Chapter 4

"Oh, this? A pretty lady's husband's in the hospital. She gave each of us kids one of these robots so we'd stay quiet and wouldn't disturb her husband while he rested. Mister, do you like it too?

"If you really like it, I can give it to you! Huh… that's weird. Why do I suddenly feel like that lady looks a bit like the one in your phone case…"

With every word the little girl said, my heart sank a little further. As soon as she finished speaking, my legs gave out. I stumbled backward and collapsed onto the hospital bed, my face as white as a sheet.

I knew that robot all too well. Ever since Yvonne and I got together, we had devoted ourselves to developing high-sensitivity specialized robots. It had been our dream all these years.

Truth be told, it all started because I might carry a rare genetic disorder. Back then, Yvonne looked at me with teary eyes and said, "I'll run the company, and you bring the tech. Together, we'll develop a robot that can accurately detect genetic disorders. You're going to live a long, healthy life. I'll make sure of it!"

After endless failed attempts over the years, I finally cracked the code a year ago. However, these high-sensitivity specialized robots came with a unique drawback—once they were activated, they could never be restored to their original state.

I had been searching for the right opportunity to test this batch of robots. There had only been a handful of prototype units to begin with, and now Yvonne had given every single one of them away.

When I came back to my senses, I picked up my phone with trembling hands and called Yvonne. The phone rang for a long time before she finally answered, her voice dripping with irritation. "What is it? Have you come to your senses? Are you calling to apologize?

"By the way, Samson, you did it on purpose, didn't you? Why didn't you tell me that green bean poisoning could be this severe? Do you have any idea that because of you, Michael was poisoned by green beans?"

As I listened to her endless accusations and complaints, my eyes filled with sorrow. "When I told you I'd been poisoned by green beans and asked you to take me to the hospital, what was it that you said to me?"

Perhaps because I had bent over backward for her all these years, my sudden rebuttal rendered her speechless.

Moments later, her indifferent voice came through. "How can you even compare yourself to Michael? Michael has always been frail. Green bean poisoning could kill him!

"You, on the other hand, are as healthy as a horse. How could anything happen to you? Besides, aren't you perfectly fine right now?

"Anyhow, I don't have time to argue with you about all this. I'm very busy, Samson. If you're not going to apologize to Michael, I'm hanging up!"

I stared at the robot in the little girl's hands and slowly asked, "Did you give away all my robots?"

"Yeah. So what? It's just a few robots. Can't you just make a few more?"

At the sound of her nonchalant tone, all the emotions I had been bottling up overflowed. "Do you have any idea how special these robots are, Yvonne Ashby? Once they're activated improperly, they're completely ruined! In other words, a decade of my hard work will have been for nothing!"

"Are you out of your mind, Samson? Why are you raising your voice at me? It's just a few robots; is it really worth getting this worked up over?

"Now that you've mentioned it, I might as well let you know that your robotics project is being put on hold effective today. Once Michael is discharged from the hospital, you'll hand it over to him."

"Why the hell would I do that?"

Perhaps sensing the sudden crack in my composure, she let out a sigh and patiently tried to reason with me. "Michael's a newcomer. He needs an opportunity to prove himself. You, on the other hand, have been with the company for almost a decade; you don't need opportunities like this anymore.

"That's enough. Don't be so jealous and competitive. I want you to look out for the younger employees.

"Alright, I have things to take care of here. I'll talk to you later."