Chapter 2

Chloe's POV:

The scalding coffee seeped into the micro-crevices around my eyes and lips, temporarily short-circuiting a secondary motherboard. The system was running diagnostics and reboot protocols, forcing the body into a brief standby mode.

Ethan was completely oblivious. He just assumed this was another one of "my" ploys-a stunt to grab his attention.

"Do you really think acting all pathetic is going to make me feel sorry for you, Chloe? Look in the mirror. You look like a freak."

Amidst his sneers, "my" system finally rebooted, and motor functions were restored.

However, the coffee had damaged the optical sensor in my left eye. The artificial sclera was now glowing with an unnatural red light.

"Ethan, look at Chloe's eye... it's so red. Did I really burn her?" Serena asked, her tone dripping with fake innocence.

"Ignore her. How hot can a cup of coffee be? She's probably just holding her breath to make her eyes bloodshot so you'll feel guilty," Ethan scoffed, stripping away whatever tiny shred of dignity I had left.

The android had no feelings; it couldn't feel pain.

But I could. My soul felt the sorrow.

"Walking around putting on an act like you're so forgiving... I guess you do get mad after all! Don't worry about her, Serena. Even if she goes blind in one eye, she still has the other. She'll live." Ethan's voice was laced with malice. He stared intently at me, desperately trying to find proof of jealousy on my face.

Serena covered her mouth and giggled. "Ethan, you're awful! If she only has one eye, she'll look like a pirate!"

Her mocking laughter echoed through the room.

Ethan heard it, but he couldn't have cared less. His only goal was to break me down, to humiliate me. Especially in front of the woman he loved.

Emboldened by Ethan's callousness, Serena walked right up to "me," grabbed a napkin, and roughly smeared it across "my" coffee-stained face.

"Oops, my bad, Chloe. I think I just made it worse!"

She leaned in close, staring straight into my glowing red eye. "Are you really okay? You look spaced out. Did I blind you just now?"

Ethan finally glanced at my eye. The sclera had turned a crystalline LED red; it didn't look human. But he just grimaced, as if he were looking at a dead bug.

"If only she were blind. Then she wouldn't be able to stare at me with those pathetic, puppy-dog eyes anymore," he muttered, glancing at the shattered mug on the hardwood floor. "Shame about the coffee. I imported those Jamaican Blue Mountain beans just for you, Serena. What a waste."

I had always known Serena was the love of his life.

But I never imagined that, to him, one of my eyes was worth less than a cup of imported coffee.

All my years of love and sacrifice had turned into the sharpest knife, plunging straight into my heart.

"Chloe! Could you say something? Or are you completely mute now?" Failing to find any sign of anger from me only infuriated Ethan further.

But then, he seemed to realize he was overreacting. So, he quickly found an excuse for his rage. "Look how pale Serena is. You scared her! Apologize to her right now, and we'll let this go. Otherwise, we're done."

My soul trembled with rage.

Listen to him. Was he even human?

She threw scalding coffee on me, damaged my eye, and I was supposed to apologize?

Even if I wanted to fight back, I couldn't override the android's programming. But fortunately, "my" voice processor had been water-damaged.

For the first time, "I" failed to execute Ethan's direct command. "I" opened my mouth, but only a faint crackling sound came out. I did not apologize.

Ethan's face instantly darkened.

"Chloe, are you playing deaf and mute now? Are you pissed off because I brought Serena home? If you have a problem, just say it! Stop playing this flawless, submissive victim! It makes me sick!"

He completely dropped his usual charming facade. He looked genuinely unhinged.

But I knew exactly why he was so furious.