Chapter 91

I jumped, surprised that Kendrick had heard us coming.

He wore a permanent glare as his eyes skimmed over James and I. When his eyes met Lucas's, they hardened even further.

"Didn't I tell you I didn't want you here?" Kendrick's voice dripped with anger and disgust. "You've got some nerve to show your face here again."

"I forgot something," Lucas explained, keeping his body tight. "I'll be out of your hands in the blink of an eye."

It was clear that he was trying to appear unaffected by his father's overwhelming power.

Kendrick sneered and I watched as his fingers tightened around the doorframe. "Why did you bring them with you?"

"Dad—" Lucas started to say, but his father cut him off with a low growl.

"Were these two a part of your little rebellious plan to ruin your entire future?" He shook his head. "I told you to avoid them. I told you to spend your time with better—more important friends. Not these rodents..."

I stiffened in shock, stealing a glance at James who was flaring his nostrils.

Did Kendrick just call James and I... rodents? As in... rats? Well, that's a first.

"It seems like my son isn't the only one who needs to learn a lesson here," Kendrick continued, staring between James and I. "I promise that I'll get my revenge on your antics. You've been poisoning Lucas's mind!"

"They knew what my decision was going to be, so there's no need for you to blame them." Lucas squared his shoulders, his voice solid and firm. "The only person you should blame in all this is me."

"You think you can just defy me and get away with it?" Kendrick's hateful eyes bore into Lucas. "I think you forget your place."

"I'm not a puppet for you to play with, Dad. I can make my own decisions, and I should've made that clear to you a very long time ago. I'm done being your punching bag," Lucas said with frustration.

His father's lips curled into a evil smile. "If that's how you want things to be, then fine. You'll pay the price for this, Lucas. Just wait."

I exchanged a quick glance with James, the tension in the air getting heavier every second. Lucas's bravery in the face of his father's anger was both impressive and concerning.

It was clear that this was only going to get worse the more we stood here. Both Lucas and his father were hot-heads—Kendrick more so than Lucas. He wasn't going to stand down.

Kendrick's fingers were still clenched around the doorframe, his knuckles turning white. The atmosphere grew even more charged as the seconds ticked by, making me swallow nervously.

Lucas's determined stance was met with his father's unfaltering fury.

"You've always been a disappointment, Lucas," Kendrick spat, his voice laced with venom.

I tried to brace myself for the speech that Kendrick was about to give. I've heard a similar one countless times, but for some reason, I finally believed it won't work on Lucas.

Because now, after ending the engagement, Lucas can see that his father will never be happy with anything he does. His father has been calling him a disappointment for so long, the words are numb to him now.

It's just like when people call me wolfless all the time. At first, it was the biggest insult. I would constantly find myself crying over it, thinking that I would always be labeled as a freak.

After a while, the word started to lose its meaning. I'd heard it so much, it just felt like another useless word.

Sure, it still stings sometimes, but every time I hear it—it hurts less and less.

"I gave you everything, and this is how you repay me?" Kendrick continued. "By siding with these... these losers?"

Lucas's expression remained fixed. "You gave me everything except the one thing that truly mattered — a sense of self, a choice, the chance to be my own person."

"I don't understand how you can't see the grave mistake you're making." Kendrick's face morphed into one of anger and something that looked almost like sadness, though it was quickly masked by his rage. "You have no idea the consequences of your actions."

"I'm willing to face whatever consequences come my way, as long as I'm free from your control," Lucas said finally. "This doesn't have to be the end of it all. I want you to see that I can make my own decisions — that I can make my own choices, and that you don't have to make them for me—"

"That's the whole point!" Kendrick shouted. "You can't make your own decisions or choices because they're all terrible. Just look at this mess for example!"

At this point, I decided to step in front of Lucas, meeting Kendrick's eyeline with a determined gaze. "Mr. Busch, we're not here to cause trouble. We just want to support Lucas in whatever decision he's made for himself."

Kendrick's eyes flickered to mine, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw a hint of doubt in his expression... But it was quickly replaced by his familiar anger.

"You want to support him and his stupidity?" Kendrick's laughter was bitter and cold. "You have no idea what you're involving yourselves in. You're in way over your heads. I don't know why you keep sticking your nose where it doesn't belong."

"We could argue about this for hours, Dad. Can't you accept that this is the path I've chosen?" Lucas stepped closer to his father, his voice softer but filled with unspoken determination.

Kendrick's nostrils flared as he took a deep breath, seemingly struggling to contain his anger.

"I accept nothing. You've made your choice, Lucas. Just remember who's really in control here," Kendrick said. "You'll see the consequences soon enough. And as for you two," he looked at James and me, his eyes drilling into ours, "you'll regret ever crossing paths with my son."

And with that, Kendrick slammed the door aggressively before storming back into the darkness of the house, leaving Lucas, James, and me standing outside.

All of us were frozen for a moment before James spoke, "Was that really necessary? Did he have to slam the door like a toddler throwing a tantrum?"

"Seriously, James?" I warned, trying to stop him from saying something Kendrick might hear.

Lucas settled his concerned gaze on us. "Guys, I'm so sorry. I didn't think he would be home—"

"No offense, bro," James started to say, "but I hate your dad."

I hit James with the back of my hand and shook my head. "Really?"

"What?" James asked, raising his hands in the air. "Did I say something we weren't all already thinking?"

Lucas let out an exhausted sigh. "Listen, guys, if anything happens, if he tries anything..."

I placed a hand on his arm, my voice firm. "Don't even worry about that, Lucas. We'll tell you. We've got your back."

His smile held a touch of gratitude, but I could tell he was still feeling a whirlwind of emotions. As he turned to leave, I felt a rush of uncertainty.

What would come next?

None of us knew for sure.