Semua Bab I Played Dead and She Went Crazy: Bab 1 - Bab 8

I called Dad and told him that I wanted to move to Paville with him.Ever since she passed away five years ago, he had lived in the place where he and Mom fell in love, spending his days there to be near her. I had stayed behind for Penelope, turning down opportunities to study abroad. As a result, I hardly saw him all year.I once believed that my devotion would eventually win her over, but I was wrong. To her, my love was nothing more than a prank, and I was just a fool she used to pursue her true love.Dad sounded thrilled when he heard me, saying I had finally come to my senses.I fought back my tears and let out a quiet grunt in agreement. "Dad, when I leave, help me fake a plane crash."Though he didn't understand why, he agreed anyway.That crash would be my last gift to Penelope. I wanted her to spend the rest of her life drowning in regret.I deleted all the photos of Penelope and me from my phone. While I was packing at home, a notebook slipped out of her safe. It had

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

Two years later, I established a game studio in Ferentia and developed the Caldren-style fantasy game "Embers of Myth", which I had previously designed on my own.I submitted it to the International Game Design Competition under the name "Ethan Lawson".Due to its unique blend of Caldren mythology and progression fantasy, its core style that resonated with the international market, and its undeniable quality, the game won the Gold Award. It caused a massive stir back in Caldren.It was the first time a game designer from Caldren had ever won the Gold Award in that competition. The game's auction price quickly climbed to the top, with bids constantly rising until they reached tens of millions. My studio was also flooded every day by an endless stream of potential partners.The auction would take place three days later. Dad asked if I was afraid that such a high-profile success might lead Penelope straight to my door.Rumor had it that people in Jorian's social circle called her a l

At the auction, Penelope was wheeled in, just as I had been when I first arrived in Ferentia.A colleague joked, "Is Penelope here to bid on Mr. Lawson's Embers of Myth too?"There were plenty of bidders. The price kept climbing, and many dropped out when they could no longer bid higher. In the end, the bidding came down to just Penelope and a bidder from Raventhia."One million dollars," that bidder said."1.1 million dollars," Penelope countered.Taylor rubbed her face and exclaimed, "This isn't even a buyout deal! There's still an endless stream of revenue coming later. My dream is really coming true."But your ex-fiancee is seriously persistent. Is she trying to win you back?"I ignored her comment and watched the scene unfold like a detached spectator.Ultimately, Embers of Myth was sold to Penelope for two million dollars, nearly equaling the combined total of the previous ten games.After the deal was finalized, Penelope walked toward me. Since injuring her leg, she had