Chapter 37: Hate (Venus's POV)

I can't even process what happened. 

What the hell just happened? 

My dad pulled me into his study and shut the door behind us. He went and sat in his chair, letting out a breath angrily. 

I was still zoned out, trying to make sense of everything that happened. 

"Did you know that girl?" he asked. 

I snapped out of it and looked up at him while wiping my cheek with the back of my hand. I take it he's talking about Gianna. "She goes to our school, I have one or two classes with her," I answered, still sniffling. I can't quite believe that it really happened. 

"That girl went and told the Lockes that she saw you and Caden together on that night of the game, is it true?" 

Caden's words replayed in my head. 

Don't say a word to him about us. 

"We already talked about this," I said, turning around to leave. 

"Venus!" he yelled. And he never yells. 

I stopped and took a deep, shaky breath while my eyes glossed over again. "What?" I asked, blinking as a few tears fell while I turned to look at him. 

"You knew you were meant to stay away from him, didn't you?" 

"Yes," I huffed. 

"And you still didn't listen to me?" 

"I did listen, dad! For eighteen years. It just happened, what do you want me to do?" I groaned. 

"It wouldn't have happened if you kept your distance!" 

"I couldn't keep my distance anymore! I liked him, I was attracted to him!" I snapped. 

He stared at me, doubt swirling in his eyes. 

"I'm in love with him," I stated. And then I turned to leave before he started questioning me and I told him things I'm not supposed to. Things that Caden should be here to talk about with me. 

"Venus, get back here!" 

I didn't listen. I opened the door and slipped through it, closing it shut behind me. 

I was heading up to my room when my mother called me. "Venus," she sighed, sounding a little sorry. A lot more like she pitied me. 

"Tell me, mom, does he know you're friends with Mrs. Juniper. Would he react the same way if he found out?" 

She sighed, giving me a sorry look. 

I rolled my eyes, fresh tears still rolling down my cheeks while I ran upstairs and into my room, locking the door shut behind me. I don't want to talk to anyone right now. No one but Caden. 

I don't know how long I spent just lying in bed and crying. A part of me believes, and really wants to believe that everything will be okay. That when Caden gets here tonight, we'll be able to explain to my dad and convince him to let us be together. But then a part of me knows how seriously he takes this hateful feud between our family and Caden's. And I know that even if Caden leaves his family, my dad may not accept him because ultimately, his blood is still of a Locke. 

There was a soft knock on my door. 

I looked at the clock, realizing it was 7 PM. 

"Vee?" I heard Clarissa's voice. I got out of bed and opened the door, looking down at her. "Aren't you coming for dinner?" she asked. 

I shook my head, "Not tonight." 

"Are you crying?" she frowned in confusion. 

"No," I chuckled. "I'm just sleepy." 

The doorbell rang twice. 

"Just a minute," I said to her before rushing downstairs to see who was at the door. Mrs. Betty opened the door and there stood Caden. 

He was wearing the same clothes but he looked so much worse. 

He was crying too. 

His eyes were red and puffy and his skin had that glow that people get after they've sobbed their hearts out. 

"Mr. Tanner has told me not to let you in, honey," Mrs. Betty said softly to him. 

"Let him in," I cleared my throat, my eyes locked in place with Caden's. 

"But Vee-" 

"Let him in, Mrs. Betty." 

She opened the door further and stepped aside. 

He walked in, rubbing his hands on his jeans. He walked over to me slowly as Mrs. Betty retreated to the kitchen. "Are you okay?" he asked, sniffling a little. 

I shook my head. "Are you?" 

He too shook his head. "Have you eaten?" He stepped closer, running his thumb over my cheek and over the tear stains. 

"I'm not hungry," I mumbled. I stared up at him while stepping closer. "What is going to happen now, Caden?" 

"I don't know," he sighed in defeat, pulling me into a hug. 

"Betty, who was at the-" I didn't pull away from him as I heard my mother walk into the room. 

"Mrs. Cassidy, please just hear me out," Caden requested yet again. 

"There's nothing I can do, honey. It's up to her father," she said before I heard her footsteps fade as well. And then about a minute later, she was back but with my father this time. 

"I thought I told you not to let him in, Betty," my father huffed. 

"Ms. Venus said-" 

"From now on, you listen to me. Not Ms. Venus, understand?" 

"Yes, sir," she said before leaving. 

"Vee," Caden whispered, pushing me back. I stood beside him, both of us facing my parents. 

"Get out. You're not welcomed, or allowed here," my dad said to him. 

"Sir, sorry to disappoint, but I've been numerous times. And I am welcomed here," Caden replied. "The only person who has a problem with me is you." 

I looked to Caden, surprised that this is the way he's approaching this situation. I thought we had a plan. I guess emotions got in the way of that. 

"Not Venus, not Clarrisa, and neither does Mrs. Cassidy. If she did have a problem with me or my family-" 

"Caden," my mother warned. 

"Then she wouldn't be best friends with my mother. Isn't that right?" he asked, turning to my mother. 

"Cassidy, what is he talking about?" my dad asked her. 

She couldn't answer. 

Doesn't feel good to be on the spot like that, does it, mom? 

My dad huffed, glaring at Caden. "Get out." 

"No," he shook his head. "You made me leave earlier. I'm not leaving again. Not until you hear me out." 

"There is nothing to hear! Your last name is Locke. And that's reason enough to kick you out of here." 

"Is it? Is it really, Mr. Tanner? What have I ever done to you? Or to Venus? Or to anybody in your family? How can you hate me for something that my father or grandfather or whoever did? I wasn't even born then!" 

My father scoffed, shaking his head and folding his arms across his chest. 

"I'm only asking for five minutes of your time, sir. Can't you do that for your daughter?" 

I know what card Caden is using. If this wasn't our situation, I would be upset that he's practically emotionally manipulating my dad, but right now I have no problem with it whatsoever. 

"What my daughter needs is to be far away from you." 

"So you'll send her to London? Just to keep her away from me? And what happens when I leave my family and go to London? Because I'm willing to." 

My dad lifted a brow, now interested to hear him out. 

"I'm willing to leave my family for your daughter if it means that you will accept me and our relationship. Because it won't end just because you don't like it, I'm sorry to say," Caden shrugged. "And one more thing. You're not just sending her away from me if you choose to send her to London. You're sending her away from you. And Clarissa. And Remy. Everyone she has is here. And in London, she'll be alone." 

"She'll be away from you," my dad replied. 

"She will, you're right," he nodded. "But she'll be away from you too. Can she handle that? Can you handle that, sir?" 

"She's strong and independent enough." For fuck's sake, he just isn't listening. 

"Okay, then you can send her to London. And I'll go there with her. You can't stop me from doing that and neither can my parents. The way I see it, sir, it'll be better if you do send her to London." 

No one to stop us then. 

My dad stepped closer to Caden and my body tensed up. We both knew it was coming. My dad slapped him once more. Caden stumbled a little, rolling his tongue over his lip which was bleeding again. 

"Dad!" I pushed him back and stood in front of Caden. "Stop it, please!" I ignored the lump in my throat. "Yell all you want but don't hit him again, please!" 

My dad huffed, shaking his head. 

"Dad, I'll hate you for it." 

He froze momentarily, staring at me. 

"Hurt him again and I'll hate you." 

He looked between both of us and then we all stood in silence for two to three minutes. "This game that you two are playing can't go on any longer, do you hear me? Venus, you're not going anywhere." 

My shoulders relaxed a little. 

"And I mean anywhere. I want you inside of this house at all times until this issue is resolved." 

So basically, I'm trapped in here, great. 

"And you," he spat at Caden. "Will stay away from her." 

"I wish I could, but I can't. And whether it be through the front door or a window. Or the backdoor. Or that tiny window in your basement. I'll keep coming. And I'll keep seeing her," Caden shrugged. 

My dad stepped forward daringly but I grabbed Caden's arm, pulling him back. 

"Don't," I said to my dad. "Please?" 

"Now sir, will you give me those five minutes, just the two of us or not?" Caden lifted a brow at my dad sharply. 

My dad pinched the bridge of his nose before accepting his defeat. "Fine. Come to my study." He spun on his heel and slipped into his study while my mother took Clarissa and went to the dining room. 

I turned to Caden. 

"I told you to trust me," he whispered. "We'll be okay." 

I grabbed the back of his neck, pulling his lips down to mine. He kissed me back and neither one of us would have pulled away if it wasn't for my dad. 

"Caden!" he called out from his study. 

I huffed, letting him go. 

"Eat something," he said, pecking my cheek before going into my dad's study, closing the door behind him. 

God, let him come out alive.

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Chapter 37

PS- I'm putting out the details to my next book right now to give it a head start

I think it works better that way lmao

next chapter: threat