Chapter 10 - An Impossible Choice

Ardal

I can tell from Kadeem’s expression that he’s surprised by my anger. He stares at me, swallowing slowly as he studies my tightened features. But I don’t allow them to smooth no matter how long he stares.

In fact, my face doesn’t even change as I notice a shift in his gaze. It’s subtle, faint - but I swear I see something - something familiar.

It almost looked like…arousal - a stare I’ve seen from Kadeem plenty of times. The suspicion causes only my stomach to turn sour as the look disappears, causing me to question if I’d actually seen it in the first place.

Maybe I hadn’t. Yes, I must have been mistaken. Kadeem would never look at me that way again - I’m sure of it.

“Alright,” Kadeem says finally with a breath. Only, he then stops to clear his throat, seeming to regain himself. Still, I remind myself that it’s not at my expense, believing he’s just caught off guard by my continued annoyance.

I wait for him to continue, watching his every move as Kadeem pauses again, almost loo