Chapter 15

When Allison woke up, she found herself at home.

Leah Flanagan–Eaden, for some reason, despite branding her without any anesthesia, had given her some high–end medicines to help her recover afterward.

A few days of rest and the pain on her back was bearable. Yet every time she saw the scar, she felt a sense of humiliation.

“Allison, I’ve done what I promised. The rest is beyond my control.” Leah Flanagan–Eaden said with a vindictive grin on her face, sipping her latte in the living room of the Flanagan family mansion.

Allison clenched her fists at her sides.

Leah Flanagan–Eaden had indeed kept her promise. She had a specialist examine Allison’s mother immediately after the engagement party.

But the diagnosis still called for a kidney transplant.

Allison said expressionlessly, “Thanks.”

Leah Flanagan–Eaden, unfazed by her attitude, said with a smile, “Don’t sweat it. As long as you keep playing ‘Penelope‘, I’ll keep helping you.”

Allison’s eyes widened in disbelief. “I have to keep playing Ms. Flanagan?”

“Right. Penelope needs more time in the hospital, and Lucian is usually busy, so he won’t be looking for her every day. All you need is to have Penelope’s phone and play along from time to time.”

Having said that, Leah Flanagan–Eaden rose and walked behind Allison, deliberately placing her hand on her not–yet–fully recovered back.

Allison hissed in pain and Leah Flanagan–Eaden’s voice echoed in her ear, “But if you pull any stunts, your mother’s treatment will stop.”

“You…” Allison gritted her teeth, swallowing her resentment, “I get it.”

“That’s the spirit.” Leah Flanagan–Eaden chuckled, nodding in satisfaction as she watched Allison break into a cold sweat from the pain, “I didn’t think this scar would come in handy.”

Allison didn’t respond, but she understood Leah Flanagan–Eaden’s intentions.

But even with a scar identical to Penelope’s, she would never become Penelope.

In a lecture hall at Willowbrook College, Allison listened to her friend, Daisy, “I really don’t get how Penelope got on Lucian’s good side.”

She then whispered, “Could it be ‘cause they did the deed?”

Allison suddenly stopped writing, feeling her breath grow hot as she remembered the warmth of the man that night.

She took a deep breath and stood up, “I need to use the restroom.”

“Huh? But class is about to start. Today’s finance lecturer is from a Fortune 100 company; you’ll lose points if you’re late.”

Before Daisy could finish, she saw Allison rush to the door, bumping into a man on her way out, causing her to clutch her mouth in surprise At the door, Allison rubbed her bumped nose, hearing a commotion from the classroom.

Before she could react, a deep male voice came from above, “Are you okay?”

That voice…

It was him!

Lucian!

Allison looked up in surprise to see a familiar and tall figure.

Lucian looked equally surprised, with a hint of astonishment in his eyes, “Penelope?”

Allison felt her head spinning.

It was only when their eyes met that she realized she forgot to wear a mask!