A Big Argument
1216 Words
I froze.
For one second, nobody moved, nobody spoke. Adrian's arms were still around my waist from catching me before I could crash into the floor, and Kael stood in the doorway staring at us as though he had just walked into a crime scene.
The silence in that moment was so uncomfortable I didn't know what was about to happen next.
Adrian was the first to react. His hand immediately dropped from my waist and he took a step back.
“What exactly is going on here?” Kael asked.
His voice wasn't loud. That was the problem, I would've preferred if he yelled. At least I would've known what he was thinking.
Instead, he just stood there looking between us.
Adrian sighed. “She tripped.”
“I can see that.” The answer came too quickly.
The temperature in the room dropped. My eyes moved between them. The resemblance wasn't obvious at first glance.
Adrian looked softer, calmer while Kael looked like he was carved from ice.
Yet somehow, standing there, they looked unmistakably related.
“Then why ask?” Adrian folded his arms.
I immediately regretted being in that room. Neither of them raised their voices yet somehow they sounded two seconds away from strangling each other.
Kael's gaze shifted to me. “What were you doing?”
I blinked. “What?”
“With him?”
My irritation instantly returned. Of course he would ask me such a question.
Before I could answer, Adrian spoke first. “We were talking.”
Kael looked unimpressed and Adrian looked equally unimpressed.
Neither of them backed down from the conversation and I didn't even know why it was happening.
Finally Adrian exhaled. “You should probably ask her.” Then he walked past Kael without another word.
The moment he left the room, Kael's attention returned to me. I already knew where this was heading.
“No.” I said simply.
His brows pulled together. “No?”
“If you're about to ask more questions, no.”
I brushed past him but unfortunately he followed. “Aurelia…”
I shot him a look. His jaw tightened. “Sorry.” He muttered.
Good. At least he was learning, he knew not to call me that.
I continued walking and he continued following me. By the time I had reached the edge of my bed my patience had already packed its bags and left.
I turned around. “What?”
Kael crossed his arms. “What were you doing with Adrian?”
And just like that, the last thread holding my temper together snapped.
“Are you serious right now?”
His expression didn't change. “I asked a question.”
“Why does everyone in this house keep asking me questions?”
His brows furrowed. I continued before he could speak.
“Why is everyone constantly watching me?”
There was still silence and for some reason that made me angrier. “Everywhere I go somebody is staring.”
Kael opened his mouth but I cut him off immediately. “No.”
My chest tightened. “No, because I'm tired.”
His eyes softened slightly. Unfortunately for him that only annoyed me more.
“I'm tired of everyone acting like I owed them explanations.”
“Aure…”
“I'm tired of everyone acting like I even belong here.”
The words came faster and now sharper. Weeks of confusion and frustration spilling out all at once.
“You keep questioning me.”
“You keep following me.”
“You keep watching me.”
His shoulders visibly stiffened.
“And stop trying to control me.”
The room became silent. For a second I felt guilty.
“I can leave this house whenever I want.”
His jaw tightened. I took a step forward.
“I have no business here.” He was still silent.
“I could leave right now.” That finally landed.
I saw it on his face just for a second. Something flashed across his face, pain.
Maybe that should have made me stop but it didn't.
“If your behavior continues, maybe I should.”
There was still silence. I waited for him to argue, to tell me I couldn't leave, to tell me he was trying to help, to defend himself.
Instead he lowered his eyes briefly then looked back at me. “I'm sorry.”
I blinked. The anger inside me stumbled. “What?”
“I'm sorry.”
His voice was quiet and genuine.
The fight drained out of me so quickly it was embarrassing.
Kael rubbed a hand across his face. “If I've made you uncomfortable…”
His voice trembled slightly. “....I'm sorry.”
I didn't know what to do with that. The apology came unexpectedly. I had been preparing for a battle instead he surrendered before it even started.
For some reason that felt worse. “I'm not trying to upset you.” he added.
I stared at him.
Then he nodded once as though the conversation was over. As though he had accepted whatever punishment I had given him and walked out.
Just like that, no argument, no explanation, nothing.
Leaving me alone somehow made me feel like a villain.
The rest of the day was horrible. Not because anybody bothered me but because nobody did, especially Kael.
That should have made me happy instead it irritated me. I wandered through the house, tried reading a book but I put it down.
I tried convincing myself I didn't care or I didn't do anything wrong but I couldn't.
Every time I closed my eyes, I remembered his face. That stupid apology, that stupid hurt expression.
And the worst part was that he actually stayed away, no random appearances, no checking on me, just nothing.
By dinner, things had somehow become even more awkward.
Vivienne kept glancing at us. Adrian was just quiet.
I avoided looking at anyone.
Kael barely spoke. He answered questions when necessary and nothing more.
He looked exhausted, dark circles beneath his eyes and his food remained mostly untouched.
At one point our eyes met but it lasted for only a second cause he looked away first.
The strange feeling in my chest returned and I hated it.
That night sleep refused to come. I tossed and turned but nothing worked.
Finally I gave up and left my room, the house was quiet and moonlight spilled across the hallways.
Everyone seemed asleep. I wandered aimlessly until I noticed light coming from beneath a door.
It was Kael's study. I slowed down.
It wasn't fully closed and I wasn't trying to listen but then I heard a familiar name.
It was Marcus, I stopped.
Inside the room, Kael sat behind his desk with his phone pressed against his ear.
His tie was gone, the top button of his shirt was undone.
“...keep looking.”
His voice was rough.
There was a pause then Marcus said something I couldn't hear.
Kael leaned back in his chair. “I don't care.”
Another pause. My heart started beating faster.
“Then find another lead.”
I stepped closer without meaning to, something about the conversation felt important.
Then Kael spoke again. “Something about her isn't a coincidence.”
- Writer
