Clara's stomach tightened, but she didn't show it. Laura's words lingered in the air, sharp and poisonous.
"Still trying to scare me, Laura?" Clara asked quietly, her voice steady even as her fingers tensed around the coffee cup.
Laura smiled, slow and knowing. "Oh, I'm not trying to scare you. I'm just telling you to be careful. Accidents happen."
Clara leaned forward slightly. "What do you mean by that? What kind of accidents?"
Laura tilted her head, amusement flickering across her face. "You really haven't changed, have you? Always digging for answers."
"Stop dodging," Clara said, her tone firmer now. "If you have something to say, then say it."
Laura shrugged, feigning innocence. "You wouldn't believe me anyway."
"I would," Clara said softly. "I know exactly what you're capable of."
That made Laura pause. Her smirk faltered for a moment before returning, sharper than before. "Then you already know it's better not to ask."
Clara held her gaze, but her heart thudded faster. She believed her—every word. Laura wasn't bluffing. The woman sitting across from her was capable of anything, and the casual way she spoke about danger only made it worse.
Still, Clara couldn't look away. She studied her old friend—the same delicate features, the same confident smile—but the warmth that once existed, even if faint, was gone. In her last life, Laura hadn't been good, but she hadn't been this dark either. Back then, she manipulated quietly, played her games in the shadows. Now, there was open malice in her eyes, a cruel sort of pleasure in keeping Clara off balance.
Laura hadn't been this way in her last life, it's like the world was against her. She gets a second chance but at what cost, A cruel, wicked and manipulative Laura.
"You've changed," Clara murmured.
Laura's lips curved. "And you haven't changed enough."
Clara's jaw tightened. She wanted to demand answers, to know what Laura was planning, but before she could speak again, the cafe door opened. Nathaniel stepped in, his sharp gaze sweeping the room until he saw her. He started walking over, calm and purposeful.
Laura noticed, her smile turning sly. "Well, look who's here. The devoted husband, excuse me I mean fiance, Nathaniel wouldn't marry you."
Clara didn't rise to the bait. But she was angry because in her last life she made Nathaniel's life unhappy after they got married.
"This conversation isn't over."
Laura picked up her bag, eyes glinting. "It never is." She paused, lowering her voice. "Stay close to him, Clara. He's the
only one who still thinks you're safe and the only one important to me."
Clara's chest went cold, but she didn't flinch. "You're wasting your time trying to scare me."
Laura smiled faintly. "Maybe. But you'll remember what I said."
With that, she turned and walked out, heels clicking softly against the tiled floor.
Nathaniel reached the table seconds later, his gaze following Laura's retreating figure. "Was that Laura?"
Clara nodded, keeping her tone even. "Yeah."
"What did she want?" He said voice angry.
Clara hesitated, her thoughts still tangled with Laura's words. "Nothing good."
Nathaniel frowned, concern flickering in his eyes. "You okay?"
Clara forced a small, steady smile. "I'm fine."
But as she looked down at her coffee, a quiet unease curled in her chest. Because deep down, she knew Laura meant every word—and this time, whatever she was planning would be far worse than before.
Everything was falling apart, this was supposed to be her second chance, cutting Laura off should have prevented all this but it just made her spiral even more.
And she was yet to do the thing she wanted to do so much.
Slap Laura.
She just missed the perfect chance to slap her when she uttered Nathaniel's name out of her evil lips.