Chapter 4

When I regained consciousness, my right leg was already encased in a thick plaster cast. The doctor said the injury could leave permanent damage.

Penelope sat beside my bed, looking haggard. Her face was drawn with distress, and her eyes were filled with guilt and sorrow.

She drew a tiny teddy bear on the plaster and said softly, "Teddy, I'll stay with you until you're fully recovered."

I closed my eyes as Penelope tucked me in, careful not to wake me.

Then she busied herself, gathering everything I needed for my hospital stay. She didn't stop for nearly an hour, looking like the most devoted girlfriend imaginable.

But she was the one who had caused all this.

I pretended to be asleep, but my heart pounded wildly in agony.

Penelope stayed by my bedside all night without sleeping. She kept kissing the bear on my cast, with tears streaming down her face. She gripped my hand tightly as if I would vanish the moment she let go.

"I'm sorry, Teddy. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have listened to them, and I shouldn't have hurt you.

"Luckily, I still have a chance. I'll never hurt you again. You're my life, Teddy," she whispered in a choked voice.

Penelope watched over me like that all night.

I knew she felt distressed because I was injured. Last time, she had even told Jonathan and the others that it was only a prank and that my health was off-limits. My heart softened for a moment, but then I realized how pathetic I was being.

Penelope's only true loyalty was to Jonathan. This was the 99th prank, and I was still nothing more than a tool she used to please him. Once again, she stood by and let them do this to me.

Who could say she wouldn't play the accomplice and hurt me again for the 100th time?

…

The next day, while Penelope went to buy breakfast, I called Dad. I asked him to send bodyguards to pick me up and to prepare the plane crash plan.

While I waited, Jonathan arrived. He looked like a victor, smiling with smug satisfaction. "Edward, breaking your leg was part of my plan. That was the 99th prank."

I ignored him.

Jonathan scanned me from head to toe, then glanced at the luxury watch on his wrist that Penelope had given him. "For the 100th prank, you'll be accused of plagiarism at the Aetheria Competition. Penelope sent me every single copy of your game, Embers of Myth.

"She's already bribed the committee. Your submission time will always be three minutes after mine. Just wait—you'll be exposed and shamed for life."

The Aetheria Competition was the most prestigious game design contest in the country, and I had spent two years preparing for it. The copies of Embers of Myth were right there on my computer.

Furious, I punched Jonathan. "You stole my work and are coveting my girlfriend! Jonathan, you're only good enough for leftovers. Don't you find that disgusting?"

Jonathan's brows furrowed, and he raised his hand to slap me. "You're the one using secondhand goods now!"

But the slap never landed.

"Jonathan, what are you doing?"

Penelope had returned, and behind her stood the bodyguards Dad had sent. For the first time ever, she lost her temper with Jonathan.

Jonathan understood that she had to stay in a relationship with me for one last prank, so he left without saying a word.

Before Penelope could explain, the bodyguards brought a wheelchair to take me away. Sensing something was wrong, she grabbed the wheelchair and asked nervously, "Teddy, what are you doing?"

I lowered my head. "I'm going to Ferentia to recover. Dad is too worried about me."

Penelope protested, saying she was concerned about me, and yet she was the very person who had caused my leg injury. I insisted that Dad wanted to see me as soon as possible, so she had no choice but to agree.

Then, as if she couldn't wait, she booked a flight for the next day right in front of me. She promised to come find me and asked for my flight number.

I paused for a moment before answering, "EB5882."

Penelope wanted to see me off, but her phone suddenly rang. It was her friend, Lilian Blake. "Penelope, come quickly! Jonathan fell down the stairs!"

She didn't even bother to explain what happened to Jonathan or say goodbye to me. She just bolted out the door.

I gave a bitter, cold laugh.

"Let's go," I said to the bodyguards.

…

At the airport, a bodyguard told me, "Mr. Lawson, the flight path has been arranged. Mr. Lawson Senior said he'll create the most perfect plane crash scene."

The electronic screen at the boarding gate flickered, showing 2C1621. I nodded and boarded the plane to Ferentia.

The crash was scheduled for 12:24 pm. That number was the date Penelope said we first met.

Whether it was true or not, I chose that moment so she would never forget me. I wanted her to remember that I died because of her pranks, leaving her with nothing but lifelong regret.

One second before the plane crashed, I sent Penelope one last text. "Penelope, for your 100th prank, I'm betting on my life!"

My phone was immediately flooded with calls and messages from Penelope.

The crash of EB5882 was completed.