocused, breath shallow like he was keeping something in. Finally, he said, “I care about Kevin. You know I do. I sat by him when you brought him to the condo that night. I saw the way he flinched when I got too close.”

Miles nodded. “That’s why I knew you’d say yes.”

“But that’s not the point, is it?” Carter responded. “This isn’t about me saying yes. It’s about you not asking me at all.”

Miles was quiet for a long moment. Then, softly nodded, “You’re right.”

They sat in that silence a while, letting the edges of it settle.

When the waiter returned to pour their wine, both men waited until he was gone before Carter spoke again.

“I know what kind of man you are, Miles. You don’t walk away from someone in pain. I fell in love with that man. But you’re not just a rescuer anymore. You’re my husband. And that means when you decide to bring a child into our life, you do it with me.”

Miles looked him in the eye and said, “I was worried. Of making it real. Because once I do, it’s not just a promise to Kevin. It’s a responsibility to both of you.”

Carter blinked, the intensity softening just slightly. Miles continued with his line of reasoning, “He’s so close to giving up. And when I told him we could be his family, I saw something come back to life in his eyes. Just a spark. But it was real. The entire time, he was so damn quiet. But he asked ‘What happens when this place runs out of room for me?’ That’s when I told him that he would come stay with us. I told him that we’d make room for him.”

Carter looked at him with that expression he reserved for moments when words failed him. Half proud, half broken, all heart. He set down his glass, folded both hands on the table, and leaned in.

“So how do we go about this?”

Miles blinked, as if his ears were playing tricks on him. “You’re okay with this?” He asked.

“I always was.” Carter smiled, again lifting his glass of wine. “I just wanted to clear up the issues  between us.”

Miles straightened. “I want to apply for guardianship once Kevin’s medically cleared. That might take a few more months. I don’t know how his Mom or Dad will respond.”

“I still have O’Malley’s brother as an attorney.” Carter pointed out. “He might be able to speed things along.”

Miles nodded. “And you…” Miles stood from his seat, walked around the table, and dropped to a crouch beside Carter’s chair. They were face to face now, eye to eye. Carter didn’t flinch. He simply met his husband’s unwavering eyes.

“You,” Miles said, “are the reason I can do this. You’re the one who reminds me to rest. Who holds me together when I lose perspective. You’re going to be his family too.”

Carter stared further into his eyes before he chuckled softly, closing them. Miles tried to find what had caught his husband’s attention in an amusing way but shook his head, “What is it?”

“I was just thinking.” Carter answered, his shoulders shaking lightly. “How our families are going to react to the news that we have a kid. I mean, Mom always wanted to be a Grandma but I think we skipped a few steps when her first grandchild would be a sixteen year old teenager.”

Miles joined Carter in the light hearted moment before he returned to his seat. Only then did Carter muse aloud, “I admit that I always wondered what it would be like to have a family,” Carter said suddenly. “I didn’t know it would happen like this. I mean, I’m only 26. I guess life never happens the way you plan it.”

Miles smirked. “Yeah. I didn’t plan to fall in love with a sarcastic, judgmental gay man who has a coffee addiction and color codes his closet.”

“That’s on you.” Carter shot back.

And in the golden hush of a Monaco evening, under a sky painted with sea and stars, two men sat together at a table for two. With a third seat soon to be filled.

---

There was something surreal about a place like this. The air smelled like money and secrets. One could almost hear the ghostly wisps of royalty echoing through the halls, playing high-stakes games with more on the line than mere money. Carter stepped carefully between tables, taking it all in. There were the glittering dresses, the tension in the eyes of men who bet empires on a turn of the wheel. Yet he wasn't here to gamble. Not really. But there was a quiet comfort in watching people put it all on the line, chasing something they would swear upon their lives that they deserved.

He stopped at the edge of a roulette table, watching the ball spin, and for a moment, he saw it. Every decision he’d made, every risk he'd taken. His title weighed heavy on his shoulders, metaphorically speaking. Not from gold but from meaning. Privately he wonders how Eddie Lyons would carry it. How much it would cost him. He wondered how far a man would go when he’s got a baby girl waiting at home and a legacy still just out of reach.

“Eddie Lyons. The ‘Unbreakable One’ First things first, let me get this out of the way before we get to the heart of the matter. Congratulations. Congratulations on becoming a father. I saw the photo that you posted on social media. She’s darling. I also saw you make note of living off of Red Bull so let me give you a word of advice. Don’t make the mistake of using Red Bull instead of water to make your morning coffee. You’ll get halfway to the arena before you realize that you forgot your car. But I’m getting ahead of myself here…”

“I can only imagine you with that little girl in your arms, smiling like the whole world just got brighter. And then having to hand her over so you could travel halfway across the world to here. To Monaco. And I have to admit that I feel bad for you, taking you away from your daughter so soon.”

“You deserve that kind of joy in your life. You deserve mornings with baby fingers wrapped around your own. You deserve the sleepless nights and soft lullabies that are going to come with that little one. You deserve to experience those first steps and her first words, but those are some time away from now.”

“But here's the thing, Eddie. You're not there right now. You're not at home rocking her to sleep. You’re not feeding her or burping her and having her toss cookies on the back of your shirt. You're not changing diapers or laughing with your partner about how tiny those socks are. You’re here. Thousands of miles away and standing across the ring from me.”

“And I hate that.”

“I hate this match, this moment, this company… I hate that it had to pull you away from that little girl so soon. Because if anyone deserves time to breathe, to adjust, to just be a dad for a minute without worrying about what kind of fight he’s walking into next… It’s you.”

Carter sighed and turned and continued on with his journey through the casino.

“Unfortunately, wrestling doesn’t wait for anyone. But this match that you and I have against each other… It’s different. No stipulation. No feud. No championship on the line. Just two men about to go to war in that ring. You’d think without the title in play, it wouldn’t matter so much. You’d think this is one of those filler matches, right? A warm-up. A showcase. A polite little handshake-and-headlock affair that might cause the armchair experts online to call out ‘BO-RING!’”

“But it’s not. Because the man standing across from me is ‘Unbreakable’ Eddie Lyons. And tonight  that means just as much as a championship being at stake.”

“Before I ever held the World title, before I even set foot inside the Elimination Chamber … Before I was the man they called champion, I was just a guy on a journey. Second guessing my place in this sport. Wondering if I belonged. Trying not to drown in a locker room full of giants, legends, and lions.”

“And you?”

“You weren’t one of the voices who doubted me. You weren’t one of the ones laughing behind my back while paying lip service or saying I didn’t have it. You weren’t the one whispering ‘he’s not championship material’ or rolling your eyes when I cut my promos with glitter on my lashes.”

Carter arrived at one of the curtained off windows of the Casino. He drew the drapery aside so that he could look out into the night.

“You were the one who looked me in the eye and said ‘Run with it.’”

“Three words. That’s all. Three words that meant I see you. I respect you. I believe in you. That was all the encouragement I ever needed from someone that wasn’t my husband. And so I did. I ran with it. Straight through the Chamber. Straight into that title match against Alex Jones. And when I finally heard the bell ring and that belt was in my hands, you were one of the first I thought of.”

“Because you get it. You know what it’s like to fight uphill. You’ve been chasing this very same dream just as long as I have. And for a long time, we weren’t that different. Hungry. Desperate. Trying not to break under the weight of what we knew we could be.”

He shrugged.

“I just happened to catch the break first. But now, here we are. No blood feud. No betrayal between us. But there is history. And history, no matter how old, no matter how buried, has a way of creeping back into the present.”

“I haven’t forgotten about Vincent. I haven’t forgotten the chair shot that rang through my skull like a gunshot. I haven’t forgotten the fog, the doctors, the sleepless nights wondering if I’d ever feel right again. I haven’t forgotten having to pretend everything was okay while I couldn’t even remember what city I was in. And I damn sure haven’t forgotten the doubt that started to creep in!”

“But let me be clear about something that I hope you take to heart. You are not your cousin. You are not responsible for that chair shot. And I’m not walking into this match with vengeance on my mind.”

“I’m walking into that ring with a clarity I’ve never known before. You see, I know who you are, Eddie Lyons. Not just in the ring but outside of it. I’ve seen the way you carry yourself in this company. The respect you give to the business, to the fans, to your peers. I’ve seen you get back up every single time the world told you to stay down. I’ve seen you swallow disappointment, shake hands, lace up your boots, and fight like hell the next night. I’ve seen what this means to you.”

“But most importantly? I’ve seen you become a father. I’ll be real with you. That one hit different. Because this business? It takes everything. Your time. Your health. Your sanity. And sometimes, it even tries to take the people you love. But you’re still here. You’re still pushing! And now, you’re not just fighting for yourself anymore. You’re fighting for her. And I respect the hell out of that!”

“But this is the part where I need you to listen closely because this is where the mood shifts between you and I. You’re standing across from the SCW World Heavyweight Champion. Not because I politicked my way here. Not because someone handed me a golden opportunity. Not because of a fluke win or a lucky night!”

“I earned this! I survived everything that this company could throw at me! I withstood the mind games, the backstabs, the cheap shots. I bled for this title. I fought like a rabid dog with a broken heart and something to prove!  So if you're walking into this match thinking I'm gonna take it easy on you because there's no title on the line?”

Carter shook his head, his face an uncharacteristic mask of stone.

“You don’t know me like I thought you did. Because this isn’t just a match. This is a message from me to you. From me to the locker room. To anyone who thinks I’ve gone soft now that I’ve lost a match to Alex but gotten past J2H! I want everyone out there to understand that I’m not keeping the throne warm…”

“I am the throne.”

“And you, Eddie? I’m not underestimating you. I know what you bring. I’ve watched you from the moment you signed with this company. You’re a technician. You’ve got a lion’s heart and a hunter’s instinct! You’ve been the runner-up more times than anyone should have to be but you never let it make you bitter. You just let it make you better. And that…”

He shook his finger at nothing and nobody in particular.

“That makes you dangerous. That makes you worthy. Because I know what happens when a man like you gets even a sliver of momentum. I’ve watched you push champions to their limit. I’ve seen you knock out heavy hitters twice your size. I’ve seen you dangle at the edge of greatness and if I slip for even a second? You’ll take it.”

“But there is no chance in hell that I’m going to let you catch me slipping. You want to make a statement? I get it. You want to beat the champion and prove that your time is next? I respect that. But to beat me? You’re gonna have to dig deeper than you ever have before. You’re gonna have to be more than ‘Unbreakable’, Eddie.”

“You’re gonna have to be undeniable.”

“Because I’m not wrestling as the same Carter whose head was filled with hopes and dreams. I’m wrestling as the Carter who finally made it. And every match I step into is just another brick in the foundation of what I’m building around me.”

“You know, they talk about dream matches all the time in this business. Match-ups that live on in the minds of fans. And for me? This is one of them. Just two men. No shortcuts. No baggage. Just skill and respect. And you? You’re the kind of opponent that makes me better about myself. You’re the kind of man that reminds me of why I do this.”

Carter then turns away from the window, allowing the drape to fall back into place and he looks into the camera.

“So, when the bell rings? I want you to know that I’m not just fighting you. I’m fighting the shadow of every runner-up speech you’ve ever had to give. I’m fighting the ghost of that chair shot your cousin gave me. I’m fighting the weight of this championship, and all the voices saying I’m not enough to carry it. And I’m fighting with everything I’ve got. Not to keep you down…”

He again shook his head.

“But to meet you there. Because the truth is I want you to be great. I want you to feel what I felt holding this title. I want your daughter to grow up knowing her father wasn’t just ‘almost.’ Both of you deserve that.”

“But it’s not going to happen at my expense. Not while this fire’s still burning in me. So bring your heart, your scars… Bring every ounce of fight you’ve got! And when it’s over, when we’ve pushed each other to the brink of exhaustion, I’ll be proud to shake your hand! Because that’s what professionals do. That’s what champions do.”

“And maybe one day, Eddie… maybe one day soon… You’ll be on this side of the bench. With the World Heavyweight title in your possession. But not yet.”

He shook a finger.

“Not while I still hear that bell. Not while the name Helluva Bottom Carter is still recognized as the champion. Because I didn’t fight this hard to be anyone’s stepping stone! This is the standard. And if you want it? You better come for it like the lion that I know you are!”

He pushed himself up off and away from the wall.

“Because I’m ready and I don’t run.”