I stared back into his icy gaze, desperation in my voice. “Conrad, if you truly want it, I’ll give you the merfolk’s pearl. But know this—I’ve never loved you.”
He was unaware that without the merfolk’s pearl, my survival was impossible.
Conrad's words were deliberate and harsh, each syllable slicing through the air:
“Serena, I have never loved you!”
He brought a small army with him, each person armed with advanced fishing weapons, each one deadly.
Perhaps he never intended for me to leave here alive.
In his stunned gaze, I made the final, grim decision. I sliced open my abdomen and, with trembling hands, offered him the bloodied merfolk’s pearl.
The pain was so intense it drew beads of sweat on my forehead, but I remained silent, determined not to give him the satisfaction of hearing me cry out.
“Conrad, this is what you wanted. We're even now,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Panic flashed across Conrad’s face as he saw the gravity of my condition. With a desperate urgency, he lifted my nearly lifeless body into his arms.
“Serena, just hang on,” he said, his voice shaking with fear. “I’m getting you to the hospital right away!”