Chapter 3

At Jonathan's birthday party, Penelope's friends pushed the biggest slice of cake toward her, saying, "Penelope, Jonathan said you love sweets the most."

I looked up at Penelope when I heard that, but she avoided my eyes and ate it as if nothing was wrong.

The moment she tasted the cake, she looked as if she was about to gag. Yet her friends held her down and continued forcing the rest of the cake into her mouth. "One bite won't be enough. We agreed to prank Edward with a miscarriage. Don't back out now."

I realized something was wrong and rushed over. "What are you doing?"

But Jonathan blocked me, holding a plate of cake. "Edward, it's my birthday—have some cake."

As soon as he finished speaking, he had someone pin me down and shoved the cake into my mouth.

After finishing the cake, Penelope ran to the restroom and threw up violently. Blood streamed down her legs, a horrifying sight.

The baby!

I tried to charge in, but Jonathan stood in the doorway and said with a grin, "Penelope just has an irregular period. It's common for women. Don't overreact, Edward."

Before I could speak, sharp cramps shot through my stomach. I collapsed to my knees, frothing at the mouth. Penelope's friends laughed and held up their phones to record my humiliation.

My vision blurred as I passed out on the floor. I finally realized that this birthday party had also been a prank, and the stakes were my child and me. Once again, she had won.

…

When I woke up, I heard Jonathan sneering outside the consultation room, scolding one of Penelope's friends. "Did you add too much of the hallucinogen? Wasn't the plan just to embarrass Edward in front of everyone? How did it end up turning into poisoning?"

The friend simply grinned and said, "Making Edward's stomach is actually doing Penelope a favor. She should be thanking me.

"At least Penelope successfully got rid of that burden in her womb. The prank was a success! I can't wait to see Edward's reaction when he wakes up.

"I recorded the video of Edward kneeling and frothing at the mouth. I'll share it in the group chat later so everyone can enjoy it."

Penelope stayed silent for a long time before speaking. "A prank is one thing, but don't mess with his health."

Jonathan demanded angrily, "Back then, weren't you the one who said you wanted to teach that nerd a lesson and get back at him for me?

"Weren't the pranks your idea? You said poisoning Edward and having a miscarriage would be your birthday gift to me. Are you in love with him or something?

Penelope denied it instantly, as if the idea was repulsive. "No way! Of course, I love you."

Laughter filled the hallway again. They celebrated the end of their 98th prank and started planning the 99th.

I touched my aching stomach. Penelope didn't act like a mother who had just lost her child at all. It turned out that hurting our baby and me had really been nothing more than her birthday present to Jonathan.

Penelope faked her amnesia and wasted three years of my devotion. Now, I would stage my own death and make her regret it for the rest of her life.

My fingers trembled, and just as I was about to call Dad, Penelope walked in. I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep. I heard her say in a hoarse voice tinged with guilt, "Edward, I'm sorry."

The reason for her apology was obvious.

…

After I was discharged, Penelope said that Jonathan and the others had invited us to hike Mount Veridian. She told me that there was a chapel at the summit known for its power, and that she wanted me to come along to pray for our lost child.

I knew this might be another prank, but the thought of the baby made my heart ache. Since I would be leaving for Ferentia afterward, I treated it as a final goodbye to our child.

Throughout the hike, Penelope and her friends surrounded Jonathan, laughing at him and catering to him while completely ignoring me.

When we reached the wishing tree, Penelope bought a wooden plaque and wrote a blessing for the child alongside me.

Jonathan stood nearby and said, "Edward, you really are a good father."

I ignored his sarcasm.

There wasn't much room left on the tree, so I had to lean over the railing to hang the plaque. As I leaned out, someone suddenly shoved me from behind.

"Ah!"

Caught off guard, I tumbled forward down the steep slope. Sharp pain instantly shot through my entire body.

As I drifted in and out of consciousness, I heard Penelope's voice trembling. "Teddy, don't be scared. I'm taking you to the hospital."

Tears blurred my vision. I asked in a low voice, "Why? Why would you do this to me?"

Though my wounds were external, it felt like my heart was being torn to pieces too.

Penelope answered, "I didn't know they would do this. I really had no idea."