Chapter 2

I stood frozen, the pain slicing through me like a knife.

I had suffered so much when I was pregnant with Toby.

The delivery room was a nightmare. I had an emergency C-section after hours of failed labor, suffered a severe hemorrhage on the operating table, and barely survived after receiving multiple blood transfusions.

But I loved Toby. I never regretted it.

At the academy, whenever I was locked in the dark room, forced to repeat smiles, postures, and speak in a polite but emotionless tone...

Whenever I was beaten, shocked with tazers, or deprived of sleep until my mind nearly snapped...

I wanted to give up. I wanted to end it all.

Toby was the only anchor that kept me alive.

But now, Toby was screaming that he didn't want me, calling me an ugly woman.

Lily smiled gently, her voice perfectly modulated.

"I am sorry, Evelyn. Toby is still young and doesn't know any better. He will get used to you in time."

She sounded exactly like a real mother.

Arthur rubbed the bridge of his nose. He looked at Toby hiding behind the robot, then at me, standing completely still. He sighed. "Let's go home."

The Principal walked us out, smiling. "By the way, Mr. Miller, just a quick reminder. In ten days, our academy will conduct a follow-up assessment. An evaluator will visit your home to observe Subject 438's real-life performance. If she fails to meet your standards, we will bring her back for further adjustments."

My chest tightened painfully.

The wound that had barely closed was instantly ripped open again.

If Arthur was not satisfied, he could return me to that living hell like a defective product.

Arthur gave a careless shrug and walked out.

Lily followed, carrying Toby, while I kept a perfect, respectful distance behind them.

In the car, Toby curled up in Lily’s arms, shooting suspicious glares at me.

I kept my smile fixed.

After a two-hour drive, we finally arrived at the villa.

The smart lock recognized Lily's proximity, and the front door clicked open.

Toby cheered, jumping out of Lily's arms and running into the living room. "I'm home! Mommy Lily, tell me a story! I want the one about the little dinosaur!"

I entered last, standing quietly in the foyer.

Three years ago, this was my home.

Three years later, there was not a single trace of me left.

"Come in."

Arthur stood in the middle of the living room. Realizing I was still at the entrance, he called out coldly.

"Yes, Mr. Miller."

I bowed my head, slipped off the standard beige flats provided by the academy, and placed them neatly in the shoe rack.

I put on a pair of house slippers and walked in.

Arthur said, "After you left, we moved all your stuff to the storage room. You can unpack them later."

"Yes, Mr. Miller."

Arthur frowned.

"Evelyn, you don't have to call me Mr. Miller. I prefer the way you used to talk to me."

I tilted my head slightly.

"Command received. Please specify your preferred form of address."