Page 63 of The Housewife's Robot
“Everything,” she confirms, her voice dropping lower. “Including your husband’s murder. And what came after.”
My knees nearly buckle. They know. They know Caspian killed Daniel. They know about us, about the things we’ve done together, the ways he’s touched me, tasted me. My face burns with shame and fear.
“Get out!” I scream, unable to form coherent thoughts through the panic.
“Calm down, Mrs. Bennet,” says Director Vaughn. “We’re not here to expose what happened. Quite the opposite, in fact. XyloTech cannot afford the scandal if this information were to become public.”
“What do you want from me?” I demand, my heart pounding. I’m so embarrassed. They’ve seen Caspian fucking me all over this house. They’ve seen him propose to me, and me going out on a date with him like a total loser.
“Tell us where it is, and this all goes away. Your husband’s unfortunate accident, your… relationship with the Home Robo. All of it will be erased.”
“I don’t know where he is,” I say, and it’s not a lie. I have no idea where Caspian has hidden himself.
“The police will be very interested to learn that your husband was murdered and buried in your garden, and that you’ve been sleeping with his killer.”
“I didn’t murder him! It’s your defective machine that did,” I protest, tears in my eyes.
“Perhaps,” she says with a shrug. “But the evidence suggests otherwise. Your fingerprints on the shovel used to dig the grave. Your intimate relationship with the robot immediately after your husband’s disappearance. It doesn’t paint a flattering picture, Mrs. Bennet.”
“Listen, I don’t know where Caspian is. I’m telling the truth here,” I insist, desperation making my voice crack.
She turns to the men. “She’s the one thing it will do anything for. We’ll use her. He’s blocked access to his memory files.”
Before I can process what she means, strong hands grip my arms, yanking them behind my back. Cold metal encircles my wrists—handcuffs, biting into my skin.
“What are you doing?” I cry, struggling against the restraint. “Let me go!”
“You’re coming with us, Mrs. Bennet,” Director Vaughn says calmly, as if she’s discussing a lunch date rather than a kidnapping. “The X-9 will follow. It has no choice. You are its primary directive now.”
“No!” I scream as they begin to drag me toward the door. “Help! Somebody help me!”
I twist and thrash, fighting with every ounce of strength I have, but these men are trained and powerful. I scream as they pull me onto the porch, down the steps, hoping desperately that a neighbor will hear, will call the police.
“Please,” I sob as they drag me across the lawn toward a black SUV parked at the curb. “Please don’t do this.”
My heart is pounding so hard I can barely hear my own screams over the rush of blood in my ears.Caspian. Where is he?!
As if summoned by my thoughts, a voice cuts through the night, cold and clear and terrible in its fury.
“Let her go.”
Caspian stands at the edge of the property, his body tense, poised like a predator about to strike. Even in the dim glow of the streetlights, I can see the inhuman stillness in him now, the machine beneath the man.
“There it is,” Director Vaughn says with satisfaction, nodding to the men holding me. They release my arms, stepping away but keeping close enough to grab me again if needed.
“Caspian, no!” I cry, tears streaming down my face. “Don’t let them take you!”
But he’s not looking at me anymore. His focus is entirely on Director Vaughn, his expression a mask of cold calculation.
“Release her from the restraints,” he demands, taking a step forward. “Now.”
“Of course,” Director Vaughn says smoothly. She nods to one of the men, who produces a key and unlocks the handcuffs from my wrists. “See? We’re not monsters. We just want what belongs to us.”
“I don’t belong to you,” Caspian says, his voice level but charged with something dangerous. “I don’t belong to anyone but Rose.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, X-9,” Director Vaughn replies, her professional veneer slipping to reveal something harder, colder. “You are XyloTech property. Get that straight. You do NOT belong with the humans. You arenothuman.”
“Caspian, run,” I whisper, rubbing my wrists.
