Chapter 108

**Chapter 108**

**REMI**

**35 Vouchers**

As the door clicked shut behind me, I couldn’t help but mutter under my breath, “Not interested? Who even says that?” The words tasted bitter, lingering in my mouth like a sour afterthought.

I kicked off my shoes with a frustrated flick and let my bag drop to the floor with a heavy thud, the sound echoing in the quiet hallway. My cheeks still burned with embarrassment from the way Kael had dismissed me, as if I were nothing more than a fleeting thought. Maybe I deserved it—I had brushed him off before. But still, his piercing gaze haunted me. The coldness in his eyes made me feel small, insignificant… it stung more than I cared to admit.

A tantalizing aroma wafted through the hall, curling around my senses like a warm embrace. Grilled chicken, I realized, though it had a hint of char that suggested it might have seen better days. My stomach growled in response, but then I frowned. My mother never burnt anything. Ever.

I rushed to the kitchen, my heart quickening with each step. The pan hissed angrily on the stove, smoke spiraling toward the ceiling like a warning. I quickly turned off the heat, waving my hand through the haze to clear it.