2. Woke Up: Found An Affair

LOS ANGELES.

[SYSTEM STARTS SYNCHRONIZATION

[11%... 22%... 44%... 56%... 61%... 78%... 81%... 88%... 91%... 100%

[SYNCHRONIZATION COMPLETE!]

[HOST BODY RECOVERY BEGINS...

[15%... 33%... 55%... 68%... 73%... 85%... 94%... 98%... 100%

[FINISHED! THE SYSTEM SUCCESSFULLY RESTORED THE HOST'S BODY!]

[THE SYSTEM WILL PERFORM A RESET WITHIN 1×24 HOURS, STARTING FROM NOW]

Edward slowly opened both eyes with a small groan. His head felt so dizzy that his vision blurred. It took him a few seconds to blink his eyes repeatedly, adapting to the surrounding light.

As his eyes began to open, Edward saw the bright city skyline and rooftops. There was the sound of roaring vehicles that caught his ears.

Edward was confused. He was stunned for a few seconds until he finally sat up. It was then that he saw the state of his own body. Why had he fallen asleep on the long sidewalk bench?

In his daze, Edward tried to recall what had happened to him. But there were no memories in his brain. Edward had no idea and did not realize his body was lying on this long sidewalk bench.

"Hey, young man! You've been sleeping there for hours! Can you leave?"

Edward turned his head to the side. An older man emerged from the door of a bakery. The frown on the man's forehead signaled his annoyance with Edward.

It was as if Edward was disgusting to him.

"I'm sorry, sir! I'm leaving!" replied the uncomfortable Edward.

The man flicked his chin, gesturing Edward away. Then the man walked into the shop without paying any more attention to Edward.

Meanwhile, Edward rubbed his temples as he gave a small massage. It felt so odd that Edward couldn't remember anything. The old man said he had slept for hours on this bench.

So why didn't he remember anything now?

"Hey, Edward!" Suddenly Edward felt the punch of a rolled up paper at the nape of his neck from behind.

A man appeared from beside Edward while holding the rolled up paper. Edward looked confused after being surprised and spontaneously held his nape.

"How did you fall asleep here?!"

Edward was silent with a confused face. "Who are you?" he asked, not feeling familiar with the man who had just arrived.

"Who am I?" The man beside Edward put both hands on his waist, annoyed. "I'm your boss! You were supposed to deliver an order to a customer, remember? I was looking for you because the customer protested the long delivery. Why are you sleeping here?!"

It was only then that Edward's eyes realized that the clothes this man was wearing were just like him. There was a name tag that read Parker Ilston W, underneath which was written another description: DHL Express Courier.

Wait. Edward and this man were in the same job?

"Are you daydreaming? Edward!" Parker waved the rolled up paper in front of Edward's face.

Suddenly Edward was snapped out of his reverie as the end of the rolled up paper flicked his forehead. Edward immediately shook his head, snapping himself out of it.

"Jesus, what's wrong with you? Did you just drink a lot of alcohol last night?" quipped Parker who realized Edward's condition was very unfocused.

Edward shook his head once more and smiled awkwardly. "No, sir. I'll do the delivery."

"Yes, of course you will. The delivery car is parked over there. Ugh, you even parked your car carelessly!" Parking complained with an annoyed groan while sighing harshly.

Without saying anything else, Edward immediately got up from the long bench. Edward briefly bowed to give Parker some respect. Then walked away towards the parked delivery car.

As he walked down the sidewalk towards the car, Edward kept trying to think about what had just happened. Even though it was as simple as falling asleep on the long sidewalk bench, Edward felt something was off.

Why didn't his brain remember anything?

***

(Room 212, Floor 15, Cattydourte Sunset Plaza Hotel Los Angeles)

After reading the information written on the piece of paper, Edward put it back into his uniform pocket. Moments ago, his customer had told him to deliver the order directly to the hotel room.

Edward stepped down the corridor on the 15th floor. His gaze wandered over the room number boards one by one. There were directions explaining that room numbers 207-220 turned to the right.

After turning, Edward did not take long to find room number 212. Edward immediately knocked twice on the door.

"Orders for Mr. Savador," Edward said in a rather loud voice.

There was no reaction at first. But after a few seconds of waiting and repeated knocks, the hotel room door opened. A man wearing a kimono had a towel wrapped around his body.

"Ah, my luggage order has come at last," the man said with an enthusiastic smile curving his face.

Edward immediately handed it over with a small smile. "I'll take a picture as proof that your order has arrived," he replied, politely.

As Edward was getting ready to take pictures, the door suddenly opened sideways wider. He was distracted and saw a woman appear from behind Savador.

"Darling, who came and interrupted our intimate time?" the woman asked as she put both arms around Savador's waist.

Edward was done taking pictures. Just as he was about to put his phone in his pocket, his gaze met the eyes of the woman beside Savador.

The meeting of their gazes startled the stranger. Her body stiffened at the sight of Edward. It was as if Edward's presence was the very thing she was avoiding.

While Edward did not find the woman before him familiar. Both eyebrows furrowed in confusion at the sight of the woman's surprised reaction.

"Wait, Edward?" The woman pointed at Edward amidst the surprised look on her face.

Edward was stunned to hear his name mentioned. In that instant, his head became incredibly dizzy. Before he could answer, Edward looked down with a groan and held his head.

"Argh... why does my head feel... sick..." Edward muttered in the middle of bowing his head.

As his body swayed backwards, Edward saw the radiance of a holographic screen in front of his face. Edward noticed the holographic screen showed a display processing something.

Edward raised his head and looked back at the strange woman. The strange thing was that Edward watched the hologram screen in front of his face detect the face of the strange woman.

[SYSTEM DETECTS OPPONENT...]

[PERSONAL INFORMATION]

[NAME: BELLA RAYYANCO LATURIELLA]

[AGE: 33]

[LEVEL: 98/100]

[STATUS: A DAUGHTER OF ARTHUR ALDEBARAN ALDEBARON, THE OWNER OF RAYYANCO WALT TECH COMPANY]

[YOUR WIFE]

[TOTAL POINTS: 15,500 POINTS]

----------

[SKILL LEVEL: MEDIUM]

'Your wife?' Edward asked inwardly.

A fragment of memory appeared. Edward was stunned for a moment, seeing a woman who looked just like the woman in front of him. After one fragment of memory flashed, other fragments popped up, causing Edward to feel dizzy.

Edward groaned while holding his head. He stepped back two meters.

"Are you okay, Courier?" asked Savador, then pointed at Edward while looking at Bella. "Do you know him, dear?"

Bella did not answer. Her expression was completely stunned and confused at Edward's condition.

"Wait..." Edward raised a hand while still holding his temple. "How can you call my wife 'darling'?"

Savador and Bella both gasped.

Edward looked up. His eyes were sharp like a wild animal that had found its prey. He remembers who the woman next to Savador is now. His jaw hardens as his emotions rise.

"Why are you two together in the same hotel room?!"