"Oh, fuck no!" Lily yelled, glaring at Laura from the doorway.
Clara felt the same, but she managed to hold it in. Her pulse quickened as Laura stepped further into the room, wearing that same calm, calculated smile that made Clara's skin crawl.
"Laura, what are you doing here?" Nathaniel asked, his voice firm as he reached for Clara's hand.
Laura's gaze flicked down to their joined hands. For a fleeting second, something dark—jealousy, resentment, maybe both—flashed across her face, but it vanished as quickly as it came.
"I heard you were drugged," Laura said smoothly, her tone dripping with fake concern. "I was worried about you, Clara."
Clara let out a small, disbelieving laugh. "Worried?" she repeated, her voice laced with quiet anger. "You drugged me, Laura. Don't stand there pretending you care."
Laura's lips twitched into something close to a smile. "You don't have proof of that," she said lightly, tilting her head. "Maybe you just had too much to drink. You always were a lightweight."
Lily's chair scraped against the floor as she stepped forward. "Say that again," she snapped, her fists clenched at her sides.
Laura smirked, clearly enjoying herself. "Touchy, aren't we?"
Before Lily could take another step, Nathaniel moved between them, his voice calm but cold. "You've made your point, Laura. Leave."
Laura didn't move at first. Her gaze lingered on Clara's face, studying her as if trying to find some weakness, some crack to slip through. Then, slowly, that unsettling smile returned. "Fine," she said softly. "But don't say I didn't try to make peace."
Her plans of keeping Laura close so she can exact her revenge wasn't going to happen since she's too dangerous but she was still going to have her revenge. Close or not.
She gave Nathaniel one last lingering look before turning toward the door. The scent of her perfume trailed behind her—sweet and sharp, like poison disguised as sugar.
Lily exhaled hard once the door closed. "God, I hate her."
Clara nodded, rubbing her wrist where Nathaniel's hand had been moments ago. "Get in line," she muttered.
She couldn't stop thinking about the way Laura had looked at her—so full of quiet hatred, so unashamed of it. How had she never seen it before? The anger had always been there, hidden behind smiles and sweet words. Now, it was out in the open.
Nathaniel's voice broke through her thoughts. "I don't think you're safe here, Clara," he said—steady, but with a thread of worry underneath.
Lily nodded immediately. "Yeah, he's right, Clara."
They both turned to look at her.
Clara hesitated. "I think you're right... but where am I supposed to stay?"
Lily and Nathaniel exchanged a look—the kind that said Are you kidding me?
"At my place, of course," they both said in perfect unison.
"What do you mean your place?" Laura cut in, glaring at Nathaniel. "She's my sister. Obviously she's staying with me."
"No," Nathaniel shot back, his jaw tightening. "She's staying with me. I'm her fiancé—when we're married, we'll be living together anyway. It only makes sense."
"Oh, please. We both know you only proposed to her to stop your stepmom from nagging you," Lily folded her arms.
Their marriage was purely out of convenience. Nathaniel wanted a fiancé so his stepmother would stop trying to set him up on dates, and Clara had agreed for the sake of helping a childhood friend.
The two locked eyes, tension crackling between them like a silent challenge. Neither seemed interested in what Clara thought about it.
Clara couldn't help it—a small giggle escaped her. "Hehehehe." The whole situation was too absurd. They were both so serious about it, as if she were a prize to be won.
"I'd be honored to stay with any of you," Clara said, glancing between them, "but I want to stay with Nathaniel."
Nathaniel blinked, clearly surprised. Didn't he want her to stay with him? Lily, on the other hand, didn't look surprised at all—more like she'd expected Clara to choose Nathaniel.
Clara would've loved to stay with Lily, but she'd made herself a promise in this life—she wouldn't lose him again. Not like before. Staying with him was one small way to make sure of that.
"Lily, you know... we're engaged," Clara muttered, her cheeks turning pink. "So it's normal for us to stay together."
Seeing her blush made Nathaniel blush too. "Yeah," he said softly.
"Uh-huh." Lily stared at Clara for a long moment, then sighed. "Of course you picked him," she said, shaking her head. "I saw that coming from a mile away."
Clara gave a small, guilty smile. "Sorry?"
"Don't be," Lily said with a teasing grin. "Honestly, it's kind of cute. You two look like a pair of tomatoes right now."
Nathaniel immediately looked away, clearing his throat. "We do not."
Lily laughed. "Sure you don't. Anyway, fine—she can stay with you. But if anything happens to her, Nathaniel, I swear I'll come for you first."
"Noted," Nathaniel said, holding up his hands in mock surrender.
Clara giggled. "Thanks, Lily."