Chapter 2

I dashed out to deliver it to him, but was hit by a passing vehicle. Upon regaining awareness, peculiar recollections flooded my mind. For two years, an imposter Olivia had been inhabiting my body. These memories revealed that Nathan Reed had spent time with the fake Olivia—sharing meals, viewing films, and exploring new places together. He no longer claimed to be too occupied, nor did he ask her to be more practical.

On her special day, Nathan Reed reserved an entire theme park and delighted her with a doll outfit, offering a thoughtfully chosen present. Pyrotechnics illuminated the sky throughout the night, bathing the evening in light. They had even arranged a journey to Paris, where Nathan Reed vowed to gift her a cherished princess pumpkin carriage and palace.

The evening before their departure, the imposter Olivia overindulged in alcohol and tumbled down the staircase. The following day, it was I—Olivia—who awoke in the medical facility, not the version of Olivia that Nathan Reed had been accompanying.

Barely a fortnight passed before Nathan Reed began to sense something amiss. He inquired, "Who are you?"

"Olivi used to enjoy a lively home, constantly playing music, but for the past two weeks, the audio system has collected dust. She couldn't tolerate spicy cuisine, but you add chili sauce to everything. Most crucially, Olivi was deeply passionate about her position at the piano store. Yet, you abruptly resigned three days ago and sought a laboratory assistant role."

"Olivi once mentioned she disliked conducting experiments. She favored music, photography, and romantic pursuits—not dull research."

"You're not Olivi, so who are you?"

Nathan Reed's gaze pierced me, intense and probing, as if attempting to glimpse my essence through my countenance. I inhaled deeply, striving to maintain composure. "Nathan Reed, I am Olivi!"

I was at a loss to explain the past two years to him. I sensed that I was her, yet simultaneously, I wasn't her.

Ultimately, Nathan Reed took me to consult a physician. He left no avenue unexplored, visiting experts in Neurology, Psychiatry, and Psychology. The conclusion was that I had a dissociative identity disorder: the primary personality had resurfaced, and the secondary one had vanished.

That was the first instance I witnessed Nathan Reed's eyes become bloodshot. He asked the doctor in a quavering voice, "Will she return?"

"No, she won't."

Nathan Reed's frame wavered slightly, and he grasped the table for support, asking, "No, there's still a possibility?"

"Unless the primary personality disappears, or chooses to relinquish control."

Relinquish control? Nathan Reed canted his head and locked eyes with me, his expression one I'll never forget. It was menacing, and distrustful, yet there was a glimmer of optimism that couldn't be disregarded.

I began to comprehend that everything might indeed be different. Initially, I hadn't been overly concerned. Whether the primary personality or the secondary one, it was still Olivia. What did it matter? Nathan Reed loved Olivia for who she was, and I believed that I could emulate her actions.

However, during the two years of my absence, the affection between "me" and Nathan Reed had replayed in my mind, fueling my aspirations for the future. Yet, I failed to recognize that she and I were, ultimately, two distinct entities—something Nathan Reed could discern clearly.

Nathan Reed ceased calling me Olivi; he addressed me as Olivia, or occasionally, simply "Hey." Though we shared a residence, he scarcely acknowledged my presence.

In the mornings, I would prepare breakfast and set it on the table, but he would glance at it and depart. In the evenings, he wouldn't return home for dinner, even when I messaged him saying I had prepared his preferred dishes. Nevertheless, he never stayed out all night.

I scoured my memories and realized that the imposter Olivia had once said to him, "Nathan Reed, I dislike it when you come home late. I worry about you." Because of that, regardless of his workload, Nathan Reed always ensured he returned before 10 PM, and whenever he embarked on a business trip, he would send me a message in advance.