I

The boutique's soft background music did little to mask the rising tension in the air as Claire squared off with Cindy. Clothes hung neatly on racks around them, but the polished setting did nothing to soothe the storm brewing in Claire's sharp gaze. "Oh, I think you do," Claire said, her voice low and laced with a dangerous edge. She stepped closer, her eyes narrowing on Cindy like a hawk zeroing in on prey. "You drugged Adrian, didn't you? Spiked his drink to create that little scene." Cindy's eyes widened-just a flicker of panic before she quickly masked it with a performance of mock outrage. "I don't know what you're insinuating," she said, her tone high and defensive. "That's absurd! Why would I do something like that?" "Because you are desperate," Claire retorted, her words quick and biting. "Tell me who sent you."

"No one sent me!" Cindy shot back, but her voice faltered slightly. She turned her attention back to a dress she had been pretending to examine, trying to appear nonchalant. Her heart was racing, though, each thump louder than the last. Avoiding Claire's piercing stare became harder with each second.

Claire, however, wasn't letting this go. She stepped forward, grabbing Cindy's wrist in an iron grip. Cindy's breath hitched as she looked down at Claire's hand, panic flashing across her face.

"Stop dodging," Claire demanded, her voice like ice. "Why did you drug Adrian?"

Cindy looked around nervously, aware of the curious glances from nearby shoppers. A couple of employees were whispering among themselves, clearly sensing the tension. The last thing Cindy wanted was full-blown scene, so she hissed, "Let me go, and I'll tell you!" Claire's grip loosened, but her eyes stayed locked on Cindy as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm waiting," she said, her tone hard and unyielding.

Cindy sighed, her irritation barely masking her internal turmoil. "Fine," she muttered, avoiding Claire's intense gaze. "Yes, I was the one who drugged Adrian." Claire's brows knit together, her frown deepening. "Why?"

Cindy hesitated. Her mind raced with excuses, but she knew the truth wouldn't set her free-not entirely. She couldn't risk mentioning Eligos. Not after what she'd seen of him. That man was a walking nightmare, and the mere thought of crossing him sent chills down her spine.noveldrama

Clearing her throat, Cindy finally said, "I did it because I'm jealous, okay? You always get everything. The attention, the success, the guys-everything falls into place for you, Claire. Your life is perfect, and for once, I wanted to see something not go your way."

Claire stared at her, her expression unreadable. Then, a scoff escaped her lips. "Are you serious?" she said, disbelief dripping from her words. "You drugged Adrian because you're jealous? That is your excuse? Really?"

Cindy's cheeks flushed, and she looked down, fiddling with the hem of her sleeve. She couldn't bring herself to respond, knowing how pathetic she sounded.

Claire let out a dry laugh, shaking her head. "You know," she said, stepping closer, "you're starting to remind me of someone. Lisa. She tried to destroy my life too, and look where that got her."

Cindy's attempt at feigned humility cracked under the weight of Claire's words. She opened her mouth to respond but closed it again when Claire took a step forward, the air between them suddenly heavy with tension.

"And let me make one thing very clear," Claire continued, her voice dropping to a dangerously low register. "If you ever pull a stunt like this again-ever-I won't hesitate to make sure you end up in a psychological ward. Just like the last woman who thought she could ruin my life. Do you understand me?"

Cindy swallowed hard, nodding stiffly. "I... I understand."

"Good," Claire said, straightening up and brushing invisible lint off her blazer. "Because believe me, you do not want me as your enemy."

Cindy's eyes widened at the mention, and she stumbled back slightly, her bravado crumbling. Claire's calm but cold tone sent a chill down her spine, and she realized with startling clarity that Claire wasn't bluffing.

Claire straightened, adjusting her blazer like she was done with the conversation. "Now, if you will excuse me, I have better things to do than babysit someone who can't handle their own insecurities."

The tension between them was almost suffocating, and Cindy felt like the floor beneath her feet could give way at any second. Claire's presence was suffocating in its own right-cool, composed, and terrifyingly in control. She turned on her heel and walked out of the boutique, leaving Cindy standing there, her face flushed with embarrassment and a knot of fear tightening in her chest.

As she watched Claire leave, Cindy let out a shaky breath, muttering to herself, "What have I gotten myself into?"

Claire's mind was racing as she

stepped into the cool air outside. Cindy's behavior, her motives-it all felt eerily familiar. Like déjà vu she wished she could unsee. She shook her head, pushing the thought aside. Lisa was gone, and Cindy wasn't going to be a problem for much longer. One way or another, Claire was going to handle this.

She pulled out her phone and dialed Matthew. The line rang twice before he picked up.

"Claire? What's up?" he asked, his tone instantly alert.

just had a little... chat with Cindy," Claire said, her voice laced with sarcasm.

"Oh no," Matthew groaned. "What did she do this time?"

"She admitted to drugging Adrian," Claire replied, her voice sharp. "But, of course, she's playing the jealousy card. Claims she's envious of my 'perfect life.""

Matthew snorted. "That's her excuse? Really?"

"Pathetic, right?" Claire muttered. "But there's more to it. I can feel it. Someone's pulling her strings. She's scared-more than she's letting on."

"Do

you I think it's him?" Matthew asked, his voice dropping slightly, the weight of his words unspoken but understood.

Claire sighed. "I don't know. Maybe. But Cindy's not talking. Not yet, anyway."

"Well, keep me in the loop," Matthew said. "And, Claire? Be careful." Claire smiled faintly, despite the tension curling in her chest. "I Always am."

She hung up, her mind already working on her next move. Cindy might have cracked under pressure, but whoever was behind her wasn't going to be as easy to break. Claire knew she was walking into a game where the stakes were higher than ever. But if there was one thing, she was sure of, it was that she never backed down from a challenge.

Meanwhile, Cindy stood frozen in the boutique replaying the encounter in her head. She couldn't shake the image of Claire's icy glafe or the cold threat in her voice. For a fleeting moment, she considered packing up and leaving town, but she knew it wouldn't be that simple.

Eligos's shadow loomed large over her, a constant reminder of the precarious position she was in. She didn't just fear Claire-she feared what Eligos would do if he found out she'd cracked under pressure. The thought made her stomach churn. "Should I keep continuing this or give up?" She muttered to herself feeling conflicted by the thought.