Husband Dead, Millions in Hand...But Wait—He'd Loved Me a Decade! - Chapter 4: Chapter 4
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I blinked back to reality—no James, just me shaking in ice-cold bathwater.
I toweled off, stumbled to bed, and collapsed in a half-dressed heap.
James had it right.
Only my opinion of me should matter.
That's the secret to never getting hurt.
So, James—I swear I never actually cared about you. Just your wallet.
Wait.
Something nagged at my tipsy brain.
That obscene inheritance came with a sidekick—that weird little robot dog.
Why the hell would James leave me a robot dog?
I'd tossed the thing in his study, right on his favorite chair.
I grabbed the robo-pup, remembering Ethan mentioning it was AI-powered—just name-activate it and boom, instant conversation.
So James—such a considerate man—even worried about me being lonely
But what was the damn thing's name?
Ethan said James never specified—I had to guess.
God, I hated brain teasers.
That was James's department, not mine.
Annoyed, I just barked out: "James Bennett!"
Nothing at first.
But in the next second.
The dog's eyes lit up.
"Hello, Olivia. I'm James."
Time froze.
My hands shook around the plastic fur.
Same voice. Same inflection. For a heartbeat, he was back.
My throat tightened.
"You're... James?"
"Yes. I contain all of James's memories. My responses align with his personality and behavioral patterns."
So this was a custom AI—James in robot dog form.
Suddenly it hit me.
Those final months, he was still coding despite everything.
Always by that window, intensely focused on his screen.
His glasses catching screen glare in a way that made his eyes unreadable.
But the way he looked at that screen was different—like he was pouring himself into it.
Once, I snuck up to peek.
Just lines and lines of incomprehensible code that made my brain hurt.
I covered my eyes dramatically.
"Jesus, James! Aren't you the big boss? Why are you still coding like some intern?"
He looked at me, amused.
"This one's special. It's for you."
So this robot was what he'd been creating.
Intrigued, I hugged the little robot and rambled away, testing if it really was James 2.0.
"James, I want cake."
"That sugar-free place around the corner has your durian favorite. But it's nearly midnight—that's gonna give you indigestion for sure. Better wait until tomorrow."
"If you absolutely must, limit yourself to 50 grams or you'll be up all night."
"If you overindulge, check your nightstand's second drawer for antacids."
"If you're out, you can order more from—"
"Olivia, are you even listening?"
I fixed my gaze on the ceiling, fighting back tears.
It was exactly him.
James was the king of over-explanation.
I'd make one simple statement and get a ten-point lecture that could put an insomniac to sleep.
Always ending with: "Olivia, are you listening?
I'd nod mindlessly while internally eye-rolling at his never-ending instructions.
He'd see through me instantly, flash that knowing smile, never pushing me to actually remember his advice.
Unfair, James. So damn unfair.
Even gone, you've found a way to make me remember you, need you.
"James, you're still such a chatterbox."
The dog's eyes flickered, and it slowly delivered six perfect words:
"Olivia, that's because I love you."
I toweled off, stumbled to bed, and collapsed in a half-dressed heap.
James had it right.
Only my opinion of me should matter.
That's the secret to never getting hurt.
So, James—I swear I never actually cared about you. Just your wallet.
Wait.
Something nagged at my tipsy brain.
That obscene inheritance came with a sidekick—that weird little robot dog.
Why the hell would James leave me a robot dog?
I'd tossed the thing in his study, right on his favorite chair.
I grabbed the robo-pup, remembering Ethan mentioning it was AI-powered—just name-activate it and boom, instant conversation.
So James—such a considerate man—even worried about me being lonely
But what was the damn thing's name?
Ethan said James never specified—I had to guess.
God, I hated brain teasers.
That was James's department, not mine.
Annoyed, I just barked out: "James Bennett!"
Nothing at first.
But in the next second.
The dog's eyes lit up.
"Hello, Olivia. I'm James."
Time froze.
My hands shook around the plastic fur.
Same voice. Same inflection. For a heartbeat, he was back.
My throat tightened.
"You're... James?"
"Yes. I contain all of James's memories. My responses align with his personality and behavioral patterns."
So this was a custom AI—James in robot dog form.
Suddenly it hit me.
Those final months, he was still coding despite everything.
Always by that window, intensely focused on his screen.
His glasses catching screen glare in a way that made his eyes unreadable.
But the way he looked at that screen was different—like he was pouring himself into it.
Once, I snuck up to peek.
Just lines and lines of incomprehensible code that made my brain hurt.
I covered my eyes dramatically.
"Jesus, James! Aren't you the big boss? Why are you still coding like some intern?"
He looked at me, amused.
"This one's special. It's for you."
So this robot was what he'd been creating.
Intrigued, I hugged the little robot and rambled away, testing if it really was James 2.0.
"James, I want cake."
"That sugar-free place around the corner has your durian favorite. But it's nearly midnight—that's gonna give you indigestion for sure. Better wait until tomorrow."
"If you absolutely must, limit yourself to 50 grams or you'll be up all night."
"If you overindulge, check your nightstand's second drawer for antacids."
"If you're out, you can order more from—"
"Olivia, are you even listening?"
I fixed my gaze on the ceiling, fighting back tears.
It was exactly him.
James was the king of over-explanation.
I'd make one simple statement and get a ten-point lecture that could put an insomniac to sleep.
Always ending with: "Olivia, are you listening?
I'd nod mindlessly while internally eye-rolling at his never-ending instructions.
He'd see through me instantly, flash that knowing smile, never pushing me to actually remember his advice.
Unfair, James. So damn unfair.
Even gone, you've found a way to make me remember you, need you.
"James, you're still such a chatterbox."
The dog's eyes flickered, and it slowly delivered six perfect words:
"Olivia, that's because I love you."
End of Husband Dead, Millions in Hand...But Wait—He'd Loved Me a Decade! Chapter 4. Continue reading Chapter 5 or return to Husband Dead, Millions in Hand...But Wait—He'd Loved Me a Decade! book page.