Chapter Seven

October 2024

As the opening strains of Samantha's powerful rendition of God Bless America filled the air, Paris found herself perched ringside at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, eagerly awaiting the start of the highly anticipated Bad Blood pay-per-view event.

It had been a mere forty-two days since Phil had gotten down on one knee and proposed, forever changing the trajectory of their lives. The electric atmosphere was palpable as the crowd buzzed with anticipation, their energy feeding Paris's own sense of excitement.

Samantha's performance was, as always, a rousing success, her voice soaring with unwavering patriotism and stirring the souls of all in attendance.

Paris couldn't help but feel a swell of pride, knowing that this was just the beginning of what promised to be a truly historic night. As the cameras panned backstage, Paris watched intently as Paul, the esteemed commentator, strode alongside Michael Cole, conveying the news that Triple H had a momentous announcement to make. The very thought of what this could entail sent a thrill of anticipation coursing through Paris's veins.

Moments later, the spotlight shifted to the three dynamic women who would be hosting the event – Bianca, Jade, and Trinity, each clad in striking red ensembles that exuded confidence and command.

Jade's warm welcome set the tone, and Paris couldn't help but admire the appreciable energy and enthusiasm radiating from the trio.

Bianca's declaration that the night would be a landmark occasion only heightened the sense of anticipation, while Trinity's proclamation that it was their duty to kickstart the action with a Hell in a Cell match had Paris gripping the edge of her seat in eager anticipation.

As if on cue, the towering steel cage slowly descended, its ominous presence serving as a tangible reminder of the sheer intensity and brutality that was about to unfold. Paris's heart raced as the cameras panned to the ringside area, where the legendary Bill Goldberg sat alongside his son Gage and the rest of his family, with the equally iconic Killer Mike seated beside them.

The sight of these larger-than-life figures only added to the electric atmosphere, and Paris found herself wondering what role, if any, they might play in the unfolding drama.

The opening match was the highly anticipated Hell in a Cell showdown between Phil and his longtime rival, Drew. The moment the bell rang, the two men erupted into a furious brawl, their hatred for one another palpable in every strike and grapple.

Paris winced as she watched Drew grind a wrench into Phil's head, the sickening sound of the metal against flesh causing her to instinctively squeeze her mother Claire's hand. "Oh shit," Paris breathed, her eyes wide with a mixture of horror and awe.

Phil, undeterred, responded in kind, hurling a toolbox at Drew's head and opening a gash of his own. The sights and sounds of the brutality unfolding before her were almost too much to bear, and Paris found herself torn between the desire to look away and the morbid fascination that kept her eyes glued to the action.

She had known that there would be blood, as Phil had warned her, but the sheer intensity of the carnage was beyond anything she could have imagined.

As the two men traded their signature moves, the Claymore Kick and the Go To Sleep, Paris held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest. The power and ferocity on display was almost overwhelming, and she couldn't help but marvel at the sheer physicality of it all.

When Phil finally managed to lock Drew in the Sharpshooter submission hold, Paris found herself on the edge of her seat, willing her fiancé to hold on and secure the victory.

But the battle was far from over, and Paris watched in a mixture of horror and awe as Drew countered with a devastating superplex through a table, leaving both men battered and bruised.

The sight of Phil hitting the Go To Sleep only to have Drew kick out at the last moment had Paris's heart racing, and she couldn't help but gasp as Drew responded with a thunderous White Noise on the steel steps.

The ebb and flow of the match was relentless, with each man seemingly determined to outdo the other in terms of sheer brutality. When Phil locked in the Anaconda Vice, Paris felt a surge of hope, only to have it dashed as Drew landed a low blow to gain the upper hand.

As Drew retrieved a mysterious black bag, Paris's pulse quickened, her mind racing with the possibilities of what could be inside.

The revelation that the bag contained not thumbtacks, as she had feared, but rather a bracelet containing the letters of her name and the name of Phil's beloved dog, Larry, was a gut punch.

Paris watched in horror as Drew callously dumped the beads onto Phil's head, a cruel reenactment of the vicious act he had committed weeks prior on Raw. Her heart ached for Phil, and she found herself gripping the edge of her seat, her knuckles turning white as she willed him to find a way to overcome this latest assault.

When Phil responded by stuffing the beads into Drew's mouth and using his knee, wrapped in a steel chain, to deliver the devastating Go To Sleep, Paris erupted in a roar of triumph.

She leaped to her feet, clapping and cheering as Phil emerged victorious, the feud between the two men finally put to rest.

As Phil slammed the cell door behind him, Paris couldn't help but feel a sense of finality, as if he was closing the door on this chapter of his life and looking towards the future.

The sight of Phil collapsing in the aisle, his body clearly ravaged by the brutality of the match, had Paris's heart racing with concern. She watched anxiously as Adam and the other officials rushed to his aid, placing an oxygen mask over his face and tending to his injuries.

When Phil's gaze found hers and he uttered the words "Bring me my wife," Paris felt a surge of pride and love that threatened to overwhelm her.

Without hesitation, she climbed over the barricade and made her way to Phil's side, gently helping him to his feet and guiding him towards the backstage area.

The camera's lingering gaze and Paul's enthusiastic proclamation of their engagement had Paris suddenly feeling shy, unaccustomed to the attention and the weight of the moment.

As they made their way through the hallways, Paris couldn't help but marvel at the whirlwind of emotions she was experiencing.

The realization that Phil had publicly claimed her as his wife had her heart swelling with joy, and when he asked how soon they could plan their wedding, she felt a surge of excitement. "Why?" she had asked, her eyebrow raised in playful curiosity.

Phil's explanation that he had some time off and that a wedding during that period would be perfect had Paris nodding in understanding. "I'll see what I can do," she had replied, her mind already racing with the possibilities.

The sound of Phil's joyful singing as he proclaimed their impending nuptials had Paris giggling with delight, the weight of the evening's events momentarily forgotten as they basked in the glow of their newfound engagement.

Once Phil had cleaned up and the two of them had settled in to watch the remainder of the event from the backstage area, Paris found herself seeking out Trinity and Pamela, two women she had grown to admire and respect.

With a warm smile, she asked the pair to be her bridesmaids, and the resounding cheers and enthusiastic dance moves that followed had Paris feeling overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement.

As the trio discussed potential wedding color schemes, Paris's mother, Claire, chimed in with a suggestion of a timeless black-tie theme.

The idea immediately resonated with Paris, and she found herself nodding in agreement, already visualizing the elegant and sophisticated affair that she and Phil would soon be planning.

The whirlwind of emotions, the sheer intensity of the evening's events, and the newfound excitement of her impending wedding had Paris's head spinning, but she couldn't help but feel a sense of profound joy and contentment.

The journey that had brought her to this moment had been filled with its fair share of challenges and obstacles, but standing here, surrounded by the people she loved most, Paris couldn't help but feel that everything had been leading her to this very point.

As she gazed up at Phil, his eyes shining with a mixture of pride, love, and exhaustion, Paris knew that their future together was brighter than ever.

The scars and bruises that marked his body were a testament to his unwavering determination and the depths of his passion, and Paris couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and admiration for the man she loved.

In the midst of the chaos and noise that filled the backstage area, Paris found herself lost in the quiet moments shared with Phil, their whispered conversations and gentle touches a stark contrast to the high-octane spectacle that had just unfolded before them.

It was in these moments that Paris felt truly at peace, her heart overflowing with the knowledge that she had found her soulmate, her partner in life and that together, they would embark on the next chapter of their journey.

As the night drew to a close and the crowds began to filter out, Paris and Phil made their way back to their hotel, their minds already buzzing with the possibilities of what the future held.