Rebirth: Love me Again

[ELENA]

Elena glanced down at her hand, where her brief touch had lingered on Cole's shoulder earlier. It was quick, almost meaningless, but she had been ready. A single strand of hair plucked from his suit jacket.

Perfect.

Her mind worked quickly, laying out the next steps. With the right incantations and materials, she could ensure that Cole's thoughts turned to her. She didn't need his affection willingly—only his attention. Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire

It might be the twenty-first century, but the ways of bending fate hadn't been entirely lost to time. Elena smiled to herself, tucking the hair into a hidden compartment in her bag.

Eve might think she had won, but this game wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

And speaking of the devil, Eve arrived, her presence cutting through the air like a sudden gust. She looked slightly frazzled, as if she had rushed over from something important, her usually polished demeanor now tinged with urgency.

Elena's sharp eyes caught the subtle way Cole's face brightened the moment Eve entered the room. It was fleeting yet unmistakable, a warmth that seemed reserved solely for her.

A pang of jealousy stabbed through Elena's chest, sharper than she expected. She had to admit—though only to herself—that it stung.

If she hadn't left the country back then, things might have been different. Cole and she might have been something.

The thought gnawed at her, a bitter "what if" that wouldn't leave her alone. Eve wouldn't even have had a chance. The realization churned in her, each thought dragging her deeper into a storm of regret and envy.

Her mood soured, the unwanted emotions pooling in her chest like poison. Regret, envy, frustration—each one bubbling to the surface in a chaotic dance she couldn't quite suppress.

Cole had been hers first, hadn't he? Back when everything was simpler. Back when he still looked at her like she was the only one in the room.

She clenched her fists subtly, her perfectly manicured nails digging into her palms. No, this wasn't over. Eve might have captured his attention for now, but Elena wasn't about to let it stay that way. Not forever.

By the end of this evening, she vowed, the game would change. She would make sure of it.

Her eyes flicked toward Cole, then back to Eve, her mind already working. She had come prepared, after all.

=== 🤍 ===

[EVE]

I rushed to the restaurant, heart pounding like I'd been chased by a swarm of bees. No—worse than bees. It felt like venomous snakes were slithering right behind me, fangs ready to strike. That's exactly how Elena made me feel.

I didn't know why, but every instinct screamed that her reappearance in our lives was trouble wrapped in a sweet-smiling package.

When I entered, there she was, perched like a queen at the table, talking to Cole. My stomach churned. I didn't need to hear their conversation to know what was happening.

I'd seen her strategy before—thanks to Riri's endless stories about mixers. She was doing the infamous "Oops-I-have-too-much-lotion" move, complete with her doe-eyed, syrupy giggle as she squeezed an exaggerated dollop onto her hands. She even dared to reach for Cole's hand, but he simply handed her the tissue box with a bored look on his face.

Nice try, Elena. Now you've experience just how indifferent and rude Cole is.

When we were young, Cole had always favored her over me. She had basked in his attention, leaving me in the shadows, unnoticed and unimportant. But now, the tables had turned.

This time, she would taste the bitter sting of being ignored—the sharp humiliation of being dismissed. Let her feel what it's like to be on the outside looking in, longing for something she could no longer have.

Without missing a beat, I marched over with my brightest smile, the kind so radiant it made people question if it was genuine—or laced with venom.

"Hello there! I hope I'm not intruding," I said, voice light but firm enough to slice through whatever sugary nonsense Elena was spinning.

"Oh, hello, Eve. You're not intruding at all," Elena replied, her tone dripping with faux sweetness, the kind that could rot teeth.

Cole, ever the charmer, grabbed my hand and kissed it tenderly. "We were just wrapping up here. You should've waited for me at the apartment."

What? Wait at home and worry myself into a frenzy while he sat here entertaining her? No thanks. "I had some spare time, so I thought I'd fetch you and say hello to Elena," I said, keeping my smile firmly in place.

"You have nothing to fear from me," Elena said smoothly, but her eyes betrayed the challenge she was throwing my way. "Cole and I were merely catching up."

Oh, I knew what that meant. She wanted me to feel jealous. And so what if I did? Was there a problem with protecting what's mine?

"Is that so?" I said, keeping my tone light as I pulled out my own bottle of lotion. Slowly, and intentionally, I squeezed out more than necessary, letting the creamy excess pool in my hands. Never taking my eyes off her, I spread it over my hands with exaggerated care.

"Oops, I seem to have too much," I said, feigning innocence, and turned to Cole. "Want some?"

Cole blinked, caught off guard, but he offered his hands with a helpless smile. "Sure."

I massaged the lotion into his hands, taking my time, making sure Elena saw every moment. "You've been working too hard," I cooed to Cole, "your hands are rough," and threw a meaningful smile at Elena's way as if daring her to top this.

Elena's sweet smile faltered, just for a second, but it was enough. Satisfaction bloomed in my chest as I caught the faintest flicker of jealousy in her expression. She tried to recover, smacking her lips together like she hadn't just been bested.

"Well then," she said, standing abruptly. "Since Eve is here, I suppose our talk is over. I'll be going ahead now."

I wiggled my fingers in a sarcastic little wave, my smile as sharp as broken glass.

"Byeee~."