Flora’s Guide to a Second Chance at Love and Life

Explosion?

Bentley's mind flashed back to the mess on the floor when he'd come in earlier. He hadn't thought much of it at the time-just noticed Amy lying there, with bits of what looked like an antique vase scattered around her. But now it clicked: those scraps of fake skin had to belong to the imitation Amy.

He remembered, years ago, agreeing to this deal, already knowing the fake Amy wasn't human. She was a chip-based android, perfectly lifelike on the outside, but programmed to self-destruct to protect her code if things went south.

Bentley stepped forward and grabbed Amy's hand, gripping it tight. "Did she say anything to you before she died?" he asked, voice low and urgent.

Amy shrank back, putting on the perfect show of fear-her eyes wide, trembling like a helpless little thing.

Tears welled up as she looked at him, voice barely more than a whisper. “No, nothing. As soon as I got downstairs, she started hitting me. Just like before, when she'd lock me up and go crazy. I was terrified, I just curled up in the corner. She kept shouting about being conscious, about being a real person, and then... I must have blacked out. I didn't hear anything else."

her cheeks, so pitiful that anyone watching would feel sorry for

acted like the

Amy had been

in a hug. She stroked Amy's back,

pull Amy up and get answers, but every time, Lucy

and out of options,

was for show. Lucy's sweetness was just a mask-out in public, she was all grace and charm; at home, she played the delicate, helpless wife for Bentley's sake. Bentley adored a woman who'd sacrifice everything for her kids, so of course Lucy made herself seem

quietly slipped out of bed and crept

too impatient," Amy's father was saying. "Amy just got back, and she's been locked up for years. There's no way she could know

remembered something. "Wait-don't we have security cameras in the

"I did."