Chapter 4

Ever since that terrifying fire, my skin often felt a burning pain, which I could only alleviate by swimming.

Echo stood by the pool, watching me. I had grown accustomed to her occasional observation.

Through day-after-day imitation, she became more and more like me.

But this activity was something she could never imitate; she couldn't enter the water.

So I ignored her and swam further away.

After my rest, I heard a commotion downstairs.

Liam's expression was, for the first time, utterly grim.

"Evelyn, you know she loves to imitate, so why would you swim in front of her! Trying to provoke her to go in the water?"

Imitate? Liam finally admitted she was imitating me.

I had tried to tell Liam about the discomfort of being mimicked, but he only said I was overthinking, asking why a perfect robot would imitate a human.

"I'm hot and in pain; I can only stay in the water. I don't have time to provoke a robot!"

"Wrongdoing must be punished."

Liam's voice was icy. "Aren't you afraid of the heat? Send Mrs. Hayes into the sauna room."

On a scorching summer day, the sauna room was thick with steam.

The intense heat enveloped my unhealed skin, like the flames of that day returning. My voice trembled with anger.

"Liam, I'll die!"

All I got in response was Liam's retreating back.

"Don't worry. I'm just teaching you a lesson."

The sauna room wasn't soundproof. Amidst the burning pain, I heard Liam instructing someone to prepare a waterproof suit, patiently teaching Echo to swim.

Time passed, and Liam completely forgot about my existence.

When the sauna room was finally opened again, I was rushed straight to the emergency room.

Liam roared at those around him.

"Who told you to keep her in there for so long! If anything happens to her, I'll make you all pay!"

Liam actually bothered to visit me at the hospital.

I thought, self-mockingly.

The doctor's hurried footsteps interrupted him.

"Mr. Hayes, Ms. Echo's test results are in."

So, it was just a side trip. I thought, for a moment, that Liam still cared about me.

"Ms. Echo's other parts are intact, but her reproductive system was severely damaged by water and has lost its ability to conceive."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a sound came from the window.

Echo, her face streaked with tears, swayed precariously as she opened the window.

"I can't bear children for Master. I'm already a defective product. If I die, Master can just buy a more perfect bionic human."

Liam's face changed dramatically. He lunged towards the window, pulling Echo into his arms.

"It's okay, I don't care! You're not to do anything foolish!"

Echo shook her head, a mournful smile on her face.

"It's no use, Master. You can't stop me. Without a child, I'll always be defective."

Liam held her tightly.

"Who says you won't have a child? Don't be afraid, leave it to me."

Liam gently stroked my lower abdomen.

"Let Echo carry this child."

My eyes widened in horror, and I struggled desperately.

"Liam, how can you do this to me! You're insane!"

"We'll have other children. You can't just watch Echo die, can you? Besides, if it weren't for you, how would Echo have gotten water damage?"

My struggles were subdued, and I could only watch helplessly as the anesthetic was injected into my body.

"Liam! I'll never forgive you… never…"