Chapter 4

The next morning, I sat in the Starbucks downstairs from my office, watching the live security feed on my phone.

Julian and Daphne hadn't left. Instead, they had called over a team of interior designers, pointing and gesturing around my living room.

Daphne was acting like some wealthy billionaire's wife.

"I want this area covered in champagne roses, and a massive balloon arch by the French windows..."

"Oh, and that wine cellar. Dump all those bottles. I hate that brand."

The designers nodded eagerly, taking notes on their tablets.

Julian watched her affectionately, occasionally stroking her completely flat, non-pregnant stomach.

Daphne leaned against his shoulder, looking utterly ecstatic.

Watching their little love fest on my screen, I took a sip of my black coffee. The bitter taste coated my tongue.

According to my watch, the retrieval team should be arriving right about now.

Sure enough, on the camera feed, the doorbell rang.

Daphne’s eyes lit up, and she nudged Julian.

"That must be the jeweler with my custom diamond ring! Julian, go get the door!"

Julian walked over and opened it.

Standing at the door were four men in sharp black suits, carrying silver metal cases.

The leader wore a metallic badge that read "Z-tech Robotics."

He checked the apartment number, bypassed Julian entirely, and walked straight into the living room.

The interior designers froze at the sight of them.

Daphne raised an eyebrow, looking offended.

"Who are you people? Who let you in? Don't you know breaking and entering is illegal?"

Julian also blocked Daphne, his voice cold.

"Get out. You are not welcome here."

The lead agent in black ignored their shouting. He placed the silver metal case onto the coffee table.

With a sharp *click*, the case popped open, revealing a high-tech control terminal inside.

He rapidly typed a sequence of override commands, then looked up, locking his eyes onto Julian.

"Mr. Julian Mercer,"

"Due to your violation of the Core Robotics Directives and physical assault on your owner, Ms. Chloe Vance..."

"Under Section 7 of the purchase agreement, we are executing an immediate force-shutdown, dismantle, and recall protocol."

The room fell dead silent.

The interior designers stared with wide eyes, looking back and forth between Julian and the agent, completely lost.

Julian’s face went rigid.

"What garbage are you talking about? Robot? Directives?"

"I am a living, breathing human being. Did Chloe hire you actors to kick me out with this ridiculous stunt?"

Daphne finally snapped out of it and pointed at the agents, screaming.

"You bunch of scammers, get the hell out before I call the cops!"

"Chloe Vance is so desperate! To get Julian back, she actually fabricated this insane script!"

Unmoved, the lead agent pulled a document from the case and held it up right in front of them.

"This is your manufacturing certificate and purchase contract."

"Your skeleton is made of high-strength titanium alloy. Your skin is the latest biomimetic silicone. Your core CPU is located exactly three centimeters beneath your cerebral cortex."

"If you doubt your identity, we can perform an immediate subdermal metal scan."

As he spoke, another agent pulled out a device that looked like an industrial scanner.

Julian’s pupils contracted. His mouth fell open, but no words came out.

Daphne stood frozen. She snatched the document, read it, and her entire body began to shake uncontrollably.

The air in the room seemed to freeze for ten agonizing seconds.

Finally, Daphne spoke, her voice trembling.

"You... you're a robot?"