To have a happy life with his mother

Liam knew exactly what he had to do next. The idea simmered in his mind since he had first watched her turn into a superhero at the tap of a screen, a blend of excitement and anticipation. Everything afterwards had just been a test. He scrolled through the gallery on his own phone until he found the perfect picture: a photo of his mother from when she was 20, just having started dating his father, George for a few months. Everyone always told him how much he looked like his father, and now he was going to use that to his advantage. He left his mother in the room with the game, walking into her room to find the one thing he knew he needed to finish his plan.

As he returned, he transferred the picture over to the device, selected the picture and aimed the phone at his mother. He wasn’t sure if the aiming was necessary but he was taking no chances. Veronica-Liam, who had been engrossed in a game, blinked as the device worked its magic. Her posture shifted, her expression softening into one of youthful exuberance.

"George?" she asked, her voice laced with the innocence and excitement of a young woman in love. She looked around, slightly disoriented but filled with joy. "What are we doing here? I thought we were going out tonight."

Liam's heart raced. It worked. His mother, or rather, the 20-year-old version of her, mistook him for his father. The transformation was purely mental, but it was enough to erase her strict, domineering persona and replace it with the carefree, affectionate girl she once was.

He decided to play along. "Change of plans, sweet cheeks," he said with a grin, mimicking his father's playful tone. "I thought we could have some fun here instead."

Veronica's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Oh, George, you always have the best ideas!" She giggled, a sound Liam had never heard from his mother before. She looked around the room, her gaze landing on the video game setup. "Are we going to play games? You know I'm terrible at these, right?"

Liam chuckled, the absurdity of the situation hitting him. "Don't worry, I'll teach you," he said, handing her the controller.

As they settled into the game, Veronica's youthful enthusiasm was infectious. She laughed and cheered, completely absorbed in the moment. Liam watched her, a mix of amusement and satisfaction bubbling inside him. He had successfully turned the tables, transforming his strict mother into a playful, young version of herself who saw him as her lover.

After a few rounds of the game, Veronica looked at him, her eyes filled with adoration. "George, I'm so happy we met," she said, her voice soft and sincere. "I can't wait to see what the future holds for us."

Liam swallowed hard, momentarily taken aback by the genuine emotion in her voice. It was strange, hearing his mother speak to him this way, but he quickly reminded himself that it was all part of the plan.

"I feel the same way," he replied, his tone gentle. "Let's make the most of tonight."

As they continued to play and laugh, Liam couldn't help but feel a surge of power and satisfaction. He had taken control in a way he never thought possible, turning his mother's own mind against her. And as the night wore on, he knew this was only the beginning.

The night stretched into the early hours of the morning, filled with laughter and playful banter. The dynamic between Liam and Veronica, now believing herself to be the young, vibrant woman in love with "George," had shifted dramatically. The strict, domineering mother was gone, replaced by a carefree spirit who only saw Liam as her beloved.

Liam watched her, a mix of satisfaction and something deeper settling in his chest. He knew what he had to do next. It was time to take this transformation to its ultimate conclusion. But did he have the courage?

"Hey, Veronica," he called softly, catching her attention as they sat on the couch, remnants of their junk food feast scattered around them.

She turned to him, her eyes sparkling with youthful joy. "Yes, George?"

He took a deep breath, trying to steady his racing heart. "I know this might seem sudden, but I've been thinking a lot about our future. About us."

Veronica's smile widened, and she leaned in closer, hanging on his every word. "What is it, George?"

Liam reached into his pocket, his fingers brushing against the cold metal of the ring he had found in his mother's jewellery box earlier that night, her wedding ring. He pulled it out, holding it up for her to see. "Will you marry me, Veronica?"

Her eyes filled with tears of happiness, and she gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "Oh, George! Yes! Yes, of course, I'll marry you!"

He slipped the ring onto her finger, and she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. In that moment, Liam felt a strange sense of fulfilment. He had done it. He had completely turned his mother into someone who adored him, someone who believed they were destined to be together. Someone who was proud of who he was.

Over the next few days, they made plans to leave their old life behind. Veronica, still fully believing she was the young woman in love with George, eagerly helped Liam pack up their things. Liam told Veronica that her parents had decided to leave everything to them and were heading down south. Stating that they’d visit them once some trouble they had gotten into would get resolved. This gave Liam an easy out in case he ever needed to explain to her where her parents went, he could just tell her some loan sharks murdered them. They sold the house, cashed in savings, and set out to start a new life together.

Liam marvelled at how easy it was to convince her to leave everything behind. He didn't even need to use the device anymore. She was completely committed to their new life, their new identity.

They moved to a small, picturesque town far away from their old home. Liam used the money to set up a comfortable life for them. Veronica, believing herself to be his young fiancée, embraced their new beginning with open arms.

As the years passed, they built a life together. Veronica never once questioned the reality of their situation, fully convinced she was living the life she was meant to live. Liam, now free from the overbearing presence of his mother, found a strange kind of peace in the life they had created. That’s what his mother wanted for him after all, didn’t she?

He knew it was unconventional, even twisted, but it was his reality now. And as he looked at Veronica, smiling happily beside him, he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. He had taken control, reshaped his destiny, and created a life where he was no longer under anyone's thumb.

He never brought out the phone again. He placed it in a box, duck-tapped it and left it to rot in the attic. He could never risk his perfect life he had created by risking everything, wasting away because of a mistake. Liam's journey had been dark, filled with things and schemes he could never tell anyone about. But in the end, he had found a way to twist his mother's strictness into something that suited him perfectly. And for now, that was enough.