Clara had just finished calibrating a set of spectrometers when she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. A woman had entered the lab, smiling brightly as she introduced herself to the team. Clara's hands stilled mid-motion.
Laura.
For a split second, her chest tightened—but she caught herself. No, not this time. This life wasn't meant for fear. She had been given another chance, and she wasn't about to waste it running from the same ghosts. Straightening her shoulders, she drew a quiet breath and steadied her heartbeat.
Since being reborn, she'd spent too much time looking over her shoulder—chasing shadows, wondering who backed Laura, the old woman's resemblance to her father. But that ended now. She's been working hard, and this—her research, her work—was the one part of her life that had always been hers.
Nathaniel's decision to hire Laura was still something she couldn't make sense of, but she pushed it aside. There would be time for questions later. For now, she was where she belonged.
Dr. Patel, the lab manager, clapped his hands lightly. "Everyone, this is Laura Simmons. She's joining our team today. Let's make her feel welcome."
Laura stepped forward, her smile wide and confident. "Hi, everyone! I've heard amazing things about this lab. I'm really looking forward to working with all of you."
The team greeted her politely. Clara noticed a few exchanged glances—small, curious, uncertain—but no one said a word.
Laura's eyes found her. That same perfect smile. "I've also heard there's someone here who really knows how to keep things interesting." Her voice was smooth, playful—too playful.
Clara met her gaze, unflinching. She reached for her pipette with deliberate calm, refusing to rise to the bait. "And what did you do before coming here?" she asked, her tone even.
Laura blinked, caught off guard. "Oh… I—well, I've worked on a few research projects, collaborations…" Her words stumbled, her smile thinning.
Dr. Patel stepped in before the silence could stretch. "Laura, why don't you get settled at your station? I'll walk you through the ongoing work."
Laura nodded, a little too quickly, and turned away. Clara said nothing more. She refocused on her experiment, steady and deliberate, letting the quiet precision of her work pull her back into rhythm.
Beside her, Mara leaned closer and murmured, "That was… interesting. Is she going to be an issue?"
Clara gave a small shrug, keeping her eyes on the microscope. "No. She's just another team member. I'm not worried."
Mara studied her for a moment, then smiled. "You've got this."
"Thanks," Clara said, meaning it.
As the morning went on, she found herself slipping into an easy focus. The steady rhythm of the lab wrapped around her—the click of instruments, the low chatter of her coworkers, the familiar scent of chemicals and metal. Every measurement, every calculation reminded her why she loved this. It grounded her.
Laura moved around the lab quietly now, keeping her distance. Clara was grateful for that. The last thing she needed was drama, especially here.
When Clara finally paused to stretch her neck, she caught sight of the sunlight filtering through the tall glass windows. The light glinted off the lab tables and gave the room a soft, golden glow. It made her smile without realizing it.
She wasn't the same girl Laura used to toy with. Not anymore.
Laura might be here, but Clara had a job to do—and she was good at it. Really good. For the first time in a long while, she felt like herself again: steady, sharp, and exactly where she needed to be.
This new life wasn't about hiding or worrying about the past. It was about building something better, one experiment at a time.
And no one—not Laura, not fate, not fear—was going to take that away from her.