Chapter 28 Chubby "The photos turned out really well. Yes, very nice," she said. Oriana spoke as if it were obvious. "Keep both copies here with me, or do you want to take one back to show someone?" He seemed so eager to get married; there must be some family pressure involved, right? Micah's expression stiffened for a brief moment, fleeting but noticeable. "Leave them with you. I'll take them if I need them later," Micah said. "Okay." Oriana quickly put the photos away. No need to look at them again, absolutely not. Kieran drove them back to their residence. The car went straight into the parking garage, and facial recognition granted them elevator access to their private floor. The smart system was linked to the door; as soon as they reached the floor, the apartment door unlocked automatically. From inside came a lively, cheerful voice. "Daddy, you're back. I missed you so much, Daddy." Even before seeing him, Oriana recognized the child's voice. She suddenly remembered, Micah had already spoken before her, taking the initiative. "Oh, I also got a gift for your child. Do you think he'll like it?" His eyebrows drew together slightly as he repeated the keyword. "My child?" 'Yes, isn't he your son?" Oriana said. As she spoke, Oriana pulled the robot toy out of her bag. "Boys usually like model cars that can transform, right?" Micah froze. Seeing his expression falter slightly, Oriana felt a pang of regret. Did his son not like cars but prefer snacks instead? Just as she puzzled over this, she heard the whirring sound of rolling wheels. Curious, she turned toward the doorway and froze. "Daddy, I've been good these past few days and didn't wreck the house," a voice sounded. The jubilant child she'd expected to see was actually a robot about as tall as her thigh, wearing an ill-fitting shirt, complete with wheels, wings, and ears. A robot? 1/3 Finished Its large eyes scanned Oriana, detected unfamiliar data, processed it, and spun in place, wings flapping excitedly. "You're my mom? Awesome. I have a mom now." Oriana was completely stunned, speechless for a moment. Kieran, trailing behind them, saw their expressions utterly indescribable and nearly laughed out loud. Seeing this scene at Micah's house was genuinely delightful. He couldn't help chuckling. "Mrs. Caldwell, this is a robotic pet customized for Mr. Caldwell, named Chubby. It automatically uploads data to analyze scenarios and interact with its owner. A regular toy car without intelligence wouldn't be able to do this." Oriana quietly put the toy away. "Alright, then." This misunderstanding had really embarrassed her. She helplessly rubbed her forehead, only for Kieran, who was about to say goodbye, to drop another bomb. "By the way, Mrs. Caldwell, at the airport, you asked me how to get along with Mr. Caldwell, right? Well, he's right in front of you. Maybe it'd be better if you asked him yourself." Kieran turned back toward the elevator, nodding slightly. "Wishing you both a happy marriage. Good night." Watching Kieran drop that bomb and leave just like that, Oriana felt her world collapse. Even knowing Micah couldn't see her, she couldn't help flailing her hands nervously. "I didn't mean anything else. I didn't know your preferences and didn't want to upset you or anything." Her mind was buzzing; Oriana didn't even know what she was saying. 'It's okay. It's late tonight. Rest first. Anything you want to ask tomorrow, just ask. I'll answer," Micah said gently and calmly. "Let Chubby scan your face and fingerprints so you can move freely," he added. "Alright," Oriana said. Chubby flapped its wings and rolled over to Oriana's feet. "Mom, look down at the camera. I'm going to record your info now." Oriana couldn't help but be amazed. Technology had advanced so much that robotic pets were this intelligent now. Following Chubby's instructions to complete the data entry, Micah then had the robot guide Oriana to the bedroom. The large flat apartment was divided by the living room, one side his territory, the other her space. It was almost identical to the Seabar apartment, just bigger, taller, and with a better view. "The whole place is smart-enabled. You can change room passcodes if you get authorization. Anything 2/3 you need, just tell Chubby or," Micah paused. "Call me." Oriana quickly replied, "I should be the one taking care of you. Just call me if you need anything." For some reason, since the first moment she saw him, she felt it was her responsibility to take care of him. She couldn't help but laugh at herself. Could it be that her lingering habit of caring for the disabled, left over from Grant's leg injury, was influencing her? She immediately dismissed the thought. She shouldn't think about Grant. Tonight, she was newly married, and far away in Seabar, Grant was probably busy tending to a recovering Luna. Oriana reminded herself to focus only on herself, now and in the future. Shaking her head, she spoke warmly to Micah, "Good night. Rest well." 1 20 1 3/3