Serena walked beside Aaron down the quiet campus path. The sky was deep purple now, with streaks of fading sunlight brushing against the horizon. She kept her posture graceful, measured — but her thoughts raced.
He's still the same. Gentle. Naïve. Just like before.
Aaron glanced at her with a soft smile. "I didn't expect tonight to be so… interesting."
Serena tilted her head. "Oh? What made it interesting?"
He chuckled. "You, mostly. You don't talk much in class, but tonight you were like a whole different person."
Serena smiled faintly, keeping her tone sweet. "People change when they're comfortable."
Or when they've died once and come back from the grave for vengeance, she thought darkly.
Aaron looked at her with curious eyes. "So, fashion business? That's impressive."
"I like creating things," Serena replied.
"Clothes are power. What you wear says who you are before you even speak."
Aaron blinked, surprised. "That's actually… deep."
She laughed softly. "Is it?"
They arrived at her dorm entrance. She paused at the steps, hands resting lightly at her sides.
"I had a good time," Aaron said, scratching the back of his neck. "Maybe we could hang out again? Just the two of us next time."
So easy, Serena thought. You're already slipping from her grasp and you don't even know it.
"I'd like that," she said sweetly. "But you'll have to try harder to impress me next time."
Aaron laughed, eyes lighting up. "Challenge accepted."
Serena watched him walk away, a satisfied smirk curling at her lips. Then her smile faded.
As she turned back into her dorm, she muttered, "That's one step, Clara. You won't even see it coming."
The next morning, Serena found Evelyn waiting for her at the dorm entrance, two coffees in hand and a face full of suspicion.
"You've been glowing since last night," Evelyn said, handing her a drink. "Did something happen?"
Serena gave her a knowing glance. "Aaron."
Evelyn nearly dropped her coffee. "Wait—seriously? The Aaron? You like him?"
Serena shrugged. "He's…interesting."
"Girl, you're evil," Evelyn laughed.
"Clara's going to go insane if she finds out."
Serena's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Let her."
Evelyn paused. "You okay? You're acting a little… different lately. Colder."
Serena turned to her, eyes serious. "I'm fine. I just realized I've wasted too much time in my life being passive. That ends now."
Evelyn nodded slowly, clearly unconvinced.
Later that day, Serena sat in the library, scrolling through her phone, searching.
She knew Clara would start showing up soon. In her original life, Clara transferred to her college during Serena's second semester. She had played innocent — cheerful, helpful, sweet. But behind the mask, she had slowly begun to dismantle Serena's life.
Not this time.
Serena pulled up her secret folder — screenshots she had saved in her old life. Photos, texts, dates, names of men Clara had flirted with while engaged to Aaron. In the past, she'd been too sick, too broken to use any of it. Now, it would become the perfect weapon.
She began organizing the files, timing them to leak across anonymous accounts once Clara began her public charade.
Then she froze.
A new message popped into her inbox. From a name she hadn't seen in years.
Clara J. Weston
Hey cousin! I heard you're here too! What a small world. We should catch up sometime soon. Miss you ♡
Serena stared at the screen, her lips curling into a grin.
"There you are."
Later That Week
Clara's arrival sent a ripple across campus. She was everything Serena remembered: tall, beautiful, dressed in high-end designer clothes that screamed "money," and always surrounded by a crowd. Her laugh was bright, her voice honeyed, but Serena saw the snake beneath it all.
They finally crossed paths in the cafeteria.
"Serena!" Clara squealed, rushing over to hug her. "You look amazing!"
Serena accepted the hug, eyes calm. "You too. It's been a while."
"I just transferred," Clara said, eyes sparkling. "Daddy thought it'd be good to finish my degree closer to home. And guess what? Aaron is here too! Isn't that fate?"
Serena raised an eyebrow. "Fate? Interesting choice of words."
Clara giggled. "We're thinking of making it official soon. I mean, it's a little early, but I love him, you know?"
Liar.
"That's wonderful," Serena said smoothly.
"I've actually met him already. We went on a blind date. Funny, huh?"
Clara's smile twitched. "Oh. Really?"
Serena leaned in a little closer. "He's very charming. But you already knew that."
Clara's eyes hardened for a split second before she smoothed her expression.
"He is. But I'm sure he's just being friendly. He has a big heart."
Serena stepped back, her voice light. "Of course. I'm sure you'll both be very… happy."
As she walked away, she heard Clara's laughter fade into silence.
Checkmate, cousin.