Chapter 4

I smiled. "Honey, I never received the shutdown command."

Arthur froze.

His mouth opened, but no words came out.

I didn't wait for him to react. Following my training, I walked straight into the kitchen.

I freshly ground some coffee for him.

Arthur sat at the dining table, silently watching me present breakfast piece by piece.

He finished his meal in silence and walked to the entryway.

I followed him, kneeling on the floor to put on his shoes.

I heard Arthur’s breath catch. He grabbed my wrist, pulling me up. "Evelyn! What is wrong with you!"

I looked at him with programmed confusion.

Arthur stared at me. "You used to throw tantrums. You used to act cute and spoiled. Why are you acting exactly like Lily now?"

But didn't you hate my tantrums? Didn't you hate my emotional moments?

Didn't you send me away to be made into a Lily?

I kept those thoughts to myself.

The Perfect Wife protocol did not allow questioning one's husband.

I kept smiling. "Today, I will perform a deep cleaning of the house. I will wash the drapes, defrost the fridge, and clean the range hood. Honey, do you have any other tasks for me?"

Arthur closed his eyes. "No."

He got up and left for work.

That evening, when Arthur came home, I heard him on the phone.

"...Yes, she's back. Mom, she feels... different."

On the other end was Beatrice, his mother.

She cut him off loudly. "You insisted on sending Evelyn to that ridiculous school for three whole years. Lily is great, but she's a machine! She can't give you another child! Toby is your only son! Look at the neighbors, their second kid is already in preschool!"

Arthur didn't say anything.

"Now that Evelyn is back, get to work! I want another grandchild!"

Arthur hung up.

As he entered, I immediately brought him his slippers.

"Evelyn."

I smiled. "Yes, honey. How can I help you?"

"Let's have another baby."

My smile didn't waver. "Pregnancy and childbirth were part of my curriculum at the academy. I have completed courses on prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum recovery."

Arthur’s brow twisted into a tight knot.

"Command acknowledged. Calculating execution plan," I replied in a standardized tone. "Which side of the bed do you prefer me to sleep on? Do I need to shower beforehand? Is there a specific lingerie style you prefer?"

Arthur stared at me for five long seconds. The muscles in his jaw clenched and unclenched. Finally, he turned and went upstairs without a word.

Toby had just finished his bath. His hair was still damp, and he ran out in his dinosaur pajamas.

"Daddy! I want to sleep in the middle tonight! Mommy Lily on my left, and Daddy on my right!"

But Arthur said, "Toby, you're sleeping in your own room tonight. Daddy has things to do."

Toby froze. "What things?" His small face filled with anxiety. "But you always sleep with me!"

Arthur pointed at me. "Daddy needs to sleep with Mommy."

Toby’s eyes welled with tears, and his face turned red as he screamed:

"No! No Evelyn! I want Mommy Lily!"

He shook with anger.

"Everything changed when she came back! Daddy doesn't love me anymore! It's all because of that ugly woman!"

"I wish she never came back! I wish she died in that school!"