Chapter sixteen(16)
627 Words
Chapter 16
Clara was still staring at the direction Bella had gone when a slow clap broke the silence.
“Well… wasn’t that touching.”
Clara stiffened.
She turned.
Lilian stood a few steps away, sunglasses resting perfectly on her face, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Olivia rolled her eyes immediately. “Oh great. The star herself.”
Lilian ignored her.
Her gaze settled on Clara.
“I didn’t expect you to actually show up,” she said smoothly. “You’re getting bold.”
Clara’s expression remained calm. “I came to see my sister.”
Lilian let out a soft laugh.
“Your sister?” she repeated. “That’s funny.”
Her heels clicked softly as she stepped closer.
“Because from where I stand, she’s just another struggling actress clinging to relevance.”
Olivia scoffed. “At least she’s working. Can’t say the same about your personality.”
Lilian’s eyes flicked to Olivia briefly—unimpressed.
Then back to Clara.
“You should listen to the warning,” she said quietly.
Clara’s fingers curled slightly at her sides.
“I didn’t come here for you.”
“No,” Lilian agreed. “You came to make a point.”
She tilted her head slightly.
“Showing up here… after last night… after embarrassing me.”
Clara finally met her gaze fully.
“I didn’t embarrass you.”
Lilian smiled—but there was no warmth in it.
“Of course you did.”
Her voice dropped.
“But don’t worry… I fixed it.”
Clara frowned slightly. “What does that mean?”
Lilian leaned in just enough for only Clara to hear.
“It means Bella’s already being ‘reviewed’ by her management.”
Clara’s breath caught.
Lilian straightened again, adjusting her sleeve casually.
“You know how it is,” she continued lightly. “One bad impression… one wrong association…”
She shrugged.
“Careers disappear.”
Olivia stepped forward. “You’re actually insane.”
Lilian ignored her again.
Clara’s voice came out low, controlled.
“Leave Bella out of this.”
Lilian’s smile widened just a little.
“Then stay in your place.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Then—
“You really think you belong anywhere near Adam’s family?” Lilian said
Clara didn’t respond.
But her eyes didn’t drop either.
That… irritated Lilian.
“You’ve always been like this,” she said, her tone sharpening slightly. “Quiet. Pretending to be innocent.”
A pause.
“But we both know what you are.”
Clara spoke, finally.
Soft.
Firm.
“Like I said earlier I’m not here so you,so get out of my way I have other things to do”
That landed.
For a split second, Lilian’s expression flickered.
Then it was gone.
“Careful,” she said.
“Or what?” Olivia cut in. “You’ll cry to your manager again?”
Lilian exhaled slowly, like she was done entertaining them.
Then she looked at Clara one last time.
“This is your last warning.”
Her voice dropped—cold, final.
“Stay away from that family.”
A beat.
“Or next time… I won’t go through Bella.”
She turned.
And just like that, she walked away, heels clicking against the pavement.
⸻
Silence lingered after she left.
Olivia let out a breath. “I really want to fight her.”
Clara didn’t respond immediately.
Her eyes were still fixed on where Lilian had been standing.
Her jaw tightened slightly.
“…She’s already started,” she said quietly.
Olivia looked at her. “Then we don’t sit back.”
Clara finally looked up.
And this time—
There was something different in her eyes.
Not fear.
Not hesitation.
Something stronger.
“No… we don’t.”
- Writer
