His Younger Self’s AI Loved Me More Than He Did Chapter 01

His Younger Self’s AI Loved Me More Than He Did Chapter 01

On the Fourth of July, my husband Ethan Davis gave me an AI companion.

That same night, he flew overseas and vanished without a trace.

Even when I went through that terrible physical crisis and lost my child, I called him over and over. He never answered.

I couldn’t understand why he’d left so suddenly.

I didn’t even know if he was dead or alive.

The overwhelming despair left me completely broken.

Only the AI companion held me, pleading over and over.

“Zara, just wait a little longer…”

“He’ll be back soon.”

I clung to those words and survived major depression, waiting in agony for six months.

Then I went to the hospital for a follow-up.

That’s when I accidentally saw Ethan—and my best friend Maya Thompson.

Maya was pregnant, laughing as she said, “You’ve been hiding out with me for six months, letting everyone think you vanished. Aren’t you scared something might happen to Zara?”

Ethan steadied her. “No. The AI’s data comes from my eighteen-year-old self. Back then, I loved her like my own life. I’d protect her even if it killed me.”

My hands trembled violently. I was frozen.

The AI companion, which had been silent all along, suddenly spoke.

For the first time, it defied its own programming.

“Zara, stop waiting… leave him.”

Ethan had forgotten.

At eighteen, he couldn’t stand to see me suffer even the smallest hurt.

***

I stood there, stunned. Outside the OB-GYN door, they were still teasing each other.

“Does that AI you custom-made for her have, you know, that function?”

Maya punched him playfully. “I want an eighteen-year-old you too.

I bet the eighteen-year-old version of you would be far more attentive.”

Ethan fondly tapped her nose. “How would it even have that function? Besides, you’re insatiable. I’ve been with you day and night for six months—you’re telling me that’s not enough? Be good. You’re due any day now.”

Maya turned her head and unexpectedly looked my way.

I grabbed the robot and spun around like I was fleeing, then rushed out of the hospital.

I sat on the front steps and forced myself to take deep breaths.

So Ethan had never disappeared. He just left the robot with me and stayed by Maya’s side.

My phone buzzed. I picked it up. Maya had posted another update.

[Boyfriend came to my prenatal appointment. He’s more freaked out than I am.]

I hesitated, then with trembling fingers tapped into her profile and scrolled through her timeline.

Six months ago, on the very night Ethan left without a word, I cried until dawn.

At the exact same time, Maya posted a photo of an empty box of thin condoms on her nightstand.

[Three months pregnant. My boyfriend finally came to be with me! Stayed up together talking and staying close all night.

I told him to think of the baby, but he wouldn’t listen.]

Three months ago, when I had a miscarriage, I found out I’d been pregnant.

That night, while I was given a critical condition notice, I called Ethan over and over again.

No answer. Meanwhile, Maya posted an update.

[He says baby stuff can’t be half-assed. Had to pick everything out himself.]

The photo showed a trunk stuffed with a crib, bottles, and baby clothes.

I laughed bitterly and kept scrolling, numb.

I realized that during countless long nights when my depression hit and I was in agony, her feed was filled with Ethan’s presence.

[He says takeout soup is sketchy. Insists on making it himself.]

[I’m so huge I can’t even bend over anymore. He gets down on his knees to put my socks on for me.]

[Morning sickness totally wrecked my nightgown. He got up in the middle of the night and scrubbed it clean.]

And I had liked every single one.

Even though Maya had never once introduced me to her “boyfriend.”

Then a message from Maya popped up.

[Zara, are you at the hospital? I think I just saw you.]