Chapter 1

Arthur complained that I was a terrible cook and useless at housework, so he bought "Lily," the ultimate AI homemaker.

Lily could cook gourmet meals and gently reminded Arthur to take his medication.

Frustrated, I pulled her plug. Arthur slapped me across the face: "You’re not even as good as a robot!"

"Your tears are always so manipulative. Look at Lily! She has no warmth, yet her eyes are filled only with me!"

"Go learn how to be a real wife!"

He sent me to "The Grace Haven Academy for Perfect Wives" to be reprogrammed.

Three years later, my transformation was complete.

But my husband was losing his mind with regret.

"Subject 438, someone is here to pick you up."

Hearing the Dean’s command, I stood up from my chair.

My hands fell naturally to my sides, my feet parting at a perfect sixty-degree angle.

This was the standard posture of a "Perfect Wife." I had practiced it over thirty thousand times at the academy. I couldn't mess it up even with my eyes closed.

Three years ago, Arthur decided my tears were manipulative, while Lily—an AI homemaker—was loyal and devoted despite her cold exterior.

Right in front of me, he had said, "You’re not even as good as a robot, Evelyn. What right do you have to run this house?"

Then, without hesitation, he threw me into the Grace Haven Academy for Perfect Wives.

Back then, I cried and begged, clutching the hem of his coat.

"You can't do this to me, Arthur! You can't..."

He pried my fingers away, one by one, and walked out without looking back.

Now, a polite, standard smile was plastered on my face. My voice was smooth and clear.

"Subject 438 is booted up. Awaiting instructions."

Arthur frowned, a flicker of unease crossing his face.

The Principal smiled warmly. "Mr. Miller, when your wife enrolled, we assigned her this ID. Over the past three years, all training logs, behavioral data, and module test results have been saved under this number. Rest assured, the results are highly satisfactory. All of Subject 438's metrics have reached S-class standards."

"S-class?"

"Yes, the highest level," the Principal said with professional pride. "Every trace of emotional instability in Mrs. Miller has been completely purged. Today, she understands obedience better than any AI. You see, an AI's obedience is just code. But human rebellion is instinct. Eliminating human instinct is a thousand times harder than writing code. But once achieved, it is permanent."

Arthur's expression turned incredibly strained.

"Mommy..."

Just then, a timid little voice broke the silence.

My heart clenched. I instinctively looked down.

He was a little boy, about three or four years old, wearing a neat little dark-blue suit. His hair was parted perfectly, his face clean and fair. He looked exactly like Arthur.

I had given birth to him in our second year of marriage.

Before he was even a month old, I was dragged away to the academy.

That was the last time I saw Toby.

He had been so tiny, so soft, sleeping in his crib, balling his hands into little fists and sucking on the air.

I used to watch him over the railing, my tears dripping onto his blanket, promising him that Mommy would come back.

Three years apart, but I recognized him instantly.

This was Toby.

My baby.

He had grown so much.

But right now, Toby was clinging tightly to Lily's metallic leg, burying his face against the android’s smooth, synthetic shell.

Lily looked down, her soft, synthesized voice chiming, "Little master, do not be afraid. Lily is here."

Arthur nudged him. "Toby, this is Mommy."

Toby peeked out from behind Lily's leg, darting a quick look at me.

With just one glance, he burst into a loud, shrill cry that made my heart ache.

"No! I don't want that ugly woman! I want Mommy Lily! I only want Mommy Lily!"