Reprogrammed to Be the Perfect Wife, He Begs Me to Come Home

Arthur complained that I was a terrible cook and useless at housework, so he bought "Lily," the ultimate AI homemaker.

Lily could cook gourmet meals and gently reminded Arthur to take his medication. Frustrated, I pulled her plug.

Arthur slapped me across the face: "You’re not even as good as a robot!" "Your tears are always so manipulative. Look at Lily!

She has no warmth, yet her eyes are filled only with me!" "Go learn how to be a real wife!" He sent me to "The Grace Haven Academy for Perfect Wives" to be reprogrammed.

Three years later, my transformation was complete.

But my husband was losing his mind with regret. "Subject 438, someone is here to pick you up." Hearing the Dean’s command, I stood up from my chair.

My hands fell naturally to my sides, my feet parting at a perfect sixtydegree angle.

This was the standard posture of a "Perfect Wife." I had practiced it over thirty thousand times at the academy. I couldn't mess it up even with my eyes closed.

Three years ago, Arthur decided my tears were manipulative, while Lily—an AI homemaker—was loyal and devoted despite her cold exterior.

Right in front of me, he had said, "You’re not even as good as a robot, Evelyn.

What right do you have to run this house?" Then, without hesitation, he threw me into the Grace Haven Academy for Perfect Wives.

Back then, I cried and begged, clutching the hem of his coat. "You can't do this to me, Arthur!

You can't..." He pried my fingers away, one by one, and walked out without looking back. Now, a polite, standard smile was plastered on my face.

My voice was smooth and clear. "Subject 438 is booted up. Awaiting instructions." Arthur frowned, a flicker of unease crossing his face. The Principal smiled warmly. "Mr.

Miller, when your wife enrolled, we assigned her this ID. Over the past three years, all training logs, behavioral data, and module test results have been saved under this number.

Rest assured, the results are highly satisfactory.

All of Subject 438's metrics have reached Sclass standards." "Sclass?" "Yes, the highest level," the Principal said with professional pride. "Every trace of emotional instability in Mrs.

Miller has been completely purged. Today, she understands obedience better than any AI. You see, an AI's obedience is just code. But human rebellion is instinct.

Eliminating human instinct is a thousand times harder than writing code.

But once achieved, it is permanent." Arthur's expression turned incredibly strained. "Mommy..." Just then, a timid little voice broke the silence. My heart clenched.

I instinctively looked down. He was a little boy, about three or four years old, wearing a neat little darkblue suit. His hair was parted perfectly, his face clean and fair.

He looked exactly like Arthur. I had given birth to him in our second year of marriage. Before he was even a month old, I was dragged away to the academy.

That was the last time I saw Toby. He had been so tiny, so soft, sleeping in his crib, balling his hands into little fists and sucking on the air.

I used to watch him over the railing, my tears dripping onto his blanket, promising him that Mommy would come back. Three years apart, but I recognized him instantly. This was Toby.

My baby. He had grown so much. But right now, Toby was clinging tightly to Lily's metallic leg, burying his face against the android’s smooth, synthetic shell.

Lily looked down, her soft, synthesized voice chiming, "Little master, do not be afraid.

Lily is here." Arthur nudged him. "Toby, this is Mommy." Toby peeked out from behind Lily's leg, darting a quick look at me.

With just one glance, he burst into a loud, shrill cry that made my heart ache. "No! I don't want that ugly woman! I want Mommy Lily! I only want Mommy Lily!"

I stood frozen, the pain slicing through me like a knife. I had suffered so much when I was pregnant with Toby. The delivery room was a nightmare.

I had an emergency Csection after hours of failed labor, suffered a severe hemorrhage on the operating table, and barely survived after receiving multiple blood transfusions.

But I loved Toby. I never regretted it. At the academy, whenever I was locked in the dark room, forced to repeat smiles, postures, and speak in a polite but emotionless tone...

Whenever I was beaten, shocked with tazers, or deprived of sleep until my mind nearly snapped... I wanted to give up. I wanted to end it all.

Toby was the only anchor that kept me alive. But now, Toby was screaming that he didn't want me, calling me an ugly woman.

Lily smiled gently, her voice perfectly modulated. "I am sorry, Evelyn. Toby is still young and doesn't know any better.

He will get used to you in time." She sounded exactly like a real mother. Arthur rubbed the bridge of his nose.

He looked at Toby hiding behind the robot, then at me, standing completely still. He sighed. "Let's go home." The Principal walked us out, smiling. "By the way, Mr.

Miller, just a quick reminder. In ten days, our academy will conduct a followup assessment. An evaluator will visit your home to observe Subject 438's reallife performance.

If she fails to meet your standards, we will bring her back for further adjustments." My chest tightened painfully. The wound that had barely closed was instantly ripped open again.

If Arthur was not satisfied, he could return me to that living hell like a defective product. Arthur gave a careless shrug and walked out.

Lily followed, carrying Toby, while I kept a perfect, respectful distance behind them. In the car, Toby curled up in Lily’s arms, shooting suspicious glares at me.

I kept my smile fixed. After a twohour drive, we finally arrived at the villa. The smart lock recognized Lily's proximity, and the front door clicked open.

Toby cheered, jumping out of Lily's arms and running into the living room. "I'm home! Mommy Lily, tell me a story!

I want the one about the little dinosaur!" I entered last, standing quietly in the foyer. Three years ago, this was my home.

Three years later, there was not a single trace of me left. "Come in." Arthur stood in the middle of the living room.

Realizing I was still at the entrance, he called out coldly. "Yes, Mr.

Miller." I bowed my head, slipped off the standard beige flats provided by the academy, and placed them neatly in the shoe rack. I put on a pair of house slippers and walked in.

Arthur said, "After you left, we moved all your stuff to the storage room. You can unpack them later." "Yes, Mr. Miller." Arthur frowned. "Evelyn, you don't have to call me Mr.

Miller. I prefer the way you used to talk to me." I tilted my head slightly. "Command received. Please specify your preferred form of address."

Arthur grit his teeth. "I'm your husband!" My smile became even more precise, even warmer.

I quickly associated the term "husband" with Arthur in my mind and responded submissively: "Acknowledged. Yes, honey." Arthur’s frown deepened. I didn't ask why.

Subject 438 only executes commands; she does not ask questions. At nine o'clock, it was Toby's bedtime. I was wiping the coffee table in the living room.

The pattern was strict: left to right, top to bottom, leaving no spots untouched and never repeating a stroke. I heard Toby whining. "Daddy, I want to sleep with Mommy Lily!

She hasn't finished yesterday's story yet!" Arthur sounded exhausted. "Toby, you're four now. You're a big boy. You can sleep by yourself.

I'll buy you a nice nightlight tomorrow, okay?" "No, no, no!" Toby began to sob. "I don't want a nightlight! I want Mommy Lily! And I want Daddy, too! We always sleep together!

You promised!" My hand paused for a fraction of a second. But I corrected my pace instantly, continuing to polish the already gleaming glass table.

Arthur glanced over at me, looking a bit uncomfortable. "Toby is afraid of the dark.

For the last three years, the three of us slept in the master bedroom." He paused, adding, "Nothing happened between Lily and me.

She's just an android." My face held the same agreeable smile. "I understand, Arthur." "Then you can take the guest room on the second floor tonight—" "Make her sleep in the living room!" Toby stood with his hands on his hips. "The second floor is ours!

I don't want her on the same floor as us!" Arthur looked at Toby, then at me. He remained silent. Taking advantage of the silence, I offered helpfully: "It's perfectly fine.

I can sleep in the living room. Toby is still small and needs security.

Honey, you and Lily should stay with him so he can sleep better." Arthur stared at me for a few seconds before saying, "Sorry to make you do this tonight." "It is my pleasure.

Also, I need your—" Before I could finish, Lily's gentle chime interrupted me. "Mr. Miller, it is time for your daily health data synchronization.

Please proceed to the medical room on the second floor." Arthur looked at Lily. "Now?" Lily nodded. "The synchronization window closes in fifteen minutes.

To ensure data integrity, I recommend doing it now.

Your resting heart rate has been slightly elevated today and requires monitoring." Arthur picked up Toby and followed Lily upstairs.

Thus, my request for the "shutdown command" was left unspoken.

At the academy, we were conditioned to move only upon receiving the "boot command" and sleep only after the "shutdown command." Over three years, this system had been beaten and conditioned into my very bones.

Without the command, I did not dare to move. Moreover, if I violated the rules, the upcoming evaluation would send me straight back to that hell.

I stood there in the living room, frozen in one posture, completely still. The next morning, Arthur came down early.

When he saw me standing in the exact same spot, his face turned incredibly pale. "Evelyn... have you been standing here all night?"

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!"