CHAPTER 6

Elisa's eyes opened as the sunlight reflected off the curtains, waving in the breeze. Glancing slightly as her body warmed up, Elisa was surprised to find Felix's body beside hers. There was no way she could forget; she remembered how hot the two of them were. Sweating and hugging each other relentlessly, Felix did it until Elisa almost passed out.

Camelia had never had the fantasy of a hot romance like she had with Felix. Samuel only touched her when he wanted to, and Camelia was never asked whether she liked it or not when he did it roughly. But unlike Felix, every second or minute, Felix asked Elisa. Did he hurt her or not? Did she want him to stop their romance?

Little compliments Felix always said to Elisa. He pecked her forehead and always thanked her softly - this made Camelia jealous of Elisa's much luckier destiny, having Felix as a husband who loved Elisa. Guilt never disappeared, lurking in Camelia's little heart - she was afraid of falling deeper and deeper in love. Camelia was terrified that one day, Felix would be confused about her identity, not Elisa but Camelia.

"Good morning, Mrs. Taylor," Felix said in a hoarse voice typical of waking up.

Felix pulled Elisa by the waist, hugging her tightly. Bringing their bodies together under the same blanket for the first time, a genuine smile appeared on Felix's face. Caressing Elisa's cheek with trembling fingers, Felix repeatedly tried to convince himself that what he was touching was real.

"Morning, Mr. Taylor," Elisa replied nervously, her cheeks heating up at Felix's touch. The smile the man gave her, the genuine look that swept her away- Elisa's hand came up to brush Felix's mane, and she lifted her head slightly, giving him a brief peck on the lips.

Felix took her hand and kissed it deeply. He brought his face closer to Elisa's lips again, crushing them gently. His fingers that were previously on Elisa's waist moved to press against her head, their bodies getting closer until Felix cursed in his heart.

"Argh! Felix, stop." Elisa muttered in between her hot kisses. Felix's body was now directly on top of hers, both of his hands at her sides to keep her from pressing too hard against him.

"Does it still hurt? I played rough last night, and I'm afraid I acted selfishly this morning," said Felix, who realized that he had followed his lust too closely to care about Elisa's feelings.

"Felix-"

"No, baby, you have to remind me. Making love is not only for one party but should be done out of love that both parties can feel," Felix explained, looking at Elisa's guilty face.

"Our relationship has also recently improved. An accomplishment I never thought would happen in our marriage, thank you for leaving everything to me. Making me your first, I respect you."

Elisa nodded; she was looking at Felix's walking naked body. They had done it, but Elisa felt embarrassed trying to turn her face away. Until the slim, muscular body disappeared behind their bathroom door.

****

Never had Elisa and Felix been involved in eating together at the dining table like this morning. In the four years they had been married, the waiter had never seen any interaction between Mr. Felix and Mrs. Elisa.

They were married and living together. But it was foreign to both of them; there were no long conversations other than the curses from Elisa's mouth to Felix.

But everything was different this morning. As if by magic, Elisa, who never wore brightly colored clothes. Suddenly, she was wearing a yellow dress, complete with a headdress in the form of a small feather hat that matched her yellow dress.

Likewise, Felix was so handsome; according to the waiter, there was no bad day for Felix. The expensive, custom-designed suit hugged Felix's body tightly, the tightened muscles perfectly wrapped in the suit. Felix continued staring at his wife, and once he took a bite, he drank water from the glass. But he didn't let himself miss a second to admire Elisa's beauty today.

"Watch your food, Felix; you almost cut your finger," Elisa said, catching Felix's right hand, which was about to cut his left finger.

Elisa's face was so close that her and Felix's breath exchanged. Their eyes met; Felix's gaze was deep while Elisa tried to hold back the nervousness attacking her.

"Thank you, Elisa. I love your dress; you're very pretty today," Felix complimented Elisa on the cheek at the dining table.

How Felix praised her made Camelia feel the most loved in the world. She thought she deserved everything Felix gave her, the wounds caused by Samuel slowly being healed by Felix.

"What's wrong? You've suddenly turned moody," Felix asked again, covering both of Elisa's cheeks.

Elisa's eyes were glassy. Her lips trembled, and clear water ran down her cheeks. Camelia cried before Felix, sobbing as she remembered her destruction because she loved Samuel too much. Foolishly, she loved Samuel too much to be betrayed and then killed. And now Camelia was surviving in the body of another woman, loving Felix, who had no idea what had happened to his wife Elisa's soul.

"Elisa, Elisa, Elisa. Look at me; what's wrong, baby, don't cry. I'm sorry," Felix whispered, wiping away Elisa's tears.

Elisa shook her head, touching Felix's hands, which were still on her cheeks. "No need to apologize, Felix; I feel sad remembering my friend Camelia."

"Camelia, Samuel's late wife?" Felix asked again with furrowed brows.

"Yes."

"I'll take permission. I'll accompany you to visit her grave," continued Felix, who was about to take his cell phone out of his pocket.

Elisa intercepted Felix's hand and shook her head again. "No need, Felix, I'll go with the driver."

"Are you sure?"

"Go to work. You're almost late; time isn't significant to you."

"Check your cell phone. I've sent you money; use it for a walk after visiting Camelia's funeral." Felix kissed the top of Elisa's head and took the bag in his right hand.

Elisa escorted her husband until he got into the car. She waved, and Felix waved back at her. Eventually, Felix's car disappeared through the gates of the sprawling Taylor mansion.

Elisa also got into another car. She was going to visit the cemetery where Samuel had engineered the death so that Camelia's death insurance could be disbursed immediately.

"Ronan Samuel Philips. I assure you that you will be occupying that cemetery with your lover, Simona Layla, who will turn insane shortly." Elisa continued staring at the luxurious cemetery occupied by wealthy families, including the Philips family. Her father and mother were also buried here, and it was strange when Camelia came looking for her name among the headstones decorated with fresh flowers that were changed every day.

'Camelia Shannon Philips'

Born: March 8, 1996.

Death: April 8, 2024.

Elisa's lips spelled out the tombstone that had been found. The soil was still wet; the grass was growing, but nobody was in the soil. Camelia's body was crushed at the bottom of the ocean; I don't know what condition her body was in; maybe it had been crushed into fish food. Camelia was afraid of the sea and heights, but who would have guessed that she died when she was pushed off a cliff and fell into the cold sea?

Just imagining it sent chills down Elisa's body, her eyes flashing angrily. "Camelia Shannon. You were born to a painful fate! Blamed for your parents' deaths, then betrayed by the husband you love," Elisa said, talking to herself. "That damn fate. I'll make sure it doesn't happen again in this second life; I'll watch with the two eyes I borrowed to see the destruction of that bastard Samuel and that bitch Simona!"

Camelia's eyes also looked at the two tombstones side by side with the same date of death, where Camelia's parents were buried. Right next to her own grave, it was the very thing Camelia had dreamed of for a long time, but she did not expect her death to be so tragic as this.

"Mommy, Daddy. Did you see clearly from up there? Is your daughter being mistreated? The man I chose, I didn't expect to betray me. Of course, I won't just stay silent! This daughter of yours vows to be stronger than ever in this second life!" said Camelia, who only thought to herself as she looked alternately at the graves of her mother and father.

"What are you doing here, Elisabet?"

Elisa raised her glasses slightly. She turned her body, staring at Samuel with a sharp gaze. Her lips pressed tightly together; it was unexpected to meet this bastard in front of his fake grave.

"I came to visit Camelia. I can't believe she died at such a young age. What's more, her death is a little strange to me," Elisa said in a flat tone.

"Such is fate, Elisa. No one knows; I still don't believe in my wife's death," Samuel replied as he placed Lilly's flowers in the vortex of Camelia's grave. Then, stepping back to take a position right by Elisa's side, Samuel took one of his hands out of his pocket. He tried to touch Elisa's fingers again, but she immediately noticed and moved away.

Elisa twisted her body to cross her arms in front of her chest. Taking off her glasses, she did not return Samuel's smile. "I heard you're getting married soon," Elisa told Samuel. "Does your future wife know what you're like? Liking other people's wives, even wanting to touch me whenever you get the chance," Elisa said again.

Samuel's face turned stiff. His smile faded at Elisa's insinuation, but every time Elisa acted arrogantly and threw insinuating words at him, Samuel became increasingly challenged to get Elisa whether she had a husband. Since Elisa rejected him at the restaurant, Samuel has been intrigued and has tried to find opportunities to meet her, as he does today. He accidentally reunites with Elisa at the fake grave he made for his late, foolish wife, Camelia.

Samuel held his chin high. He quickly advanced his footsteps, pulled Elisa's hand, and gripped it firmly. Samuel's eyes flashed angrily, and he returned Elisa's gaze with equal fury. His hands wrapped around Elisa's tiny waist and pulled her into his arms. "My love, Elisa, I assume your sarcasm will turn into words of love for me one day. No matter how strong and how hard I try to take you from that damn Felix," Samuel whispered, kissing Elisa's cheek before releasing her from his embrace.

"You want to die?" growled Elisa.

"Go ahead if you can, Elisa," Samuel chuckled with a lascivious look.

"Elisabelt, before it's too late. Leave Felix and come to me. I will marry you and swear to make you the only woman in my life. I am no longer the poor man you said I was; Ronan Samuel Philips has become wealthy," Samuel added, flaunting himself before Elisa.

Samuel was an asshole. He was talking nonsense, hearing him get excited about marrying her and vowing to make her the only woman in his life. Making Elisa's jaw tighten, she stared intently at the murderer who had been posing as her husband all this time. Camelia couldn't believe that Samuel, who was so warm and caring during his time as her husband, had such a bastard nature that made her hate him even more. Samuel only liked a woman for her beauty; once he was satisfied, then the woman's fate might be the same as Camelia, who was killed and thrown to the bottom of the ravine.

"Dear Mr. Philips. Even if you were filthy rich or the only man left. I would still refuse and choose to kill myself rather than marry you. I've said it many times in human language, but you don't seem to understand me," said Elisa.

"I know, Elisa. You rejected me because Felix has more wealth, didn't you?"

"You're aware, Mr. Philips. There needs to be more than the entire Philips family fortune to match the Taylor family fortune. It's only a fraction of Jhasone Felix Taylor's."

"No need to flaunt your husband's wealth, Elisa. You married Felix through an arranged marriage; I also heard rumors that you two almost divorced last summer."

"Then, do you believe the rumors? Samuel, Samuel. I can't possibly divorce my wealthy husband. A prominent billionaire in São Paulo , his name is often mentioned for its greatness. How can I part with Felix just like that? Even if it's an arranged marriage, I can fall in love with him. Felix was perfect. Flawless, handsome, educated, wealthy, and very romantic."

Staring at each other fiercely, Elisa puffed herself up even more. She would not be cowed by Samuel's gaze that tried to intimidate her. Camelia emphasized that she had died in the ravine! And standing right now was Elisabelt, who had a grudge against Samuel. "Don't try to control my life, Samuel; I'm not Camelia Shanon, who you can easily trick and fool!"