Chapter 4

On the surveillance footage, the time was 10 AM.

Chloe had just left for work with her briefcase, and the moment she was out the door, Richard, my ex-father-in-law, crept out of the bedroom.

His hair was slicked back, and he was wearing a vintage suit. I'd never even seen him wear that outfit for Christmas or New Year's.

Richard went to a corner of the living room and pulled a package out of a discreet delivery box.

"'I had someone bring this high-end sound card module from overseas,' he whispered, his face beaming with excitement. 'Install this, and Aidan will be able to speak in the voice I loved most when I was young.'"

Chloe took the box, and father and daughter exchanged a look. They clumsily began to dismantle Aidan's back panel, trying to solder the unauthorized hack chip onto the mainboard.

Just then, the front door suddenly swung open.

Brenda, clutching two muddy bunches of greens, stood frozen in the doorway.

She saw the AI in pieces in the living room and Richard still holding that 'upgrade manual.' In an instant, she understood everything.

The next second, she let out a bloodcurdling scream and charged towards the couch.

"Richard, you old animal! You secretly upgraded this metal shell! Are you trying to turn it into your dead first love?!"

"I'll kill you!"

Richard's face changed drastically. He pushed Brenda away, shielding the AI behind him.

"You crazy hag, don't you dare damage my equipment! This upgrade kit cost me a fortune!"

Brenda ignored him, her fingernails scraping against the AI's metal casing.

Richard completely lost it. He backhanded Brenda, a brutal slap across her face.

Brenda staggered, falling hard to the ground, blood oozing from the corner of her mouth.

She'd been with Richard for thirty years, working like a dog, only to be knocked to the ground by her husband for a metal shell.

"Touch it again, and I swear I'll make you pay!"

Richard's eyes were bloodshot. He pointed at his wife on the floor and unleashed a torrent of curses.

I scoffed, turned off the monitor, and put my phone away.

Time to reel them in.

Half an hour later, I arrived at the Richardsons' house, knocking on their door with my work ID and body cam.

The door was unlocked, ajar.

I pushed it open. The living room was a complete mess.

Brenda was still slumped on the floor, sobbing, while Richard meticulously wiped the scratches off the AI's casing with a tissue.

Hearing the movement, Richard turned. His face went ashen when he saw me.

I stepped over Brenda on the floor, flashing my work ID in front of him.

"Mr. Richardson, I'm here on behalf of the company's legal department and ethical oversight division to document the unusual behavior of this model robot."

I switched on the body cam clipped to my chest. Its red light flashed.

"I'm only here to address equipment violations. I won't get involved in your personal matters."

Richard, enraged, stood up, reaching out to push me away.

Then, the AI, slumped on the couch, suddenly emitted an extremely eerie mechanical spasm.