I Saw Her Confession And Went Back In Time Chapter 02

I Saw Her Confession And Went Back In Time Chapter 02

The next morning, I gathered my things early, waiting for Bennett to drive me to my pre-employment screening.

But when I pulled open the passenger door, Chloe was already sitting in the back seat.

I shot a look at Bennett. I had specifically asked him not to bring Chloe.

Bennett gave me a helpless, apologetic look and whispered, “I tried to tell her no, but she insisted on tagging along.”

Overhearing him, Chloe put on a deeply hurt expression.

“Valerie, we promised that no matter who passed, we’d support each other through the entire process,” she whimpered. “You’ve been acting so weird since yesterday. Did I do something to upset you?”

I checked the time on my phone. If I stood here arguing with her, I was going to be late for the appointment.

Besides, keeping her right under my nose where I could watch her every move might actually be safer.

I wasn’t about to let Chloe steal my life from me a second time.

I buckled my seatbelt and nodded at Bennett to start the car. “You’re overthinking it. I just didn’t think we needed a whole crowd going.”

Chloe forced a weak laugh, though a flash of pure venom crossed her face.

I closed my eyes and ignored her.

The moment the car pulled out of our neighborhood, Chloe leaned forward and handed me a bottle of water.

“Here, Valerie, have some water. Your lips look incredibly chapped.”

I glared at her, completely losing my patience. “I told you, I can’t eat or drink anything before the screening. Do you have trouble understanding plain English?”

Chloe froze, entirely unprepared for me to be so blunt.

Bennett frowned, feeling bad for Chloe, and chimed in, “Valerie, relax. You’re being paranoid. A sip of water isn’t going to ruin your lab results.”

Instead of answering, I popped in my earplugs, shut my eyes, and went to sleep.

For the rest of the drive, I treated Chloe like she was invisible, no matter what she said or did.

Her initial composure began to crack, replaced by a visible, growing agitation.

When we finally parked outside the Occupational Medical Screening Center, I let out a long breath, double-checked my bag, and stepped out of the car.

Chloe scrambled out right behind me and grabbed my forearm.

“Valerie, take this at least! It’s a good-luck charm I got for you to make sure everything goes well today.”

As she spoke, she reached for my document bag. I leaped backward to dodge her, causing the charm to slip from her fingers and hit the pavement, spilling a small trace of white powder onto the concrete.

I let out a cold laugh. There it was—the trap.

“They don’t allow outside items in the testing area,” I snapped, turning on my heel.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Chloe snatch up the fallen charm and sprint after me.

“Valerie, wait up! This charm really works!”

I quickened my pace and stepped into the screening area just as her fingers brushed my jacket.

A security guard immediately stepped between us, blocking Chloe outside.

I turned around and raised an eyebrow at her. The mask of friendship had completely fallen away, revealing a look of pure hatred on her face before she could hide it.

Taking a few deep breaths to stabilize my heart rate, I followed the staff’s instructions and went through each station.

When the final lab station was cleared, the crushing weight on my chest finally lifted.

I walked back out to the waiting area to bide my time until the final clearance report.

After more than twelve hours without water, I unscrewed the cap and drank deeply.

“Look at you. You were dying of thirst,” Bennett teased. “Once the paperwork clears, I’m taking you to that celebration BBQ down the street.”

I smiled and nodded, completely ignoring Chloe, who was sitting nearby wringing her fingers so hard her knuckles were turning white.

In my past life, I would have rushed over to comfort her, but now, she didn’t exist to me.

A few minutes later, the nurse called my name. Every result was within range.

Ten years of stored trauma, grief, and terror washed over me all at once, and I collapsed into Bennett’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

I had finally taken my destiny back.