The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven) novel Chapter 644

Zachary glanced at the robot beside him. "Mom, it's nothing. Don't worry about me."

Ever since he'd customized a smart robot with Annalise's voice, it had been evolving rapidly. Now it could ask questions Annalise would ask, based on his behavior.

Sometimes, Zachary felt as if his mother was still by his side. That's why he hadn't been sneaking peeks at Annalise outside Zane's house lately.

He found comfort in the robot's company. It was only when the robot felt too cold and mechanical that he sought out Annalise.

Zachary pulled out his laptop, his fingers tapping away at the keyboard. A question mark appeared on the robot's screen. "You seem upset. Did someone bother you?"

Zachary had always been honest with the robot. He smiled and said, "Some annoying people will be coming to see me soon. But don't worry, Mom. I can handle it."

"But you're only five years old. It breaks my heart to see you have to face it alone."

Zachary's expression softened. "How do you want to help me then?"

The robot asked, "Should I call the police for you?"

"There's no need for that. Just wait for me in the room, okay?"

"All right. You're so amazing," the robot said in encouragement.

"Okay," it replied.

As Zachary opened his bedroom door, he reflected on the recent months. Since he started learning to read, he'd absorbed knowledge from countless books. But most of his time went into perfecting the robot.

He'd meticulously recorded every word and tone of Annalise's speech—happy, sad, and everything in between. These recordings became the foundation for a robot that mimicked his mother.

Zachary then hired someone to make a robot based on the recordings. With a generous budget, the robot was quickly produced. It comforted and cared for him like Annalise would, even offering wisdom when he faced challenges.

The robot's presence made Zachary feel as if Annalise had never left. This realization only made him pity the man waiting outside his door even more. As Zachary stepped out, he heard Steven's angry voice.