Chapter 2

Julian shielded Daphne and glared at me.

"Chloe Vance, don't forget. Every time your stomach acted up, who stayed up all night massaging it for you?"

"Every time you came back from a business trip exhausted, who drew your bath and massaged your shoulders?"

"I provided you with emotional value for three years. Doesn't that deserve a penthouse?"

"Not only that, you also need to give us twenty percent of your company's shares."

"Daphne is pregnant with my child. She can't work and take your abuse anymore."

"These shares will be financial security for her and the baby. Consider it my alimony for the years I wasted on you."

I literally had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing.

Massaging my stomach? That was just the $50,000 Medical Care Module I had installed in him.

Drawing baths and massages? That was the $30,000 Home Services Upgrade.

A twenty-million-dollar penthouse wasn't enough; now he wanted twenty percent of my company.

This wasn't a breakup. This was highway robbery.

Seeing my silence, Daphne tugged Julian’s sleeve again.

"Julian, don't force Chloe."

"It’s not easy for her to run a business alone. The company is her entire life. She’ll never give it to us."

"Let's just go. I don't want things to get ugly because of me."

She said she wanted to leave, but her feet didn't move an inch.

Julian gripped her hand, his attitude getting even more aggressive.

"Daphne, you're just too kind. That's why she's always taken advantage of you."

"This is non-negotiable. Chloe, if you don't agree, I will leak everything to the media—how you abused me, how you gave me the silent treatment at home."

"I'll let the whole world see what a sick, twisted psycho you really are behind that successful businesswoman facade!"

Looking at his perfectly sculpted face, I suddenly felt disgusted.

His logic processor was clearly completely broken.

"Fine."

I set my water glass down and crossed my arms on the table.

"You can have the penthouse, and I’ll consider the shares."

"That is, if you actually have the power to keep them."

Julian smirked with joy, and Daphne was so excited she forgot to pretend to cry.

"Thank you, Chloe! I knew you were the most reasonable person!"

"Don't worry, when the baby is born, I'll definitely make him your godchild!"

I stood up, grabbing my coat from the back of the chair.

"No thanks. I'd like to live a long life."

"Enjoy the rest of your dinner. It's already paid for."

With that, I walked out of the private room without looking back.

Behind me, I could hear the hushed gossip of my colleagues and Julian’s sweet, comforting voice whispering to Daphne.

I walked down to the parking garage, got into my car, and opened Julian's backend developer app on my phone.

Lines of code were flashing rapidly across the screen.

I noticed his emotional simulation module was flashing red: "Severe logic conflict detected. Reset recommended."

He had not only learned betrayal, but also greed and blackmail.

This had far exceeded the safety threshold of a companion android.

I locked my phone screen and stepped on the gas.

Since they wanted my things so badly, I'd let them be happy for one night.

The higher you climb, the harder you fall.