The AI Godfather That Knew Too Much About My Heart

On graduation day, I caught Julian—the boy who had been my shadow for twelve years—pinning another woman against the wall, kissing her hard.

His hand smacked her ass before he scooped her up and carried her into the hotel.

When my call interrupted him, he just hung up impatiently and texted back:

"Aria, stop playing the fragile little girl with your panic attacks. I'm not your babysitter anymore."

"I'm the next in line for the Valerius family. I have real business to handle. I don't have the energy to be your nanny."

Then, he coldly sent me a link to some newly developed AI personal assistant app.

"If you're that lonely, go chat with the AI. It's way more useful than you clinging to me every day."

I stood frozen, tears streaming down my face. A suffocating wave of heartbreak and loss swallowed me whole.

My parents died saving his parents—the current Don and Donna of the Valerius Family.

We grew up together. He took care of me for twelve years. I always thought he loved me. I even thought we'd get married one day.

But now, I was just a burden. An annoyance.

Watching his back disappear into the hotel lobby, I numbly downloaded the app.

"What color should I wear to the graduation party?"

"Burgundy. It complements your pale skin and hugs your curves perfectly."

"I want to change up my jewelry too..."

"You have beautiful collarbones. You don't need anything complicated. A minimalist platinum necklace would be perfect."

"Where should I go for my solo graduation trip?"

"Your private account shows a love for the Mediterranean. Go to the Amalfi Coast. The sun will look good on you."

"Okay. I'll listen to you."

Wait.

Something was wrong.

Why would an AI app know about my secret Instagram account?

Julian and I were inseparable for twelve years. But since I got this AI he recommended, I hadn't reached out to him in ten days.

But something felt off. It acted too much like a real person.

Late at night, just before my trip to Amalfi, I stared at the screen and typed out a line almost instinctively.

"I'm leaving for my solo trip to Amalfi tomorrow. Can you come with me?"

The AI replied instantly.

"Are you sure?"

I stared at the text. Would an AI ask me that?

Just as I was about to question it, another message popped up.

"I'm right here. I won't hide. I won't run. When you fall, I'll catch you."

...Right, definitely an AI.

I gave up, packed my bags, and got ready for my solo trip.

But I didn't expect to run into Julian at the airport the next day.

The untouchable heir to the Valerius Family. The man who wouldn't flinch with a gun to his head was currently looking down, patiently zipping up a woman's suitcase.

It was Sloane.

Seeing their intimacy, the memory of them making out in front of the hotel ten days ago pierced my brain again.

My heart painfully contracted.

"Oh my God, Aria!"

Sloane turned her head and gasped dramatically.

She looped her arm through Julian's like she owned him. Like she was already the Donna.

"Julian, you're so mean!" She pouted, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. "You knew it was your 'little sister's' graduation trip today. Why didn't you tell me? We should have at least seen her off!"

Little sister.

The words slipped from her mouth with blatant pity and provocation.

Ever since she showed up, she played the "future girlfriend" card, wedging herself between me and Julian.

Like they were a power couple. And I was just the stray orphan they couldn't get rid of. A piece of dead weight clinging to the Valerius estate.

A wave of physical nausea hit my stomach.

I didn't want to stay a second longer. Gripping my suitcase handle, I turned to leave, but my eyes met Julian's.

"Why did you follow us?" Julian frowned, taking long strides toward me. His tone was laced with suppressed irritation. "Aria, I'm just taking Sloane on a trip for a few days. Can you stop showing up the second I feel like I can finally breathe?"

I opened my mouth, but before I could make a sound, his words crashed down on me.

"Stop using my mother's guilt to keep me chained to you."

He looked down at me, deliberately avoiding my eyes. His voice was cold and hard. "You've graduated. We should have our own lives now. Sloane loves wild, unrestricted adventures just like me. But you... I refuse to be held hostage by family duty anymore. I'm done playing the guardian angel who revolves around you. Save your tears. They won't work on me."

Seeing his tense, avoiding gaze, a suffocating sorrow swelled in my chest.

My eyes burned slightly, but in the next second, I felt completely numb.

"Are you even listening to me—"

"You think I'm here for you?" I opened my eyes, cutting off his lecture.

Julian froze.

He clearly didn't expect the submissive doll who always trailed behind him to dare interrupt.

The smug look on Sloane's face stiffened.

I ignored their reactions, simply raising my wrist and pointing at my watch.

"Excuse me. My flight boards in twenty minutes. You're in my way."

Until this moment, Julian hadn't really looked at me.

His gaze swept over my cold face and landed on my burgundy velvet dress.

The striking color perfectly hugged my curves. The minimalist platinum necklace on my collarbone glinted sharply.

In my eyes, there were no tears. And there was no him.

Julian flinched.

He snapped his gaze to my suitcase, then stared hard at the boarding pass in my hand.

Destination: Amalfi.

It wasn't where he was going.

The shock of losing control shattered his arrogance.

For a split second, something that looked like guilt flashed in his eyes, but it was gone before he could name it.

His superior tone wavered, his voice tightening.

"You're traveling alone?" He stared at me, complex emotions swirling in his eyes. "Why didn't you tell me?"