Blare never assumed that Ace had feelings for her. Their interactions were small and the number of times that they had met can be counted on her two hands.

Moreover, Blare thought that no adult could sincerely like a woman they rarely met.

Ace glanced at her and calmly stood up.

"Is it unusual to be extra kind to the woman I like?"

Hearing this, Blare paled.

She was not disgusted but was afraid. Although Blare occupied someone else's body, she never forgot who she was.

Knowing that she was not Lilith Winterburn, how could she possibly answer?

When Ace saw her complexion, he smiled sadly. "Don't worry, this will not affect your work."

A moment of silence engulfed the room.

'Lilith? What do you want to do?'

No one replied and it made Blare's throat dry and her heart turned numb from extreme nervousness.

"I'm sorry, sir" she apologizes as she lowered her head.

Even if Blare heard Ace's reassurance that his confession will not affect her work, part of her still feel anxious.

They rarely meet at the company, but the awkwardness between them will linger.

He's the boss but got rejected by his employee.

As Blare recalled the rich peoples' attitude from Lilith's memory, her rejection was a big blow to their ego.

'Who knows if Ace was like them?'

However, Ace's next words stunned her. "I don't have a chance?"

Blare opened her mouth and wanted to say no, yet Ace didn't give her a chance to reject him for a second time.

"Think about it, I'll wait," he said and started packing the medicine kit and placed it back above the refrigerator.

"Think about it thoroughly. For now, rest and heal your foot." He added and left.

Blare didn't bid him goodbye as if the words got stuck on her throat.

'This is so troublesome, I'm not Lilith!' she mentally sighed and massaged her temples.

Blare stood up unsteadily and took off her rose gold dress to wear an oversized t-shirt and shorts to feel more comfortable.

____________

Ace sent her an email, requiring her to rest for three days because of her poor state. Blare replied a word of thanks formally.

Blare leisurely sat on the sofa and watched the news on television. Suddenly, a piece of news about Aiken appeared.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Blare mouthed the headlines of the news, "Aiken Charleston became the CEO of Sapphire Conglomerate at the age of 25"

Blare scrunched her eyebrows as she watched the screen and saw Aiken being interviewed.

Reporter: Mr. Aiken Charleston, at the young age of 25, you became one of the youngest CEO in the city of London! Is there any pressure on your side?

Aiken: No, I am very pleased. 

Aiken unconsciously smiled warmly. When the reporter saw his gentle smile, he got excited.

Reporter: Surely there was a reason why you're not pressured. (smiles teasingly) Is it a woman?

Although the question was odd, it was for hyping up the viewers. The reporter also asked in order to get the mood lively.

Aiken: Yes. (chuckles) She is very special to me, even then and up until now.

Aiken directly faced the camera and smiled. It was filled with longing and Blare's breathing shorten.

Undeniably, the emotion wasn't hers. And Blare was aware of why Lilith would feel shaken.

In the original owner's life, Aiken also became the CEO of the Sapphire Conglomerate, but it happened when he was already 30. The warm smile he showed now was the same as Lilith remembered in her first life.

That was also the time when Clara learned that she was already two months pregnant. 

Then Lilith got this information and pushed her down the stairs as madness consumed her.

In other words, Clara is probably pregnant now.

The more Blare thought about this, the more guilty she felt. She quickly calmed herself and talk to Lilith mentally.

'I won't do anything to her. I certainly won't'

Even if Lilith did not answer, her heart was more relaxed. 

Blare was confused about why she had to reassure the original owner that she won't harm Clara.

Because Blare wouldn't hurt Clara even if someone asks or ordered her.

Blare talked to Lilith on her mind. 'Are you feeling scared because I might do the same thing you did?... That won't happen, I'm not you.'

Expecting no answer, she brushed the topic off. Thinking that Lilith was too traumatized at what she did.

Blare sipped her coffee and thought about Aiken's promotion. 

She felt uneasy and agitated. Aiken was 30 years old when he became a CEO. Currently, Aiken is 25 years old.

"Their love still blossomed even if Lilith was out of the picture." Blare mumbled.

"So, Aiken was not really into Lilith? (scoffs) What's with all the chasing then" she sneers and stood up from the sofa.

Blare stretched her whole body and meditated for 30 minutes.

Exactly as she finished meditating, her doorbell rang.

Blare walked to the door and look through the spyhole. There, she saw Ace.

Her heartbeat was loud enough to scare her whole being.

She inhaled and exhaled deeply before opening the door.

"Good morning, sir" Blare formally greeted.

Her eyes caught a big paper bag on his right hand. When she sniffed, she smelled a lot of spices, but she can't guess what the cuisine was.

Because of the delicious aroma and hunger, she unconsciously gulped.

Blare only ate a tuna sandwich in the morning. Moreover, it was lunchtime already and she just finished exercising and meditating which made her even hungrier.

"Let's eat" he casually told.

Blare looked up to him in confusion.

Seeing her stare, he fake a cough and said, "I wanted you to know me better, so I'm courting you."

Blare gaped at his straightforwardness.

"S-Sir... I really can't--"

She was stopped by his saddened eyes. Blare bit her lip and continued, "I don't want to give you false hope."

Blare thought about Lilith. 

'Would you (Lilith) be happy like Fang Chunhua who got Zhao Kang?'

Again, Lilith did not answer, but Blare felt a faint desire. 

'Since you want it, say it.' she scrunches her brows impatiently. However, Lilith still did not answer.

"You wouldn't know if we never tried." Ace said with conviction. His posture was straight and his face was stoic. However, his eyes are seemingly begging as he peered at her.

Blare felt sad for the man because she would never be able to answer 'yes'.

She was not Lilith and she doesn't have the right to change other parts of Lilith's life unless the original owner wishes for it.

There was a faint desire but Lilith never voiced it.

Other than that, Blare knows that the most painful thing that she can do is give Ace a false hope.

Her morality would be destroyed and she would always be haunted to the fact that she tricked someone else's feelings.

Therefore, she can only say, "I'm sorry, sir Ace... I wouldn't risk the possibility of hurting you in the end."