THE ROBOT MY WIFE BURNED WAS ABOUT TO DESTROY HER PERFECT LITTLE FAMILY

"Get that thing away from him.""

Vanessa's voice cut through the patio.

For a moment, nobody moved.

Maya clutched the silver casing against her chest.

I looked at my wife.

"Why?""

"Because it's damaged. You don't know what's on it.""

"Then why are you worried?""

Vanessa stepped toward us.

"Marcus, this is ridiculous. You're allowing a twelve-year-old to turn an ordinary disagreement into some kind of criminal investigation.""

Maya shook her head.

"It isn't ordinary.""

Vanessa pointed at her.

"Go upstairs.""

"No.""

The word was quiet.

But it was the first time I'd heard Maya directly refuse her stepmother.

Vanessa stared at her.

"Excuse me?""

Maya's fingers tightened around the casing.

"I said no.""

Brielle let out an irritated laugh.

"Wow. She's suddenly brave because Daddy's home.""

I turned toward Brielle.

"Enough.""

"But—"

"I said enough.""

She closed her mouth.

I took the memory card from Maya and examined the casing.

It was scratched, but the seal looked intact.

"Can you recover the files?""

Maya nodded.

"Maybe. Nova automatically uploaded some footage to a private server whenever she connected to the garage network.""

Vanessa's expression changed.

"That's impossible.""

Maya looked at her.

"No, it isn't.""

I glanced between them.

"Why would you think it's impossible?""

Vanessa rubbed her forehead.

"Because I know how much money you've spent on that project. I know what equipment she has. I also know she doesn't understand half the things she's talking about.""

Maya's eyes filled again.

"I built it.""

"I never said you didn't.""

"You said it was a waste of money.""

"Because it was taking over the entire garage!""

Maya looked down.

I took a slow breath.

"Let's go inside.""

Vanessa immediately objected.

"Marcus, we need to talk privately.""

"We've been talking privately for months. Apparently, that hasn't helped.""

I picked up the folder and carried it toward the house.

Maya followed me.

Brielle stayed beside the fire pit.

Vanessa called after us.

"Don't you dare touch my computer!""

I stopped in the doorway.

"Your computer?""

She folded her arms.

"The desktop in the office. It's mine.""

I looked at Maya.

"Do you need that computer?""

She shook her head.

"No. I have my laptop.""

"Then we'll use yours.""

Vanessa's shoulders relaxed slightly.

That was interesting.

Very interesting.

We went upstairs to Maya's bedroom.

Her room was small but organized. Books lined one wall. A half-finished model airplane sat on her desk. Above her bed hung a photograph of her mother, Claire, who had died when Maya was four.

I'd never removed that photograph.

Maya sometimes talked to it when she was upset.

I set the memory card on her desk.

"Tell me exactly what Nova recorded.""

Maya opened her laptop.

"She had three cameras. One in the head, one on the chest, and one on the back. I originally installed them to help the robot recognize people and objects.""

"And they recorded everything?""

"Only when the motion sensor was active. But I added a continuous recording feature during the last update.""

"Why?""

She hesitated.

"Because Brielle kept taking things from my workbench.""

I looked at her.

"What things?""

"Tools. Components. My notebooks. Sometimes she'd move parts around and tell Mom I was making a mess.""

I pulled a chair closer.

"Why didn't you tell me?""

Maya stared at the keyboard.

"I did.""

My stomach dropped.

"When?""

"Last month. I sent you pictures.""

I remembered them.

The locked cabinet.

The scattered tools.

The handwritten list.

I'd responded with a message telling her we'd sort everything out when I got home.

I had thought I was being a responsible father.

Now I realized I'd been postponing the moment she needed me.

"I'm sorry," I said.

She shrugged, but her eyes were wet.

"It's okay.""

"No, sweetheart. It isn't.""

She inserted the card into a small adapter.

A progress bar appeared.

The laptop made a soft clicking sound.

Then a folder opened.

There were dozens of video files.

Maya selected one dated three weeks earlier.

The screen showed our garage.

The camera angle was low, looking across the workbench.

Brielle entered first.

She was carrying a pink tumbler.

She placed it beside Nova's unfinished control panel and began opening drawers.

"Where is it?"" she muttered.

A moment later, Vanessa entered.

"Did you find the notebook?""

"No," Brielle replied.

"She probably hid it.""

Vanessa sighed.

"Then look properly. We don't have much time.""

Brielle pulled a blue notebook from beneath a pile of wires.

"Got it.""

"Don't bend the pages," Vanessa warned.

"The diagrams need to be readable.""

I leaned closer to the screen.

Maya whispered, "That's my design notebook.""

Vanessa's voice continued.

"Your teacher said the judges will want to see the original engineering process. We need the sketches and calculations.""

Brielle flipped through the pages.

"This is so boring.""

"Then pretend to understand it.""

"What if they ask me questions?""

Vanessa stepped closer to the camera.

"Memorize the answers I wrote for you. Nobody expects a fourteen-year-old to understand every technical detail.""

I felt my jaw tighten.

Brielle laughed.

"What if Maya tells them?""

Vanessa took the notebook from her.

"Maya won't tell anyone.""

"How do you know?""

"Because she wants to keep living comfortably in this house.""

The video continued.

Brielle sat on Maya's chair and placed her feet on the workbench.

"She acts like Dad owns this place just because he pays for everything.""

Vanessa lowered her voice.

"Your father doesn't need to know about the project.""

"Why?""

"Because he always takes Maya's side.""

Brielle smiled.

"Then we'll make sure he doesn't have anything to take her side over.""

The video ended.

I sat perfectly still.

Maya closed her eyes.

"That's why I started saving everything.""

I turned toward her.

"How many videos like this are there?""

"Lots.""

She opened another file.

This one showed the garage at night.

The timestamp was two days before my trip home.

Vanessa stood beside the workbench, holding a small metal container.

Brielle was there too.

"Are you sure this will work?"" Brielle asked.

Vanessa placed the container on the table.

"It will.""

"What if Dad comes home early?""

"He won't. He's in Chicago until Friday.""

I stared at the screen.

My trip had originally been scheduled to end Friday.

I had changed my flight after finishing my meetings early.

Vanessa continued speaking.

"The robot needs to disappear before the competition registration closes. Once it's gone, Brielle can submit the project under her name.""

Brielle examined the container.

"Why can't we just delete the files?""

"Because Maya keeps copies everywhere. I've seen her backing things up.""

"So what do we do?""

Vanessa leaned closer.

"We destroy the machine. Then we make sure nobody can prove it was hers.""

Brielle smiled.

"And if she cries?""

"Let her. She's always been dramatic.""

I stopped the video.

My hands were shaking.

Not from fear.

From anger.

I looked at Maya.

"Did they actually take your notebook?""

She nodded.

"Mom said she'd give it back after the competition.""

"Did you agree to let Brielle use your invention?""

"No.""

"Did you sign anything?""

Maya shook her head.

"No.""

I leaned back.

"Good.""

She looked at me.

"Good?""

"Yes. It means nobody has your permission to claim your work.""

I reached for my phone.

"I want to call an attorney.""

Maya's face tightened.

"Are you going to make Mom leave?""

I hesitated.

I didn't want to make promises I couldn't keep.

"I don't know exactly what happens next. But I do know this: you're not going to be forced to give up something you created.""

She nodded slowly.

Then another thought seemed to occur to her.

"Dad?""

"Yes?""

"There's something else.""

I turned back.

"What?""

She opened a folder labeled BACKUP.

Inside were several audio files.

"Nova's microphones were connected to the garage security system. Sometimes she recorded even when her cameras were off.""

"Why didn't you mention that?""

"Because I haven't listened to all of them.""

She selected the most recent file.

The recording began with the sound of footsteps.

Then Vanessa's voice.

"Did you get the paperwork?""

A man's voice answered.

"Yes. But there's a problem.""

I looked at Maya.

She looked equally confused.

The man continued.

"The original ownership documents have Marcus's signature. If he sees the registration, he'll know something is wrong.""

Vanessa replied sharply.

"He won't see anything.""

"You're sure?""

"I'll handle Marcus.""

There was a pause.

Then the man said something that made me freeze.

"What about the house?""

Vanessa answered without hesitation.

"Once the competition money comes through, everything will be easier. Brielle will have the scholarship, and Marcus will have no reason to interfere.""

The man laughed quietly.

"And if he does?""

Vanessa's response was almost a whisper.

"Then we'll make sure he loses more than a robot.""

The recording ended.

For several seconds, neither Maya nor I spoke.

Then my phone rang.

The caller ID displayed my attorney's name.

I answered.

"David?""

His voice was unusually tense.

"Marcus, I need you to listen carefully. I just received a document connected to your wife's name.""