Chapter 11
Ts this really necessary? Amela asked, eyeing the gleaming white building nestled into the mountainside. The pgn mad “Le–Sanduare in elegant gold lettering against pristinestone
Eva bounded in the passenger sest practically vibrating with excitement. Absolutely! Dad says it’s the most exclusive spain Switzerland. They only take clients by referral”
Amelia parked the car Lucas had let her a sleek silver vehicle that purred under her touch unlike anything shed driven before. A far cry from the practical family SUV that had been her domain for fifteen years
1 know what you’re thinking “Eva said, her voice softening That this is frivolous. But is not its stratege
Amelia tumed of me engine and gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles whitening never spent money like this on myself Even “That’s exa
exactly why you need to Eva insisted, reaching over to gemily pry Amelia’s fingers fromthe whod. The woman you were never put here frat. The
Fre! The woman you te becoming needs to
eds with ch
had she bought
h clients while she stretched the household budget? How many times had she bought the children new clothes while mending her own? Twenty years of putting everyone else’s needs before hers vile she sin
The truth in those words stung How many times had Richard booked gall weekends wi
“Okay” Amella nodded, drawing a deep breath “Let’s do this.”
Inside the spa was a temple of white marble and glass with soaring ceilings and discreet waterfalls creatinery Stafford uniforms moedently across polished floors
Awoman with a sleek platinum bob approached them, her smi smie professional but warm Ms. County how lovely to see you again. And this must be Mrs.
“Ms.“ExB conected smoothly. “Ms Amella. My father’s friend”
The woman nodded without missing a beat. “Welcome, Ms. Amelia Claudette, the director. Vie’ve prepared the full transformation package as requested
Transformation. The word echoed in Amelia’s mind as they followed Claudette through comdorned with chids and abstract art. That’s what this was was
wasnt it? Not just a harbor facial, but the beginning of her metamorphosis
First, well do a complete assessment, Claudette explained, leading them into a private suite with floor–to–ceiling windows overlooking the Alps. Then hair skin, stying consultation, wardrobe guidance. The works.”
Amela swallowed hard. “And how much will all this cost?
Eva squeezed her arm. Dadstaking care of it. Consider it an investment in your future”
Unlocked
Chapter 11
“You can and you wilEsad firmly “When you’re running your own comp mpany and making millions, you can pay him back if it bothers you that much”
The casual mention of such a future, her own company milions, struck Amelia like a physical blow. Was that possible? Could she resily become someone that powerful
Claude them to change plush robes Amped out of her clothes, she caught sight of herself in the full length me The woman who back looked red diminished somehow hair hung limp to the middle of her back, the length Richard had always preferred. Hernals were ch practical, herkin pale from years of pulling on sunscreen for the children but forgetting to apply to hersel
She looked what she had been someone’s wife, someone’s mother. Not her own person.
“What do you see?” Eva asked softly, catching melaying her reflection
“Good” nodded. “That means you’re ready to meet someone new
The assessment was thorough and occasionally uncomfortable. Asten faced woman named Margot examined Amelia’s skin under bright lights, hang at sun damage and dehydration Aman with round glasses studied her bone structure fiting her face this way and that. Another measured her from h making notes on a tablet
They’re treating melkeproject: Amela whspeed to Eva during a brief moment alone
“You are a project.” Ex replied with a grin
in “The most important one.”
or the assessment came treatments a facial using products that cost more tha more than Amelia’s old monthly grocery budget a body scrub that left her skin tingling and somehow new a massage that drew tears as tense muscles finally released years of stress and strain,
As the day progressed, Amela found herself surendering to the process. There was something powerful in this focused attention on herself, in the permission to care about her appearance her body, her presence in the world
After lunch, a delicate all of tiny, perfect portions served on the private terrace, they moved to the salon area. Atallman with an impressive mustache introduced himself as the creative director
“So he said circing means contemplating a canvas, Tell me who you want to be”
The question caught her off guard 1 don’t know she admitted
Then let me tell you who I see, Henri said, stopping in front of her see a woman with excellent bone structure hidden behind too much han i see eyes that could command a room obscured by an outdated style. I see penal”
Heturned to Exa. And what do you a young lady?”
Eva studied Amelia thoughtfully see someone who’s been invisible for too long. Someone who deserves toņie son…
Chapter 11
Hentinodded approvingly. Then we are in agreement. May 17 He gestured to Ame
She nodded, her heart racing. This was just hair, she told here. It would grow back. But somehow it felt like much more, the first real step away from the woman Richard had molded and toward whoever she might become next
Henri gathered her long locks in his hands. This length, drown you. It says 1 am hiding is that what you want to say to the world??
Amela thought of Richard’s insistence that she keep her hair long, of how he had browned when she once suggested a shorter cut “Nothead fomly. Tim done uding”
“Excellent “Henri smiled. Then wecut Dramatically.”
Theofthe shock through Amelia’s body inches of hair fell to the floor, a physical shedding of her old sell with each out, she fet smutaneously lighter and more substantial, as if the weight being removed was allowing her true self to emerge. Henri worked in focused silence, pausing occasionally to study the effect befoxconnung Eva matched liona maiby char her expressen a mortare of excitement and something deeper, perhaps understanding of the significance of this moment.
“Color sext” Heinounced when the cutting was complete. “Your natural shade lovely, but it mi
Two hours later, coloring, styling.
ganda makoup settion that taught me techniques she’d never king
I never known existed. He turned her chair to face the mor
The woman who stared back was revelation
or was nicher, deeper, with subtle highlights that caught the light when she moved. The effect was sophisticated, confident, strikin
Her hair now fell in a sleek bob that angled sharply from the nape of her neck to just below her jawline, the longest pieces framing her cheekbones. Theskor was
But it
I was more than just the hair. The makeup artist had emphasized her eyes, making them appear larger, more commanding. Her cheekbones stood out prominently going her face a strength she hadn’t recognized before. Her ps were painted a shade bolder than anything she’d worn in years
She looked powerful Formidable, even
She didn’t look like Richard’s wife anymore.
“Well“” Henri prompted, watching her reaction closely
Amelia touched her hair gingerly, then her face, as if confirming the woman in the manor was truly her 1 don’t know what to say”
“You don’t need to say anything! Henrireplied with satisfaction. Your face says tak
Eva approached, Mtanding behind Amba’s char. “What do you think? Be honest
Think.“Amelia began, still staring at her reflection. think I’m meeting myself for the first time”
Chapter 11
The day concluded with a styling session Afashion consultant named Paolo presented options selected based on Amelia new look and the “festyle parameters Eva had apparently provided in advance.
“These arent just clothes Paolo explained as Amelia tried on sleek pants and structured blazers dresses that skimmed her body in ways her old wardrobe never had. These are armor. These are statements. These tool”
By the time they left Le Sanctuar, the wasting behind the mountains, casting long shadows across the walley Amell felt physically exhausted but mentally alert in a way she had experienced before. As it layers of fog had been cleared from her mind along with the years of physical neglect from
In the car, Exa was uncharacteristically quiet, watching Amala with a small smide-
“What?” Amelia asked catching the girls gaze.
“Nothing. It’s just “Eva gestured vaguely “You look you could run the world now. Or at least takeover Dad’s company
Amelia laughed, the sound surprising her with its freedom. When had the last boughed that? One step at med tongue out who more start conquering mo
“About that,” Eva said, hertoneturning serious. Tve been thinking New look, new you need a new met
” can’t just change my name Amelobjected
“Why not? Parker was Richard’s name. Why keep carrying it?”
The question hit hard. Er was right. Parker had never truly been her name, it had been a label applied the day she married Richard marking her as possesson
“But I can’t go back to my maiden name either.” Amela mused. Thomas is 100 100 bed to the girl was before Richard. Im not her anymorether.”
“So choose something new, “Eva suggested, as if it were the simplest thing in the world. “Something that fexbiright for who you’re becoming”
Amela considered this as the drove the powerfulcar responding to her lightest touch on the winding mountain roads. A new name. A complete reinvention. The idea was both sending and exhilarating wly Vaughn
Tve always liked my mother’s maiden name,” she said slowly
Amelia Vaughn, Ex tried it out, the syllables flowing smoothly. sounds powell important.”
“Amelia Vaughn,” she repeated feeling1 name settle around here the new clothes she wore infinite right in a way that nether Thomas nor Carter Parker ever truly had.
aled into the long dri
As they pulled i
driveway of the villa, Amaught sight of herection in the mirror. The fading light cast shadows that emphasized the sharp lines of her haircut, the defined shapeet her face.
Amelia Vaughn looked back at her. A woman she was just beginning to know A woman with possibiles sitching before her like the open road.
Chapter 11
was waiting for them in the entrance hall a glass of wine in hand. He froze mid–swhen Amelia wakin his swing almost comically
“Well’Eva demanded. “What do you think?
Lucas set glass down carefully think,” he said, his voice low and intense, That Richard Parker bigger fool than ever imagined
Heat bloomed in Amelia’s chest at the raw appreciation in his gaze. Not just for her appearance but for something deeper as if he was the woman she had always been capable of becoming
“We’re not done yet,” Eva announced, flopping onto a nearby sofa. Twas just tefing Amelia she needs a new name too. Carter is yesterdays news 10)
And?” Lucasraised an eyebrow
“Vaugh,“Amelia said decisively. Amena Vaughn”
Lucas nodded slowly, as if testing the name in his mind. 11 suits you. Strong Distinctive”
“Can you make it happen? Eva assed her father. “Legally, I mean New papers and everything?”
“Eva,” Amaka began to object
Of course, Lucas said, as if aringing new legal deities was is a minor favor. Thave people who expedite that sort of thing Banking disidentification whatever you need
The casual display of power and connections should have alarmed her instead Ameltet athil of possibility. This was the world she was stepping into where problems were solved with a phone call, where limitations only for those who accepted them
Thank you” she said simply
That night alone in her ute, Amel stood before the mirror again. She’d removed the makeup but stil barely recognized the woman staring back at her. It wasn’t just the karuto the clothes hanging in her closet was the ma
he held herself. The look in her eye.
For twenty years, she had been Amela Parker, defined by her marriage, her motherhood, her subordinate place in Richard’s narrative
Tonight, Amia Vaughn was bom. And she had her own story to write.
She thought of Richard, of Julia, of Ethan and Mis wondering if they would even recognize her if they passed her on the street Probably not. The woman they had discarded was disappearing piece by piece, replaced by someone stronger, sharper more defined
Someone they would regret underestimating.
She turned away from the mirror and walked to the window. Beyond the glass, moonlight silvered the mountain and lake, Bansforming the familiar landscape into something magical and new
