Chapter 1

My mother-in-law thought I didn't make enough money, wasn't sweet-talkin' enough, and wasn't attentive enough. So she shelled out $80,000 for a custom companion AI, her perfect son-in-law, Aidan.

She bragged to her friends daily:

"My Aidan is ten thousand times better than that poor scrub! He cooks, he gives massages, he's a million times better than a real man!"

I signed the divorce papers on the spot and walked out, even giving my ex $200 as a wedding gift. I wished Chloe and her AI robot a happy life together.

Only thirty days later, Brenda, my ex-mother-in-law, stormed into my office, hair a mess, slamming her hands on my desk and wailing loud enough to shake the building:

"Liam, you gotta come back! That AI's gone completely nuts!"

"Richard, my ex-father-in-law, secretly upgraded it, turned it into some kind of gender-fluid android. He says I'm not even as good as a machine now, can't give him what he wants!"

I scoffed and pushed her hand away.

"Why don't you get an AI companion too, Brenda?"

She was about to go off on a rant when her phone suddenly vibrated wildly.

It was her AI son-in-law calling:

"Brenda~ My little metal baby's almost here! Don't forget to bring two gallons of 95-octane oil when you come home, after all, it's your daughter's big, healthy boy too~"

Brenda was so furious she passed out cold.