CHAPTER 3

It was a very bright day with the morning news of Camelia Shannon Philips' death. Elisa's eyes stared at the television screen in the hospital. They said that Camelia had been involved in a single-vehicle accident that had sent the car she was driving into a ravine. And now they were still looking for Camelia's body, which had probably disintegrated and become fish food.

She couldn't believe Samuel had engineered her death so dramatically; now, there was no point in explaining that she was alive. Her body was different, and what remained was no longer love but hatred and revenge. Samuel and Simona were so hungry to eat all the wealth left behind by him.

Meanwhile, Camelia, who was currently in Elisha's body, could not taste water or food because of the trauma they had done to her. Her tears were no longer even willing to mourn or feel regret; she would face this second life as Camelia with a new soul without pity.

Faintly, Elisa heard the sound of the door opening. She knew Felix's arrival, his masculine perfume wafting over her even from a distance. Nevertheless, she was still nervous whenever Felix came to her; the Camelia inside Elisa's body had to accept that she was no longer Camelia Shannon Philips. But she was Elisabelt Collins Taylor, the wife of billionaire Jhonson Felix Taylor.

"The nurse told me that you haven't eaten anything since last night," Felix said, his eyes boring into Elisa's face, the woman still focused on the television screen. Felix's hand quickly grabbed the remote and turned off the television, making Elisa want to look up at him.

"I can't eat anything; I'm sorry," Elisa said, glancing briefly at Felix and then turning her face in the other direction, not feeling nervous as she looked deeply into Felix's eyes.

"Eat, eat anything, even if it's just a little," Felix said again, his anger subsiding as he heard Elisa apologize. Strange but true, that's how Felix felt. Since the accident, his wife had been declared amnesiac, and Elisa's character had also changed 180. The word apology was very difficult for Elisa to say to anyone, including Felix.

Elisa shook her head quickly and looked deeply into Felix's eyes. Felix reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a cell phone, and Elisa vaguely saw Felix typing away. I don't know who he was texting, but he put the phone back on the table, opened his jacket, and rolled his shirt to his sleeve.

"Wait, I ordered your favorite food," Felix added spontaneously, raising his hand to the top of Elisa's head and rubbing it gently.

Soon, the door was knocked again; Felix stepped away from Elisa and greeted a paper bag from Elisa's favorite restaurant. No, no, Felix didn't know Elisa this well. Felix had asked Elisa's manager beforehand.

Elisa remained silent as her husband Felix helped her correct her seating position. Then he opened the table and took out all of Elisa's favorite foods, which turned out to be the same as Camelia's.

"Bon appetit. Hopefully, your appetite will improve after this," Felix said, handing Elisa a spoon.

"Thank you, Felix," Elisa replied, taking the spoon gently.

Felix nodded, his face looking very flat. However, few people realized Felix often smiled in his eyes; he was pleased with Elisa's new nature, even though it was only temporary.

"When am I allowed to go home?" Elisa asked as she finished her meal.

"Are you feeling better? I'm going to consult the doctor," Felix replied, adjusting Elisa's seat.

"Yes, I'm much better. It's only a small wound on the temple anyway," Elisa said.

"Alright, I'll talk to the doctor," Felix continued as his body was about to turn around, his arm held by Elisa.

"Felix, thank you once again for saving my life."

"No need to thank me. It's my responsibility as your husband," Felix replied before disappearing behind the door.

****

"Just stop searching for Camelia's body, darling. The media will also get sick of reporting on the dead Camelia," said Simona, hugging Samuel's back, who was facing the balcony.

The mansion that Samuel and Camelia lived in before is now over. Now, the servants would get used to their new mistress, Simona Laila, being in the mansion, One thing Camelia didn't realize. All the servants in the mansion were on Samuel's side; they all kept the affair a secret that had been going on for a long time, three years to be precise.

"Honey, calm down. I made the engineering of Camelia's death so amazing; wait a little while until the insurance company disburses Camelia's death money," Samuel replied, turning his body around, touching Simona's chin, and then crushing Simona's lips, which always made him lustful.

They made love again on Camelia's late bed. Even though Samuel and Camelia's wedding portrait was still displayed in the room, the two humans who did not know themselves desecrated Camelia's kindness.

"Argh! Samuel faster," Simona sighed, clutching Samuel's shoulder. Her head looked up, and her eyes turned white, enjoying the sensation of pleasure Samuel was giving her.

"My pleasure," Samuel whispered in between his brutal kisses on Simona. He picked up the pace, lifting Simona's synthetic ass slightly.

"I'm almost there, baby, scream," said Samuel, who was on top of Simona's body and slightly nodded.

"AHH, I love you, Simona."

"Argh! Shit, I love you more, Samuel."

Samuel held Simona's body tightly in his arms. He smiled a little when he realized Simona was kissing his chest. Samuel had never fallen in love so deeply; Simona made Samuel forget Camelia.

"What if I get pregnant?" Simona looked up to gaze deeply into Samuel's eyes.

"We'll get married, dear. Don't worry. I hope that you get pregnant soon. That's what we make love for all the time," Samuel whispered, kissing Simona's lips.

"I've wanted to get pregnant for a long time, too. But since you still have Camelia in your life, I don't feel confident," Simona murmured, rubbing Samuel's muscular arm.

"Why do you care so much about Camelia? As long as I'm married to her, touching her body feels so disgusting. Her sighs are like the sound of a female dog that makes me sick," explained Samuel, who was demonizing Camelia.

"What about the sound of my sighs? We made love more than four times today," Simona said with a chuckle; she bit her lower lip, pulling one of Samuel's hands towards her chest. "He's inattentive; please give him the best service," Simona whispered, holding back her sighs as Samuel squeezed her breasts.

"I want to do it again, Simona; you're a real bitch!" repeated Samuel smacking Simona's lips.

***"This is your room," Felix said, opening one of the doors when they reached the mansion.

"And across there is my room," Felix continued, pointing to the door in front of Elisa's room.

"Sleeping separately?" asked a confused Elisa.

"Yes. Maybe you don't remember, but you asked me to sleep separately," Felix continued, trying to get Elisa to remember some of her habits.

"Really? Then thank you, Felix," said Elisa, who slightly nodded.

"Good night, Elisa."

"Good night, Felix." 

Felix closed the door, and Elisa sat on the bed. She looked around; there wasn't a single wedding photo until Camelia thought Elisa and Felix weren't married. They looked like strangers living in the same house.

Camelia looked back at the reflection of her face in Elisa's vanity mirror."Elisa, wherever you are right now, thank you for lending me your body."

Felix was surprised to hear his wife muttering on the other side of the door. Shaking his head a few times, Elisa's words made no sense. Felix promised to bring Elisa's memory back to normal.

"Where is Elisa?" Felix asked, opening the door again.

Elisa looked surprised when she saw the reflection of Felix's face entering the room. Throwing glances at each other, Camelia found it challenging to explain because surely Felix would think that she was hallucinating.

"What do you mean?"

"You said Elisa lent her body to you, so where is Elisa now?"

"I--"

Felix pursed his lips to cut off Elisa's words. "Elisa. Stop thinking things that aren't- no, you must rest a lot."

Elisa nodded. Turning to stare at Felix's bearded body standing a meter before her, Elisa's lips curled into a small smile. "Thank you, Felix, you're all I have right now. You're the only one I can trust," she said to Felix.

"I know our marriage was a marriage without love. But I will never forget my responsibilities as your husband," Felix continued.

"Felix. Has the search for Camelia Shannon Philips' body been completed?"

Felix shook his head. "Not yet. Tomorrow, they will be holding a funeral in honor of the late Camelia; her body has been declared unrecoverable," explained Felix, who had heard bits and pieces of the progress of the search for his business partner's body. "You knew Camelia?" continued Felix.

"Yes. I knew Camelia; she met me a few times when I was abroad," Elisa replied with a slight lie. "I had to come to offer my condolences to the Philips family," Elisa continued.

"I think your health comes first, Elisa. I'll pass on your message to Samuel, Camelia's husband," Felix said, stepping forward and standing closer to Elisa, who was still sitting in the dressing table chair. Felix lowered his head to equalize her height. 

"Felix. Please, just once; I'm much better than you think," continued Elisa, boldly holding Felix's hand. 

Felix fell silent again. Frozen in place, he spontaneously glanced at her hand. Elisa's tiny, warm fingers reached out and grasped his hand, something Felix had never experienced in his entire marriage to Elisa. Everything was like a dream for Felix; not even money could buy him happiness.

Felix's one free hand pulled Elisa's back. Bringing her tiny body into his arms, he held her tightly. Felix hoped she couldn't hear the sound of his heartbeat."I'll let you go, Elisa. We'll go together," whispered Felix, who felt his knees weaken as he tried to stay strong.

Elisa nodded her hand slowly but surely, rubbing Felix's neck. Closing her eyes briefly, being in Felix's arms seemed to bring positive energy to Camelia, but unfortunately, in Felix's heart, there was only Elisa's name and not Camelia's.

"After all my vengeance is avenged, I will ensure Elisa returns to you, Felix." Elisa thought to herself.

 ***