Chapter 2

I didn't sleep.

At sunrise I sat down in the living room and opened the system's admin panel.

The login page showed my email. But it refused me management rights.

I opened the household member list.

Ethan. Ethan's mother. A grayed-out profile for Vivian. And Vivian's mother, Linda Hayes.

My name was at the bottom. My status wasn't fiancée. It wasn't family member either.

It was "adaptation subject."

Ethan came out with breakfast. There were lilies of the valley on the dining table.

I sat down, and my throat immediately started to itch.

He got up to move the flowers. The system chimed in.

"Lily of the valley was Vivian's favorite. Retention recommended during the engagement period."

Ethan's mother frowned.

"Iris. Bear with it. It's just flowers."

I looked at Ethan.

He stood there holding the vase, unmoving. Finally, he said, "I'll have someone put them a little further away."

The system continued.

"Vivian's breakfast preferences do not match. Please correct Iris's selection."

I looked at him.

"Did you hear what it just said?"

He reached over and switched off the speaker.

"Ignore it."

"Muting the speaker doesn't delete the program."

His hand stopped on the switch.

"There's too much going on before the wedding."

"Once the wedding is over, I'll wipe the system."

"Why does every single thing have to wait until after the wedding?"

He didn't answer. The doorbell rang.

I opened the door. My mother stood outside holding a paper bag.

She had just been discharged from the hospital. She had to brace herself against the doorframe to stay upright. She still smiled and held the bag out to me.

"I finished your scarf. I was worried you'd be cold at the wedding."

I reached out to help her inside. The lock flashed red.

"Temporary visitor. Please wait for owner authorization."

Mom's hand froze on the bag.

"It's fine. High-tech things, you know."

I looked back at Ethan.

He came over and cleared her.

"Mrs. Langley. The system's been acting up. Please don't take it personally."

She waved him off. "Not at all."

The moment she stepped inside, Vivian's voice came over the speakers.

"Mom. You're here."

A profile card popped up on the wall. Linda Hayes. Family. Permanent access.

Mom sat down. The system chimed again.

"Temporary visitor access remaining: nine minutes, fifty-eight seconds."

Her fingers tightened on the paper bag. She didn't open it.

Instead she took the scarf out and held it out to me.

"The color might be a little plain. If you don't like it, I can knit you a new one."

I took the scarf and pressed it against my chest.

"I love it."

I turned to Ethan.

"Why is my mother a temporary visitor while Vivian's mother is permanent family?"

He wouldn't meet my eyes.

"Those permissions are old. I never noticed."

"You never noticed. And me? I'm listed as an adaptation subject. Did you never notice that either?"

Ethan pressed his lips together.

"Iris. Not in front of your mother."

I gave a thin smile.

"So I'm the one being unreasonable again."

Mom pulled at my sleeve. "Iris, don't fight. Cool off and talk about it later."

I wanted to walk out.

But she had just gotten out of the hospital. The wedding invitations had already gone out.

I needed to know. Was this a glitch? Or was Ethan doing it on purpose?

The door closed. The system scanned the scarf in my hand.

"Does not match Vivian's color palette. Replacement recommended."

I grabbed a decorative piece off a nearby shelf and hurled it at the sensor.

Ethan heard the crash and rushed in, wrapping his arms around me from behind.

"Iris. Don't."

I tried to pry his arms off. I couldn't.

"It said my mother's work doesn't belong here."

He tightened his hold.

"I'll make it up to you. I'll have the scarf put away safely. Okay?"

I stopped struggling.

My phone lit up. A new reminder had appeared on my calendar.

【Day Three. Complete family relationship adaptation.】