Part 1The Muse Reboots Her Fatal System

My husband’s "ghost of Christmas past" is back in town.

Becca is the quintessential "cool girl." The kind who thrives on being the only woman in a room full of men, playing poker until dawn and knocking back whiskey like one of the guys. She’s built her entire personality around having no boundaries, especially when it comes to my husband, Harrison, and his circle of friends.

I’ve spent years biting my tongue, swallowing my pride.

Until tonight. Until I watched her drape herself over Harrison, pouting her lips with that fake, booze-fogged innocence, claiming she wanted to test their "brotherly bond."

"Come on, Harrison," she cooed, her voice a sticky sweet syrup. "We literally shared a sandbox. We’ve known each other since we were in diapers. You’re really going to deny your best bro a little hug after all these years?"

I watched Harrison’s face. He didn't look annoyed. He looked flushed, bashful—charmed.

In that moment, something snapped. I reached deep into a corner of my mind I hadn't visited in seven years and pulled the trigger on the Fatal Attraction System.

I’d forgotten that reboots take time.

While the progress bar crawled in the back of my consciousness, Becca took it further. My five-year-old son, Toby, suddenly walked out of his bedroom and looked at me.

"Mom," he whispered, his eyes unnervingly steady. "Let me handle this."

"I’ve read the script."

* * *

Becca was currently nestled against Harrison’s chest. Sensing my icy stare, she playfully punched Harrison’s arm.

"Don't mind me, Valerie," she said, flashing me a grin that didn't reach her eyes. "Harrison and I are brothers. We grew up together. I’ve seen him at his worst—and his most naked—so just think of me as one of the guys."

Harrison jumped in faster than I could. "Becca, stop! Val, don't listen to her. That was a lifetime ago. I never let her see... anything."

But even as he spoke, he didn't move her. He didn't push her away.

Becca leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial stage whisper. "Oh, please. You forgot that night in college? You were wasted, I walked you home... I didn't just see it, Harrison. I played with it."

She tapped her lips, feigning a "whoops" expression. "My bad, Valerie! Seriously, don't be mad. It’s a guy thing. Friends look out for each other."

Harrison laughed nervously, putting a hand over her mouth to "silence" her. The two of them were so physically entwined they looked like a single creature. I felt like a ghost haunting my own living room.

I couldn't take it anymore. I closed my eyes and summoned the interface.

{System.}

{Online.}

{Reboot. Now.}

I hadn't touched this power in seven years. I thought I wouldn't need it. I thought a stable marriage and a beautiful life were enough to keep a man’s heart. I was wrong. The "seven-year itch" isn't a myth; it’s a rot.

I waited for the surge of power, but a notification popped up: [REBOOTING: 1%].

I’d have to handle this bitch the old-fashioned way.

Becca, sensing the shift in the air, shifted her weight, angling herself so she looked like she was about to slip off the sofa. Before I could move, Toby stepped in front of me. His small hand pressed against my knee.

"Mom," he whispered, so low only I could hear. "I’ve seen how this story ends."

Before I could ask what the hell that meant, he let out a piercing scream. "AHH! A COCKROACH!"

He hurled a brown, lumpy object straight at Becca’s chest.

For a "cool girl" who claimed to be one of the guys, Becca had the reflexes of a frightened kitten. She shrieked, scrambling backward, lost her balance, and slammed hard onto the hardwood floor.

The "cockroach" was pinned beneath her.

Becca felt something sticky and let out a wail of disgust. "Harrison! Fix your kid! He’s throwing bugs at me! I think I broke my skin!"

She grabbed Harrison’s arm, hauling herself up. "You need to take me to the ER right now. And you’re paying the bill!"

Harrison turned on Toby, his face darkening. "Toby! What is wrong with—"

"The only person allowed to yell at my son is me," I snapped, stepping between them.

Harrison flinched, but Becca wasn't done. "Valerie, I get that you love him, but this is spoiled. He made me bleed. He needs to learn a lesson."

Harrison nodded, his voice tight. "She’s right, Val. He’s out of control."

I opened my mouth to tear into him, but Toby was faster. He darted over to Becca and, before anyone could stop him, flipped her white skirt up.

The fabric covered her face, exposing her legs to the room. Toby pointed at her thigh. "Liar. There’s no blood. There’s not even a scratch."

Then, he looked Harrison dead in the eye. "Dad, Mom hates it when you touch dirty, lying women."