Mafia Parents Traded Me For An AI

Dario dropped the fruit platter, sending strawberries and blueberries rolling everywhere.

Serafina, sitting on the floor, looked up with eyes brimming with tears that seemed staged for maximum sympathy. "Why did you push me, Viviana? I thought you didn't hate me anymore. Why did you have to push me again?"

I remained silent, merely looking down at her. I knew she was faking it; after all, as an AI robot, her tears were digitally simulated, her tremors were algorithmically generated, and her faint smirk—visible only to me—had been programmed into her.

Mamma rushed over, her expression shifting from shock to pure rage in a matter of seconds. "What is the meaning of this? Why did you push Serafina?"

"Serafina was the one who asked me to push her, Mamma."

Serafina sobbed, her voice wavering with practiced vulnerability while saying, "You're lying. Why would I ever ask you to push me? I only wanted to wish you a happy birthday, Viviana."

Dario crouched to help Serafina up, handling her with extreme care as one might handle delicate porcelain.

He then raised his gaze to mine, his expression one of profound disappointment. "You haven't changed a bit. You spent two years at that academy and came back acting so mature, only to show your true colors the moment our backs were turned.

"You're definitely jealous of Serafina. You've always been this way—you can't stand to see Serafina happy."

Mamma's eyes turned bloodshot—not from pity, but from pure rage. She then said with a trembling voice, "Your father, brother, and I were just discussing how to improve our treatment of you—I was even experiencing remorse for sending you to that academy—and planning how to compensate you, Viviana.

"How could you do this? You haven't changed at all. You're still as vicious as ever. You still can't stand Serafina. You pretended to be a proper lady for a whole year and tricked all of us, Viviana."

I parted my lips, intending to protest that my behavior wasn't a facade but rather the result of the academy's conditioning—the very place they had committed me to. I could only remain silent, though, as I had received no directive to speak.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Mamma barked.

"I have not been given the command to speak."

Mamma's face flushed deep red, and Serafina was leaning against her from behind, weeping quietly as her shoulders shook, looking every bit like a damsel in distress.

"You should just drop dead, Viviana," Dario suddenly said.

In that instant, everyone in the living room fell silent.

"W-What did you just say?" Papa furrowed his brow as he walked out of the study.

Dario shouted so loudly that the windows shook and the crystal strands on the chandelier chimed. "I told her to go die! Isn't she so keen and obedient when it comes to following commands? She should just drop dead, then!

"It's obvious that things would be better once she's dead! I mean, the Moretti famiglia doesn't need a robot for a daughter, especially one that hurts people!"

Serafina suddenly collapsed to the floor after Dario's declaration. She convulsed slightly as her eyes rolled back, looking as though one of her internal components had malfunctioned.

"What's the matter, Serafina?" Mamma's shriek was loud enough to bring the house down.

Mamma was cradling Serafina's head before Papa carried her onto the couch. Dario, on the other hand, called the Famiglia doctor and the repair technicians.

They were all preoccupied with Serafina, while I remained completely unnoticed.

I stood in the center of the living room, watching Serafina lying on the couch while Mamma, Papa, and Dario surrounded her. I then said, "I've received the command—I will end my life now."

They didn't hear me, as they were all crowded around Serafina, their expressions reflecting profound concern and urgency.

I slowly turned away and headed for the balcony.