With dinner still simmering in the slow cooker and the house unusually quiet, Mike lingered a little longer by the computer. He hadn’t meant to fall down the rabbit hole, but now that he was here, a spark of curiosity—and gratitude—kept him rooted.
“She did this for me,” he murmured, scrolling through Isabelle’s profile. “Least I can do is return the favor.”
He clicked into the Appearance tab first. It was tastefully done—no crude sliders or inappropriate toggles, just fine-tuned adjustments and options that emphasized comfort, health, and wellness. Isabelle hadn’t changed much about herself, but Mike remembered how she used to glance in the mirror sometimes with a wistful expression.
“Let’s fix that.”
He adjusted her physique settings modestly—not out of vanity, but to ease the lingering physical strain from years of parenting. He reversed the minor wear on her back and shoulders from holding babies and carrying groceries, smoothed the effects of old pregnancies on her waistline, and toned her shape to how she’d often described herself feeling best in her younger days.
He made sure to enhance her hair health, too—restoring it to the smooth, vibrant, easy-to-manage locks she once loved, with none of the tangles or frizz she sometimes fussed over now. A few lines near her eyes softened, and her skin took on a healthy glow, not fake or airbrushed—just fresh, like a good night’s sleep and a sunny morning wrapped into one.
“Still you,” Mike whispered, smiling. “Just a little more ease.”
Then, on a hunch, he opened her Behavioral Parameters. The settings were written with surprising nuance.
One label stood out:
Compulsion to Clean: Mild (Chore-Like)
Mike thought back to how often she powered through household tasks without complaint—but with that faint tightness in her jaw. With a few keystrokes, he rephrased the setting:
Cleaning tasks feel intrinsically rewarding and even therapeutic. The sense of order and care brings satisfaction, and the pressure to ‘keep up’ is gently replaced with a calm, instinctive rhythm.
He nodded to himself. “She deserves that.”
Next was Maternal Instincts, already flagged as strong. But what if he could make parenting just a bit easier?
Children are significantly more receptive to your presence and authority. They feel safe, heard, and naturally inclined to cooperate. Your emotional presence carries a quiet weight that makes it easier to guide them.
Mike chuckled. “If that keeps Megan from melting down over socks, that alone is worth it.”
Then, a final tab:
Wifely Duties
The name made him wince slightly—it sounded old-fashioned, but the contents were broader. Emotional connection, attentiveness, partnership...
He added something new:
Time spent near your partner feels more deeply rewarding and emotionally grounding. Physical intimacy—even in simple gestures like holding hands—feels comforting and natural. A quiet certainty grows inside you: you and Mike are true soulmates. There is no tension or effort in your love, only ease and shared warmth.
Mike stared at the screen a second longer, then clicked Apply.
Ten minutes later, he heard the back door open.
“Smells good in here!” Isabelle called, setting a tote bag down.
Mike turned around just in time to see her brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. It shimmered in the light—silky, just like she used to talk about wanting it. Her steps had a softness to them now, like the strain had eased somewhere deeper than her joints.
She blinked. “Weird... I feel like I just came back from a spa.”
Mike smiled, trying to play it cool. “Yeah?”
Isabelle chuckled. “Yeah. I feel... lighter. And the kitchen doesn’t feel like a chore right now. I was just thinking I might wipe down the counters after dinner—no reason, just… it sounds nice.”
She looked down at her hands, then at him. Her expression shifted—fond, familiar, and something a little warmer.
“I don’t know what you did,” she said, stepping closer. “But being near you right now just feels… good. Like I’ve been waiting to exhale all day, and now I can.”
Mike took her hand, and she squeezed back tightly. She wasn’t rushing off to finish chores or distracted by a timer or a text. She was just there, present, smiling at him like they were back on their honeymoon.
She leaned in, resting her forehead against his. “Thank you. Whatever this is… I like it.”
Mike didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to.
And just as the oven timer chimed in the background, she let out a small laugh. “Let’s feed the kids and send them to bed early tonight. I want to be close to you after.”
Mike’s smile deepened. “Yeah. Me too.”