Chapter 2

2

“Stop playing dead, Elara. Do I really need to come down and pick you up myself?”

Finally, amidst his taunts, “I” slowly began to push up from the ground.

Once the program rebooted, the body could function normally again.

However, the standing posture was awkward and stiff.

“Alaric, look at her leg. It looks strange. Did she break a bone?” Rosalie asked.

“She’s young. Her body isn't that fragile,” Alaric replied dismissively.

He didn't care at all.

“Elara was the one stupid enough to jump. If she’s hurt, she deserves it. She needs to take responsibility for her own drama. Rosalie, don't waste your energy worrying about this idiot.”

“Besides, what’s a few broken bones? They’ll heal in time. She needs to stop being so dramatic.”

Rosalie Whitaker let out a soft giggle.

“Oh, Alaric, do you remember? When we were kids, the neighbor’s dog fell from the roof and was running around a minute later. Surely Elara isn't less resilient than a farm animal.”

She called me “Elara” with a sweet voice, but there was no respect in her words.

Alaric wasn't a fool; he knew exactly what she was doing.

He just didn't care if people insulted me because it served his purpose.

Especially when those words came from his precious childhood sweetheart.

The two of them walked down into the courtyard.

Rosalie hurried over to me, pretending to be deeply concerned.

“You really gave me a heart attack, Elara! Why would you do something so reckless? Are you okay?”

Alaric stood back, coldly observing “my” strange stance.

My clothes were covered in dirt and torn by branches.

I looked filthy and pathetic.

Disgust flickered in his eyes, and he refused to step closer.

“Elara, this performance was truly amateur.”

He glanced at the spot where “I” had landed.

In the grass, a strange object―a mechanical part―reflected a faint metallic glint in the moonlight.

He likely saw it, but he didn't give it a second thought.

He simply sighed with feigned pity.

“The flowers are crushed. What a waste.”

I knew Rosalie was the most important person to him.

But I never realized that a few random plants in the yard were worth more than my life in his heart.

All these years of devotion felt like a cosmic joke.

“Elara, look what you’ve done. You’ve terrified Rosalie.”

Alaric pointed a finger at me.

“Apologize to her, and we’ll call it even. I won't hold this stunt against you.”

How absurd.

Jumping from a building was somehow my “sin.”

Rosalie was the one who pushed “me,” yet he wanted me to apologize to the culprit.

“My” vocal processors were still malfunctioning.

I opened my mouth, but no sound came out.

My silence only made Alaric more furious.

“You didn't jump yesterday or the day before. You waited until I brought Rosalie home.”

“Elara, if you’re jealous of her, just say it! Tell me you’re bitter! What’s the point of this theater?”

His voice grew more agitated.

I was almost surprised.

Did Alaric even remember that this villa was supposed to be our home?

Yet he brazenly brought different women back time and time again.

He wanted to humiliate me and see me spiral into madness.

But he was destined to be disappointed.

This robot had one core directive: to love Alaric Sterling forever in my place.

She would never show him a cold face or lose her patience.

She wouldn't get angry, and she wouldn't feel the sting of jealousy.

She would never object to anything he did.