Ashley should adore you

You: "That's right, Ashley. Just listen and obey my voice."

Ashley: "Listen and obey ... to your voice."

You are fascinated at the mindless state your stepdaughter is in. You really can't stand her treating you like shit and with disrespect. You want the complete opposite. This gives you an idea.

You: "Ashley, from now on you will be unable to think or feel anything negative about me."

Ashley: "Unable to think or feel... negative..."

You: "Whenever you would normally think or feel something negative about me, this thought or feeling will be turned around into the opposite and multiplied by ten."

Ashley: "Turned around... and multiplied by ten..."

You: "That's right, Ashley. When you feel contempt towards me, you will instantly respect me instead. When I say something you dislike, you will suddenly like it. Whenever you would usually think bad about me, you will instead think of me as kind and pleasant. And what happens then?"

Ashley: "It will be multiplied... by ten.."

You: "Very Good. You will also flip any negative behavior directed at me. When you would usually disagree with me, you will now agree. When you would say anything bad about me, you will say the opposite. You have nothing negative to think, feel or say about me anymore."

Ashley: "Nothing negative..."

You: "All that's left are positive and pleasant thoughts and feelings."

Ashley: "Positive and pleasant..."

You: "The more you think about me, the better you feel about me."

Ashley: "The more I think about you... the better I feel..."

[BEEP] [BEEP] [BEEP] [BEEP]

You press the button on your watch and wait a few seconds. Ashley's eyes refocus on you. Then she blinks confused and tilts her head.

Ashley: "Wait, What did you say?"

You: "I just wanted to talk about our relationship going forward. I think we should stop fighting from now on."

Ashley scoffs and shakes her head for a short moment, but then she freezes and looks at you with a surprised expression on her face.

Ashley: "You're right, of course. I mean... I'm... I'm so sorry. I..."

Ashley looks shocked now and quite flustered.

Ashley: "Jesus, I can't believe I acted like that. Please, forgive me, Adam. It won't happen again, I promise!"

You: "Well, that's nice to hear. I forgive you this time. But I want you to apologize to your mother when you see her later. Is that clear?

Ashley's brows furrow and for a split second she looks like she's about to retort, but then her eyes widen. Ashley gulps and looks meek.

Ashley: "Yes of course, I will. It was all my fault anyway. You did nothing wrong and she should know that."

You: "That's music to my ears. I need to get back on her good side and I want you to help me with that. Sounds good?"

Ashley: "Yes. Totally! I will do anything I can. I-I will take all the blame. Okay?"

You can't believe this is actually happening. The serum worked even better than expected. This was amazing. You need to spend more time with her to do more tests. Ashley seems to have forgotten all about her cereal. She just sits there and looks at you attentively.

You: "What are your plans for today?"

Ashley: "I'm going to the mall, get a haircut, buy some things and meet a friend of mine for coffee. Why?"

You: "Would you like me to come with you?"

Ashley: "I... I would love that, Adam! I love to spend time with you."

Ashley blushes and gives you a strange smile.

You worry that you overdid it a bit with the serum. You realize now how badly this could actually backfire. Ashley's personality is completely flipped. Linda will know that something is fishy. You need to fix this and fast!

You: "I think- Shit..."

You hear footsteps coming down the stairs. It's too late. Linda enters the kitchen. She wears a blue summer dress and looks very nice. You wonder if she has already forgiven you. The look on her face says otherwise.

Linda (to Ashley): "Good morning, honey."

Ashley: "Hey, Mum."

You: "Hey, hun. How did you sleep?"

Linda: "Alone, sad, and disappointed."

You: "I'm sorry about yesterday. Ashley and I already had a very productive conversation and decided to make a better effort to get along."

Linda: "It's not her fau... Wait, what?"

You: "Ashley?"

Ashley: "Mum, I need to tell you something... I caused that fight yesterday and I provoked Adam because I... I don't even know."

Ashley already has tears in her eyes. Fuck!

Ashley: "I'm really sorry for that. I feel like an idiot. But Adam already forgave me! He accepted my apology. Right, Adam?"

You: "Yes, of course I did. Now please calm down Ashley. It's not a big deal, alright?"

Ashley: "Y-Yes, Adam. You're right."

Linda: "Uhm... What the hell is going on?"

You: "Nothing! I mean... It's all good now between Ashley and me. We talked it out and we won't fight anymore. That's all."

Linda: "This is... a surprise to say the least. Wow, I don't even know what to say."

You: "You don't have to say anything. I just hope you can forgive us like we forgave each other."

Linda: "I don't see why not, but let's just say I'm not more than carefully optimistic?"

You: "Fair enough."

Linda (to Ashley): "So, you two are actually gonna be okay from now on?"

She looks at Ashley, but Ashley stares at you with a dreamy look on her face. She is probably trying to wrap her head around everything you just made her believe.

Linda: "Ashley, are you there?"

Ashley: "Oh, sorry. Uhm. No, I mean yes. We talked and... uhm it's all good now... mum."

Linda: "Okay, you're acting weird. What is going on?"

Ashley: "Nothing! Really, it's nothing. I'm just still tired."

You: "Ah that makes sense. Anyway, I'm going to drive Ashley to the mall now. The first step to make amends, you know?"

Linda: "Oh really? Now that's a first."

You: "So what?"

Linda: "Never mind. Good timing actually, because I'll be meeting my sister-in-law soon, so I'm gonna need my car anyway."

With 'sister-in-law', Linda refers to the sister of her dead husband Chris. Technically they are just friends now, but you gave up arguing about that long ago.

You: "Say 'Hi' to Carrie."

Linda: "Don't pretend to like her."

You raise your hands in defeat.

You: "Let's get going, Ashley, alright?"

Ashley: "Yes, Adam!"

Ashley jumps up from her chair with a grin on her face and vanishes to get ready. You do the same.

In The Car

You feel incredible relief as you sit in your car with Ashley next to you. You quickly start the engine and drive around the next corner where you park it again. Ashley stares at you attentively the whole time and smiles like an idiot.

You turn to her and look at her face. There is nothing left of the bratty bitch from before. If you don't intervene now, this young woman will soon worship the ground you're walking on. But maybe that wasn't so bad? Sure, she was a bitch to you for the last 4 years, but she sure had a fine body now. You remind yourself that you used the serum to save your marriage and not to fool around with your stepdaughter. Ashley turns to you and her stupid smile gets even wider.

Ashley: "So, what do you wanna do now?"

You take another long and deep breath.