Chapter 2

Declan paused when he heard me, raised his wrist, and glanced at his expensive watch.

His family background was excellent, and as a young vice president of the family business, his future was limitless.

But I was his burden.

I was just the daughter of a servant in the Declan family, but the moment I saw Declan, I fell hopelessly and shamelessly in love with him.

In front of him, I was always like an ugly duckling, neither smart nor gentle enough.

Every time I faced him, I instinctively lowered my voice and stance. I didn't like it when Declan frowned.

When he looked at the watch, his expression was slightly impatient, but his tone wasn't accusatory: "There are some things at the company I need to handle, go to bed early."

I pressed my lips tightly, my fingernails digging into my palms.

Just as Declan was about to step out the door, I called him again.

"Declan, I... my stomach hurts a bit, can you stay with me?"

His shoulders relaxed, and I almost thought I had won this first round.

But the next second, Declan's words chilled me to the bone: "Hazel, don't make it difficult for me... you know the company is in some trouble recently..."

He might have said more reasons afterward, but I couldn't hear them anymore. I wiped my tears with a bitter smile.

After the door closed, I sat alone in the darkening room until my phone buzzed again.

"Influencer, my boyfriend came to see me. He made a few requests and hopes you can consider them."

My heart felt empty, as if a piercing cold wind was all that remained in my chest.

Sticking to my professional spirit, I still replied, "Sure, though the construction period might be a bit long."

"No problem."

"[Image]"

She suddenly sent a photo of some dishes.

"Thank you for listening to my requests for so long. Here's a small piece of happiness from my life as a token of appreciation."

"It's Sweet and Sour Ribs made by my fiancé. It's been four years since I last had them, and I didn't expect his cooking skills to improve so much. I wonder how he practiced, haha."

Sweet and Sour Ribs...

My pupils shook violently, memories flashed like a slideshow, and a suffocating feeling enveloped me.

No wonder Declan only ever made this dish for me in the last four years, always mistaking it for the Braised Ribs I loved.

It turns out Genevieve liked it.

Were all his gentle gestures because he saw me as someone else's shadow?

Sweet memories surged like waves, now tinged with bitterness and pain. Everything told me that Declan never liked me.

I could no longer suppress the overwhelming emotions and burst into tears.

"I want to go home, I want to go home, System... please let me go home."

[Ding]

System: "Host, I'm here. It's been a long time, how are you?"

"I'm sorry, Host, your physical body in the original world has already died, you can't go back."

"Considering your progress with the target 'Declan' has reached 80%, I will apply for a benefit to change your identity, please wait patiently."