Venecia
Venecia sat on the grand staircase of her family's mansion, the dim glow of the chandelier casting elongated shadows across the marble floor. The evening's breeze was cool, and the sky was covered in a golden glow. All her attention was drawn back to what happened between Romeo and her at the Gala. Her mind was in a complete chaos so to be reeled back into reality she decided find peace from the old album her dad owned.
A chill ran down her spine as she turned an old photograph over in her hands. It had been tucked away in the study's desk drawer, buried beneath stacks of business documents. Two young men stood side by side in the photo, arms slung around each other's shoulders, their grins wide with unshaken confidence. One of them was her father. The other...
Lord Draekhaven
Her breath hitched. That name alone was enough to make her father's expression twist in disdain. The Draekhaven family was their sworn enemy, the bitter rivals her father had spent years trying to ruin. But the scrawled words on the back of the photograph told a different story.
"Best friends forever. Bound by ambition. Bound by trust."
Venecia's fingers trembled as she traced the ink. Best friends. How had that turned into hatred?
She was so lost in thought that she barely heard footsteps approaching.
"Venecia?"
Her head snapped up. Her father stood a few steps above her, his towering frame rigid, eyes narrowed at the photograph in her hands. "Where did you get that?" His voice was sharp, clipped, filled with something that made her stomach churn". I found it in your desk." She hesitated. "Is it true? Were you and Lord Draekhaven friends?"
His face darkened instantly.
"That man is not worth speaking of."
"But this photo—"
"Enough." His voice was like steel. "Nothing good comes from dwelling on the past. Stay away from the Draekhaven boy. You understand?" Venecia stiffened. Romeo. Even without him saying it outright, she knew. She gritted her teeth. "I deserve to know the truth."
Lord Ardan exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening before he turned away.
"Some betrayals cut too deep to forgive, Venecia," he said, his voice quieter now. "He stole everything from me." Then he was gone, leaving her alone with more questions than answers.
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Venecia paced the length of her bedroom, the old photograph still clutched tightly in her hand. Her pulse thundered in her ears, the weight of her father's words pressing down on her.
She needed answers, but her father had shut her out. There was only one person she could talk to—Liana.
She pulled out her phone and sent a quick message.
Venecia: I need to talk. Now.
Barely twenty minutes later, Liana burst into the room, eyes alight with curiosity.
"Okay, this better be juicy, because I ran past the maids and nearly tripped down the stairs getting here."
Venecia threw the photograph onto the bed. "Look at this."
Liana picked it up and frowned. "Okay... two dudes who look weirdly happy. Who are they?"
"My dad and Lord Draekhaven."
Liana's mouth dropped open. "What?! They were friends?!"
Venecia nodded. "Apparently. My dad won't tell me what happened, but he said something about a betrayal. He looked so... furious, Liana. Like whatever happened, it still haunts him."
Liana sat down beside her, flipping the photograph over to read the words on the back.
"Damn. 'Bound by trust?' That's a bit dramatic."
Venecia let out a humorless laugh. "So is their entire rivalry. But this? This means that it wasn't always like this. They weren't always enemies. And now I can't stop wondering... what if our families weren't supposed to be at war?"
Liana studied her carefully. "Necia, are you asking what if... or are you hoping?"
Venecia looked away. "I don't know. But I do know one thing—this doesn't add up. I need to find out the truth."
Liana exhaled and leaned back against the pillows. "So, what's the plan? Detective Venecia going undercover in daddy's study?"
Venecia smirked. "Not exactly. But I think it's time I do some digging in this house."
Later that night, long after the estate had fallen into silence, Venecia slipped out of her bedroom.
She crept down the hall, moving quickly and carefully until she reached the study. With one last glance over her shoulder, she stepped inside and locked the door behind her.
The room smelled of aged paper and cedarwood, the heavy shelves stacked with books her father rarely touched. But Venecia wasn't interested in the obvious.
She moved to the massive oak desk, where she had first found the photograph. Her fingers traced the surface before pulling open the drawers again. Papers. Ledgers. Old contracts. But nothing that explained what had happened between her father and Lord Draekhaven.
She frowned. There has to be more.
Then, she noticed something—a small keyhole beneath one of the drawers.
Her heart pounded. A hidden compartment.
Scrambling, she searched through the desk until she found a small brass key tucked inside a stack of envelopes. She fit it into the lock and turned. A faint click sounded.
The false bottom of the drawer lifted, revealing a bundle of letters—old and yellowed, bound together with twine.
Venecia's breath caught. Letters?
She untied the knot and unfolded the first sheet. The ink was faded but legible.
"Ardan, do you think I don't know the college you chose? I miss you and I know you do too. Call me when you find this note. Make your decision, but know this: if you turn against me, I'm coming for you.
D."
Venecia's fingers tightened around the letter. Draekhaven.
Something had happened between them—something far beyond a simple business feud.
And she was going to find out what.
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Drumrolls pleaseeee, what the hell is happening? What do you think about this chapter? Please like and comment.