Chapter 3

The next day, Edgar insisted on moving me from the high-security Hamptons mansion to our old penthouse in the city. He called it "reintegrating" me, a step towards a more normal life. I knew it was another layer of his twisted control.

The moment the elevator doors opened into the penthouse, a wave of nausea washed over me. It was our home, the place where Edgar and I had built a life, where we had shared dreams. Now, it was unrecognizable.

The minimalist, art-filled space I had so carefully curated was gone. In its place was a riot of plush velvet furniture, ornate gold accents, and garish abstract paintings. The colors were loud, clashing. My quiet sanctuary had been desecrated.

"Surprise, darling!" Amelie appeared from the living room, a triumphant smirk on her face. She was draped in a silk gown, the color a shocking fuchsia that made my eyes ache. "Do you like what I've done with the place? Edgar said you'd love my modern touch."

My gaze swept over the room, landing on the ornate crystal chandelier that now hung where a sleek, custom-designed light fixture once was. I remembered spending weeks with a renowned artisan, designing that piece. It had been more than just a light; it was a symbol of our shared vision, our future. Now, it was gone.

"This," Amelie purred, gesturing grandly with a manicured hand, "is our home, Elise. Edgar let me redecorate completely. He said your old style was a little... dated. Too cold."

My heart squeezed. Cold? My design was minimalist, elegant, a reflection of my soul. Edgar had always loved it. He had always praised my taste, my eye for detail. Or so I thought. I remembered him saying, years ago, when I was agonizing over a particular shade of gray for the walls, "It's perfect, Elise. This space reflects you. It's serene, sophisticated. It's home."

My stomach churned. The hypocrisy. The blatant disregard for everything that was once mine. He had denied me a simple change of curtain fabric when I' d asked for it, claiming the existing ones were "perfect." Now, the entire apartment was a monument to Amelie's gaudy taste.

"It's... different," I managed, my voice flat. I saw the flash of disappointment in Amelie's eyes, quickly replaced by a smug satisfaction. She wanted a reaction, a breakdown. I wouldn't give her the satisfaction.

Edgar walked up behind me, wrapping an arm around my waist. "See, I told you she'd be surprised, Amelie." He kissed my temple. "It's beautiful, isn't it, my love? Amelie did a wonderful job."

I leaned away from his touch, subtly, but enough to create a small space between us. "It's certainly... bold," I said, a faint, sardonic smile touching my lips. Let them interpret it as awe, or confusion. I didn't care.

"Edgar," Amelie said, her voice dropping to a seductive whisper, "I think we should celebrate. Just the two of us. I have a bottle of that vintage champagne you like." She tugged at his arm, her eyes darting to me with a proprietary glare.

Edgar hesitated, his gaze flicking to me. I knew what he wanted. He wanted to maintain the facade of my "lover," his "wife." But he also wanted Amelie. He always wanted both. His greed knew no bounds.

A perfect opportunity.

"Oh, go on, Edgar," I said, forcing a weary smile. "You two should celebrate. I... I think I'll just go lie down. All this... change is a bit overwhelming." I rubbed my temples, feigning a headache. "Perhaps Amelie can show me which room is mine? I don't want to get lost."

Amelie's eyes widened, a flicker of surprise, then malicious glee. She probably thought I was finally accepting my place as the mistress, the forgotten woman.

"Of course, darling," Amelie purred, her victory evident. She grabbed my arm, her grip surprisingly strong. "Come, I'll show you to your... guest suite."

She led me down the hallway, her perfume almost suffocating. We passed what used to be my private study, then my art studio, both now redecorated beyond recognition. Each step was a fresh stab of pain, a reminder of what they had taken.

She stopped at a door, pushing it open with a flourish. "Here you go. Your little sanctuary."

It was a small room, tucked away, far from the main living areas and, crucially, far from the master suite. My stomach clenched. This used to be the guest room. The room Amelie herself had occupied when she first stayed with us. The irony was a bitter taste.

The room was filled with gaudy furniture, clearly leftovers from the main redecorating. On the dresser, a collection of designer handbags and shoes were casually tossed.

"These are just some of my extras," Amelie said, gesturing vaguely at the items. "I have so many, I don't even know what to do with them all. Edgar is so generous." She picked up a diamond-encrusted watch. "He bought me this last week. For our third anniversary."

Three years. The anniversary of my "death." My blood ran cold.

"It's beautiful," I said, my voice carefully neutral. I walked over to a glass display cabinet, filled with sparkling jewelry. Amelie followed, observing me like a hawk.

"And these are my everyday pieces," she said, her voice dripping with affected casualness. "Edgar insisted. After all, a woman in my position needs to look the part, doesn't she?"

My gaze scanned the glittering jewels. Necklaces, bracelets, rings. My breath hitched. There, nestled on a velvet cushion, was my mother's emerald pendant. The one I had worn on my wedding day. The one that was supposed to be passed down through generations of Everett women.

My heart pounded, a frantic drum against my ribs. My mother's pendant. My wedding jewelry. Was nothing sacred to them? My eyes welled up, but I fought back the tears. It was all mine. All of it.

I focused on another piece, a small, intricate silver filigree brooch. It was a family heirloom, a gift from my grandmother, specially designed with the Everett crest. It wasn't flashy, but it held immense sentimental value. My father had often told me stories of his grandmother wearing it.

Amelie noticed my gaze. "Oh, that old thing?" she scoffed, picking up the brooch with a dismissive flick of her wrist. "Edgar said it was from your grandmother. So antique. I don't know why I even keep it. It's not really my style, is it?" She twirled it carelessly in her fingers.

A burning fire ignited within me. My grandmother's brooch. My family's legacy. Being desecrated by this... this viper.

"It's... quite unique," I said, my voice tight. "Very traditional."

"Traditional means boring," Amelie declared, an ugly twist to her mouth. "But I suppose you would like it. You always were so... classic." She smiled, a taunting, hateful smile. "Like a museum piece. Edgar always said you were too serious, too old-fashioned."

The words stung, but the rage building inside me was far greater. He had called me that? The man who had once loved my "classic" elegance?

"I think I'll go take a bath," I said, my voice deliberately calm. I turned to leave, needing to escape before I lost control.

"Oh, don't worry," Amelie said, her voice following me. "I won't let Edgar come bothering you. He's all mine tonight. We have some... catching up to do." Her meaning was clear, deliberately cruel. She wanted to twist the knife, to remind me of my place.

I walked towards the bathroom, my fists clenched at my sides. I could hear Amelie's triumphant laughter echoing behind me.

Then, a sudden, blinding fury surged through me. Without thinking, I pivoted, grabbing a heavy crystal vase from a nearby table. My intention was just to smash it, to make a noise, to vent my rage. But Amelie had taken a step towards me, her smile still mocking.

Our eyes met.

"You," I snarled, my voice raw, the amnesia facade momentarily cracking. "You stole everything."

Amelie's eyes widened, her smugness momentarily replaced by shock. "What did you say?"

I lunged, not at her, but at the brooch she still held. My hand shot out, trying to snatch it from her carelessly open palm.

"Give it back!" I yelled, my voice ringing with a fury I hadn't known I possessed.

Amelie shrieked, clutching the brooch to her chest. "Get away from me, you crazy bitch!" She lashed out, her nails raking across my face.

A fresh burning pain erupted on my cheek, adding to the throbbing from her earlier slap. That was it. My control snapped. The years of gaslighting, the stolen life, the dead parents, the usurped identity-it all coalesced into a single, explosive moment.

I grabbed Amelie's arm, twisting it, forcing her to drop my grandmother's brooch. It clattered to the marble floor, the silver glinting under the harsh lights.

"You don't deserve it!" I spat, my voice laced with venom.

Amelie shrieked again, her face contorted in a mask of pure hatred. "Help! Guards! She's attacking me!"

Before I could react, she lunged, her hands flying towards my hair, clawing, pulling. We stumbled, tripping over a plush rug, crashing to the floor. She scrabbled on top of me, her weight pinning me down, her hands flying, slapping, scratching.

"You bitch! You're dead! You're supposed to be dead!" she screamed, her voice hoarse with rage. "You ruined everything!"

I fought back, fueled by pure adrenaline and years of repressed rage. I kneed her, shoved her, tried to dislodge her. But she was strong, desperate.

Suddenly, the door burst open. Two burly guards, Edgar's men, rushed in. Amelie immediately stopped, looking up at them with big, frightened eyes, her face morphing into an innocent victim. Her hair was messy, a few scratches on her arm, a single tear rolling down her cheek. Me? My face was a mess, streaks of blood mixed with tears, my hair disheveled, my clothes torn.

"She attacked me!" Amelie wailed, pointing a trembling finger at me. "She went completely insane! She tried to kill me!"

The guards looked at me, their faces grim. They grabbed my arms, pulling me up roughly. My shoulder screamed in protest.

"Get off me!" I yelled, struggling against their iron grip.

"She's crazy, Edgar!" Amelie sobbed, as Edgar himself appeared in the doorway, his face a thundercloud. "She's dangerous! You have to send her away!"

Edgar's eyes scanned the scene, taking in Amelie's tear-streaked face, my disheveled, bleeding appearance, the scattered handbags, the brooch lying on the floor. His gaze hardened as it landed on me.

"What in God's name is going on here?" he roared, his voice laced with menace.

"She attacked me, Edgar!" Amelie cried, running into his arms. "She's mad! She remembers things, she said I stole them! She's trying to ruin everything!"

"She's lying!" I retorted, my voice raw. "She attacked me first! She was mocking me! She tried to break my grandmother's brooch!" I pointed a trembling finger at the silver filigree on the floor.

Edgar's eyes narrowed. He looked at the brooch, then back at me. A subtle shift in his expression.

Amelie sniffled, burying her face in his chest. "She's just jealous, Edgar. Jealous that I'm your wife now. Jealous that I'm Elise Everett." Her voice was muffled, but the words were clearly meant for me to hear.

My blood ran cold. The sheer audacity. The public humiliation.

"You are not Elise Everett!" I screamed, the words tearing from my throat. "You are Amelie Byers! And you are a thief! Both of you!"

Amelie gasped, pulling back from Edgar, her eyes wide with feigned shock. "She knows!" she whispered, her voice laced with terror. "She remembered! Edgar, she's going to tell everyone!"

Edgar's face darkened, his eyes burning with a dangerous light. He stalked towards me, his steps heavy. The guards tightened their grip, digging their fingers into my arms.

"So," he said, his voice a low growl, "the little bird finally remembers her cage." He reached out, his hand wrapping around my chin, forcing my head up. His grip was brutal. "And you think you can just scream the truth now? After all this time?"

My mind raced. I had underestimated their ruthlessness. My outburst had been a mistake. I had exposed myself too soon.

"No, Edgar," I whispered, forcing myself to shrink under his gaze, letting fear wash over my face. "I... I don't know what I said. My head... it really hurts. I just..." I tried to appear confused, disoriented, as if the memory had come and gone. "I just lashed out. She was being so mean." I let out a shaky sob. "I don't know why I said those things. I don't remember."

He stared into my eyes, searching for any flicker of deceit. My heart pounded, a frantic drum against my ribs. I had to convince him. I had to fall back into the role of the amnesiac.

"She just needs to be taught a lesson, Edgar," Amelie said, her voice firm, having regained her composure. She walked towards the crumpled brooch, picking it up. "She needs to know who's in charge now." She held up the brooch, then, with a twisted smile, snapped it in half with a sickening crunch.

My eyes widened in horror. My grandmother's brooch. Broken.

"No!" I cried, a genuine wail of pain escaping me. "How could you!"

Amelie giggled, a chilling, triumphant sound. "See, Edgar? She still has so much anger. She needs to be disciplined." She tossed the broken pieces onto the floor at my feet. "Maybe some time in the old 'therapy room' will fix her memory for good."

Edgar watched me, his gaze still assessing. My body was wracked with pain and fresh humiliation. My grandmother's brooch, shattered. My parents, gone. My identity, stolen.

"Take her," Edgar ordered the guards, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. "She needs to learn her place. And Amelie is right. She needs to understand who she is now. A guest. Nothing more."

The guards dragged me away, my feet scuffing against the polished floor. I twisted my head back, meeting Amelie's triumphant gaze, then Edgar's cold, calculating one.

My mind was screaming, but my body was numb. I was being dragged to some "therapy room," a euphemism for another level of torture, another layer of his control. But a new thought solidified in my mind, even as the pain threatened to overwhelm me.

He had broken my grandmother's brooch. He had allowed Amelie to destroy a piece of my family's history. He had just made his mistake. He had given me a new, more visceral reason to hate him, to fight him. He had sealed his own fate.

"You'll regret this, Edgar," I whispered, a silent vow to myself, as the door of the "therapy room" slammed shut, plunging me into darkness.