Replaced by AI

Maddison fell backward onto the floor. Her skirt spread around her like a flower already beginning to wilt.

The living room doors suddenly flew open as Bailey stood there holding a plate of fruit.

The moment he saw us, he shouted furiously, "Lola! What the hell are you doing?"

The fruit platter crashed to the floor beside him, fruit rolling everywhere.

Maddison sat on the ground and slowly looked up, tears already pooling in her eyes. "Lola, why did you push me? I thought you didn’t hate me anymore. Why would you push me again?"

I said nothing.

She was pretending; I knew she was. Just as her tears were simulated responses, her trembling was an algorithmic behavior.

Mom rushed over, her expression transforming from shock to rage in seconds. "What are you doing?! Why would you push Maddie?!"

"She told me to."

"That’s a lie!" Maddison burst into tears. "Why would I ever ask you to push me? I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday..."

Bailey immediately crouched down to help her up, handling her carefully like fragile porcelain. Then he looked at me, his eyes full of disappointment. "You never changed at all. You spent three years at that academy pretending to be obedient, and now your true colors are showing the second you get back.

"I knew it. People like you never change. You’ve hated seeing Maddie happy since we were kids."

Mom’s eyes were filled with tears as well, but not because she felt sorry for me. She was angry. "We were just talking about treating you better. I was even regretting sending you to that place. We were discussing how to make things up to you."

She stepped closer and jabbed a finger hard against my chest. "And this is what we get? You haven’t changed at all. You’re still cruel. You still can’t tolerate Maddie.

"You pretended to be good for three whole years and fooled every one of us."

I opened my mouth instinctively, meaning to tell her this wasn’t an act. The academy had turned me into this, and they were the ones who sent me there.

However, I couldn’t say it because no command had been issued.

"Say something!" Mom screamed at me.

"I have not received a command instructing me to speak."

Mom’s face flushed crimson with fury.

Behind her, Maddison leaned weakly against her shoulder, quietly sobbing.

Then Bailey suddenly spoke, "You should die."

The living room went silent.

Dad frowned sharply. "What did you say?"

Bailey’s voice rose loud enough to shake the windows. "I said she should die! Doesn’t she obey every command now? Isn’t she the perfect obedient daughter? Then tell her to die! Everything would finally be peaceful if she disappeared!"

The moment those words left his mouth, Maddison suddenly collapsed onto the floor. Her body convulsed violently, and her eyes rolled back. Foam spilled from the corner of her mouth.

"Maddie! Maddison, what’s happening?!" Mom’s scream tore through the room.

She cradled Maddison’s head while Dad desperately tried to keep her conscious. Bailey scrambled for his phone to call an ambulance.

Everyone surrounded her.

Nobody looked at me.

I slowly turned toward the garden outside the balcony doors.

Behind me, Maddison continued convulsing on the floor while Mom, Dad, and Bailey panicked around her.

Still, no one looked at me.

"Command received. Terminate."

Nobody heard me. They were too busy worrying about Maddison and showering her with attention.

I slowly turned around and walked toward the balcony. Cold night wind rushed against my skin.

"Lola!" Bailey noticed first. His voice came out sharp and terrified. His phone slipped from his hand and shattered against the floor.

Mom whipped around too, all the color draining from her face instantly. "Lola! What are you doing?!"

I smiled faintly at her. Then, without hesitation, I carried out the command.