Shadows Of The Past

Daisy stood in front of the mirror, her reflection gazing back at her with a determination she hadn't seen in years—or in lifetimes. Her face was the same as it had always been, but the fire in her eyes was new. The last chapter of her life had ended in fire, betrayal, and death, but this time, she would rewrite her story.

She knew where to start. Natalie.

"That snake," Daisy whispered to herself. She remembered the pain Natalie had caused her—the false concern, the lies, the carefully crafted web that had ensnared her entire family and led to their demise. But it was more than just manipulation. Natalie had powerful connections, and it wasn’t until Daisy’s dying days that she discovered just how deep her best friend’s ties went.

Natalie wasn’t just a conniving socialite. She had ties to the underworld—specifically the mafia. That was why Natalie had been untouchable, how she had gotten away with murder without even getting her hands dirty. Her enemies vanished, obstacles disappeared, and anyone who stood in her way was eliminated without a trace.

But Daisy wasn’t the same girl who had been blind to that darkness. Not anymore.

“Not this time,” Daisy muttered, pulling herself away from the mirror. She picked up her phone and typed a quick message to Louis, confirming their date for later in the evening. After that, she shot a text to Natalie.

> Hey bestie! Want to grab coffee before I meet up with Louis? Been meaning to catch up.

She smiled to herself, knowing Natalie would jump at the chance to insert herself into Daisy’s plans. If her so-called best friend thought she was still the same gullible girl, then Daisy would play along. She needed to buy time and gather as much information about Natalie’s connections as possible. This time, Daisy would be one step ahead.

---

The café was a small, trendy spot nestled on the corner of a busy street, filled with the scent of fresh pastries and the hum of conversation. Daisy walked in, scanning the room for Natalie. She found her sitting by the window, her manicured fingers delicately holding a cappuccino cup.

“Daisy! You look stunning as always,” Natalie called out with a sugary smile, waving her over.

Daisy plastered on her own smile, the kind that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Natalie, you’re too sweet,” she replied, sliding into the seat across from her.

They exchanged pleasantries, talking about meaningless gossip and upcoming social events. Natalie was as charming as ever, her voice warm and friendly. But underneath that mask, Daisy could feel the malice lurking. She had always been able to sense it before, but she had ignored it, blinded by the illusion of friendship. Not anymore.

Natalie’s smile faltered for just a moment, but she quickly recovered. “A date with Louis? I didn’t know you were still seeing him,” she said, her voice carefully neutral, but Daisy could hear the edge in it.

“Yeah,” Daisy replied casually, “I realized I made a lot of mistakes in the past, and I want to fix things with him. I think we deserve another chance.”

Natalie’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but she nodded, feigning support. “Of course, I’m happy for you. Louis is a great guy. Just… be careful, okay? You never know with men like him. They can be unpredictable.”

Daisy tilted her head, pretending to be confused. “Unpredictable? What do you mean?”

Natalie leaned forward, lowering her voice. “I just mean, men like Louis—they have secrets. He’s powerful, connected. You never really know what’s going on behind the scenes.”

Daisy’s heart raced, but she kept her expression neutral. Secrets? Was Natalie fishing for something, or was she implying something about Louis? Either way, Daisy knew that Natalie was dangerous, and she had to tread carefully.

“Well, I trust him,” Daisy said firmly, watching Natalie’s reaction.

Natalie smiled again, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Of course, bestie. I’m just looking out for you.”

The conversation continued, but Daisy’s mind was racing. She needed more information about Natalie’s mafia ties. There had to be a way to expose her without putting herself or her family in danger.

As they finished their coffees, Natalie excused herself to take a phone call. Daisy watched her as she stepped outside, her voice low and serious as she spoke into the phone. Who was she talking to? Daisy’s instincts screamed at her to follow, but she knew better than to be too obvious.

When Natalie returned, her smile was back in place. “Sorry about that, just some business to take care of.”

“Of course,” Daisy replied sweetly, “I know how busy you are.”

Natalie’s phone buzzed again, and she glanced at the screen. “I hate to cut this short, but I have to run. Let’s catch up soon, okay?”

“Definitely,” Daisy said, waving her off.

As soon as Natalie was out of sight, Daisy’s façade dropped. She quickly grabbed her phone and called a number she hadn’t dialed in years. It rang twice before a familiar voice answered.

“Liam? I need your help.”

---

Later that evening, Daisy found herself standing outside Five Aromas Restaurant, the place Louis had asked her to meet him for their date. Despite the day’s events, her nerves weren’t about Natalie anymore. They were all about Louis.

The memories of their last date in her previous life haunted her—the cold, final words, the heartbreak. But this was her chance to make things right. She had to, no matter what it took.

She entered the restaurant, the soft lighting casting a warm glow over the elegant setting. Daisy spotted Louis sitting at their reserved table in the back, looking as calm and composed as ever. He wore a tailored suit, his dark hair perfectly styled, but what caught her attention was the softness in his eyes as he looked up at her.

“You made it,” he said with a small smile as she approached.

“Of course,” Daisy replied, her voice steady though her heart was racing. She sat down across from him, the air between them thick with unresolved emotions.

They ordered their meals, and for a while, they engaged in small talk. It felt strange to Daisy, talking about mundane things like the weather and the latest films, when there was so much more she wanted to say. But she knew she couldn’t rush this.

When their main course arrived, Louis set his fork down, his eyes serious. “Daisy, there’s something we need to talk about.”

Daisy’s heart skipped a beat. She knew this conversation was coming, but she wasn’t ready for it. Not yet.

Louis sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I know things have been rocky between us. I don’t blame you for the way things ended before, but I need to be honest. I don’t want to keep pretending that everything is fine between us.”

Daisy swallowed hard, her mind racing. She had to stop this before he called it quits, before he pushed her away for good. She took a deep breath, steadying herself.

“Louis, wait,” she said, reaching across the table to take his hand. He looked at her, surprised by the sudden gesture.

“I know I’ve hurt you,” Daisy continued, her voice soft but filled with emotion. “I made so many mistakes in the past. I pushed you away when you were the one person who always stood by me. But I’m not that same girl anymore. I’ve changed, and I want to make things right between us.”

Louis watched her carefully, his expression unreadable. “And what if it’s too late, Daisy? What if too much damage has been done?”

Daisy’s grip on his hand tightened. “I don’t believe that. I know we can fix this if we both try. I’m willing to fight for us. I just need to know if you are too.”

For a long moment, Louis didn’t say anything. The silence between them felt heavy, but Daisy didn’t waver. She held his gaze, her heart pounding in her chest.

Finally, Louis exhaled, his shoulders relaxing just a little. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“I am,” Daisy said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I want this. I want us.”

Louis looked down at their joined hands, his thumb brushing gently over her skin. When he looked up again, there was a softness in his eyes that hadn’t been there before.

“Alright,” he said quietly. “Let’s give it another shot.”

Daisy felt a wave of relief wash over her, but she knew this was just the beginning. There were still so many challenges ahead, not just between them but also with Natalie lurking in the shadows. But for now, she had Louis back by her side, and that was enough.