In Into the Deep, Rumple told Belle that Cora was “Someone you’ll never meet”. Saying that almost guarantees that Belle is going to have some sort of interaction with Cora.
or that Cora does make it to SB, sooner or later and ALL of the residents will have to face her.
But I do agree, I would be surprised if Cora ignored Bella’s significance.
We still need to learn what Cora’s plans are exactly. Is she after Regina? Or Rumple, who apparently defeated her? I reckon both but then again, the writers may give her completely different reasons after all.