CHAPTER 4

News of Camelia's death has subsided for one week. Happy news actually reappeared from the Philips family; to be precise, Samuel Philips conveyed the happy news that he would soon marry Simona Layla and not only the news of marriage but also the news of Simona's pregnancy.

Elisa, who was at Felix's residence, was getting angry. Samuel had gone too far, and they must have happily enjoyed Camelia's wealth. Elisa would not forget her grudge against Samuel; until she died a hundred times, she would still avenge all her heartache on her ex-husband.

"Ck...ck Samuel. Did you think I was dead? I was reborn to avenge you," she muttered, staring at a dark red paper that became Samuel and Simona's wedding invitation. Luckily for her, her husband Felix was invited to their wedding.

The clear Cristal that she had been desperately holding back finally fell into her eyes. Flowing between her cheeks, Camelia, who was inside Elisa's body, had to live with a pain that she could not explain to anyone.

There was another knock on the door. Elisa quickly put away the invitation behind a pile of magazines; she roughly wiped away her tears and then showed a thin curved line when she saw the face of the servant who entered.

"What's wrong?" she asked the two servants who approached her.

"Mr. Felix told us to give it to you, ma'am," replied the waiter, placing several brand-name paper bags in front of Elisa.

"What for?" she asked again. She was still confused as to what Felix had bought her all this stuff for.

"Mr. Felix did not convey any message to us, ma'am."

"Well, then you may leave."

After the servant left, Elisa opened one of the large paper bags. Then she opened the lid of the box, which was tied with a black ribbon from a well-known brand. A black glitter sleeveless dress was so beautiful. But what caught Elisa's attention was a letter left on that dress.

'Elisa. I hope you like the dress I chose; I hope you'll accompany me to the party at Mr. Philips' residence.'

Saying the word Philips made Elisa feel angry. Of course, she would still go to the party with Felix, but not in this dress.

***

Elisa was getting ready in the dress of her choice tonight. The dark red dress had just arrived in the afternoon, and luckily, it was the boutique where Camelia had ordered the dress. Still selling the same dress as the late Camelia, the dress Elisa wore tonight would make Samuel remember because he had made this dress as their wedding anniversary present.

"Perfect!" Elisa's lips complimented her elegant and beautiful appearance in the sleeveless dress. With her makeup slightly emphasized in the eye area, she left her hair loose and shiny.

At the sound of the door knocking again, Elisa's head turned slightly as her eyes met Felix's bewitching blue sea-like eyes. She continued to stare into Felix's eyes without blinking; even when Felix's burly body made it into her room, her eyes remained fixed on one point.

"You're so beautiful. I thought the dress I gave you was too simple; I like your dress," Felix said, breaking the silence between himself and his wife, Elisa.

Elisa shook her head. She seemed to almost break Felix's hope from the man's tone; he must have been very disappointed that she had chosen to wear another dress. "It's not like that, Felix; your dress is beautiful, but the color looks like it reminds me of death. I don't want Mr. Philips to feel sad remembering his late wife."

"You're right! But I don't think Mr. Philips is that sad as he quickly found a replacement, and she is also pregnant with their baby."

Elisa grimaced. Even a sane person like Felix thought so; how could a husband who said his wife had an accident with a car that went into a ravine a week ago now tell the news of marriage with another woman?

"Yes. No matter what you say, Felix, a dead woman can't come back. A man like Samuel Philips can't live alone either," Elisa said with a slight smile. She welcomed Felix's outstretched hand towards her, and he took her hand and draped it over Felix's muscular arm, which was covered by a tight formal suit.

They set off in Felix's private vehicle. Elisa stayed silent, staring out the window, while Felix was busy with the cell phone attached to his right ear.

Soon, he would reach the Philips mansion. This mansion actually belonged to Camelia; she had returned home but not with her body. No one could recognize her, nor could the servants and private drivers who had worked for years with her recognize the new Camelia.

"Elisa. Are you okay?" Felix asked, touching Elisa's hand.

Elisa was surprised and quickly withdrew her hand from Felix's warm touch. Her head turned to catch a glimpse of Felix's eyes before her eyes gazed into the magnificent mansion in front of them. That's right! They had arrived at Mr. Philips' residence.

"Yeah. I almost fell asleep; the trip was a bit boring, and now I can't wait to get in," Elisa said, a smile on her lips. This time, she had a genuine smile for Felix, even though he didn't know the truth about her.

Felix smiled, too, as he went downstairs first and waited for Elisa to come down. Elisa was now beside him, but Felix was at a loss as to what to do. Considering his wife didn't like being touched in public, Elisa had previously planned the romantic thing between Felix and Elisa.

"Felix? Why are you keeping your distance?" asked Elisa, approaching her husband, taking Felix's hand and placing it on her waist - following the couple who had entered first.

"No, I just want to make you feel comfortable," said Felix, who also couldn't hide his surprise at what Elisa had said.

"If you stay away. I'd be uncomfortable. I don't know anyone here besides you," she continued shortly.

Felix showed the invitation to Samuel's bodyguards. As they let Felix and Elisa in, Elisa's Ysl heels made their way onto the grass of the Philips mansion garden, and all the guests glanced at her and Felix. All of them, without exception, even raised their cell phones and took pictures of her and Felix. Elisa didn't know how influential Felix was in the business world, but the old Elisa needed to be more careful. From what she knew, Elisabelt Taylor was a supermodel who had a lot of experience in the modeling world; they both shone as brightly as she and Felix had tonight.

'Mr. Taylor and Mrs. Taylor.' Elisa's eyes read the names on the table. Remembering this round table, she had been disowned when she was Samuel Philips' wife. But that was all in the past; she looked at Felix, who gentlemanly pulled out a chair for her.

"Thank you, Felix," Elisa whispered, sitting down gracefully.

"All eyes are on us. I'm sorry I made you feel uncomfortable," Felix said, taking two glasses of champagne for his wife and himself.

"I don't mind being the center of attention. Because I'm a famous model who has the best husband of the richest billionaire in Sao Paulo," Elisa proudly praised everyone in a voice that she deliberately raised. So that everyone nearby could hear her praise for her husband.

Elisa raised her glass and sipped the champagne slowly. Her eyes saw Samuel walking down the aisle with the woman Elisa hated. Simona and Samuel now looked so happy that they were laughing and waving their arms. All the cheers could be heard from the guests, but only Felix and Elisa looked calm.

Elisa's eyes couldn't escape watching Samuel, who visited one table after another, greeting the guests along with Simona, who shamelessly clung to Samuel. The most disgusting thing was that Simona was wearing the same dress she was wearing.

"Samuel can't afford to buy his girlfriend a dress and has to wear his late wife's dress," Elisa murmured.

"Good evening, Mr. Taylor; sorry to just say hello."

Felix stood up to shake Samuel's hand and glanced at the woman who was stealing glances at him. "Evening. Mr. Philips and--"

"Simona. She'll be Mrs. Philips in a minute," Samuel continued proudly, introducing his girlfriend.

Felix chuckled in his heavy voice with a small glance at his wife, Elisa, who was drinking champagne. "My wife, I'm sorry I couldn't-" Felix's words were cut short as Elisa stood looking intently at Samuel and Simona in turn.

"Thank you for inviting me, Mr. Philips." Elisa accepted Samuel's handshake; she gripped his hand firmly and then released it roughly. Then her eyes went back to looking at Simona down to her face. "Wow, we're wearing the same dress, Mrs. Philips; I didn't expect the same dress. I have a feeling that the dress I'm wearing was only produced twice, and one of the buyers was the late Camelia Shannon Philips," Elisa quipped openly, making Simona's face redden with embarrassment.

"Really, Mrs. Taylor? But I heard this dress was in a production of three, and I was their last buyer. You're so beautiful with that gorgeous makeup," Simona complimented, still with a flushed face.

After greeting them, Samuel and Simona went back to greet the other guests. Elisa smiled a few times, taking another sip from her second glass of champagne. "I'm sorry to embarrass you, Felix. But I feel suspicious about my best friend's death," Elisa said, turning around to find Felix's blue eyes staring into her face.

"No, I'm not. I'm not embarrassed by you; my beautiful wife always tells the truth," Felix replied, raising his glass and touching Elisa's before taking a sip.

"Felix. I need to use the toilet," Elisa said quickly as she saw Simona walk in, leaving Samuel behind.

"Do you want me to take you? I'm afraid you're lost," said Felix, who tried to stand up, but Elisa held his arm and shook her head.

"I'll ask the waiter if I get lost, Felix."

Elisa walked away from her desk and headed towards the mansion. She saw the maid standing on the terrace of the mansion. "Where is the toilet?" she asked quickly. Even though she already knew where the restroom was, she still had to be formal to avoid being suspected by the maid.

"Let me show you, Mrs."

"No need. Just tell me where it is."

Elisa nodded at the waiter's explanation and walked quickly in the direction indicated. Looking left and right to make sure no servants were watching, she entered the elevator and headed to the third floor, where her room was located.

When she reached the third floor, Elisa hid again when she saw two servants coming down with their hands. "Damn! I almost got caught!" she thought to herself.

She stepped into her and Samuel's room. Opening the unlocked door, she looked into the mirror, took out her red lipstick and wrote a message on it. And poured fake blood on the dressing table and also on the bed that Simona and Samuel shared.

After doing all that, Elisa exited quickly; lucky for her, she managed to get into the elevator again and got off easily. She walked into the toilet and found Simona there. Elisa was casually washing her hands at the sink, glancing at Simona through the glass in front of her.

"Do you know Camelia?" asked Simona, suddenly intercepting Elisa, who was about to exit.

"Who doesn't know Camelia Shannon Philips, a woman of noble blood who married a poor man? But fate had it that she died a mysterious death," Elisa replied, looking Simona straight in the eye. "That poor man, Samuel. And I didn't expect him to marry his secretary and announce a sudden pregnancy when it had only been two weeks since Samuel lost Camelia."

"Watch your language, Mrs. Taylor! You're just a guest here!" shouted Simona with her hand raised to slap Elisa across the face.

But Elisa's hand was faster; she slapped Simona hard across the face. Not only once, but she did it multiple times, making her body fall at her feet.

"Simona Layla. I will always remember the incident that night you were in the room with my husband. Making disgusting love, then giving him a baseball bat to kill me," Elisa said with a blank stare at the frightened Simona, who backed away.

"Camelia. No, no, you're dead!" snapped Elisa in fear. Trying to stand up and choke Elisa's neck, at the same time, the toilet door was broken down.

"What are you doing to my wife!" concluded Felix, violently pulling Simona's hands away from his wife's neck.

"No, no, no. I didn't do anything," Simona retorted defensively.

Felix covered Elisa's cheeks and saw that his wife's face was pale, and there was a red line on Elisa's white neck. "Elisa, are you alright?" said a panicked Felix, who quickly picked her up and carried her out of there.

Elisa hid her face in Felix's chest. She tried to stifle her laughter, remaining calm as her body was carried out.

"What's wrong, Mr. Taylor?"

Samuel's faint voice stopped Felix.

"Your wife-to-be almost killed my wife! As of today, I will charge you, Mr. Philips, with attempted murder!" Felix's voice rang out to all the guests.

"Samuel! I didn't kill her; that woman is Camelia! She's Camelia," Simona shouted clearly.

"Simona! What are you saying," Samuel was also annoyed by Simona's sudden arrival, shouting his late wife's name.