100 Pranks：I Faked My Death

Evan, the golden boy of the Wall Street elite, lost his memory in an accident and started relentlessly pursuing me.

I'd spent three years pretending to be Evan's girlfriend, only to realize I'd genuinely fallen for him.

Just as I was about to tell him I was pregnant, I overheard Serena, the girl who used to bully me in college, say to him:

"Evan, thanks for pretending to lose your memory to revenge at her for me, for pranking Nina Harrington 99 times."

"Once we hit 100 pranks, I'll date you."

That's when I learned that Serena was Evan's unattainable first love.

And I was just the clown he used to amuse her.

Later, I died in a plane crash.

Evan went insane, scouring the wreckage, only to find a ring engraved with:

[The 100th Prank: I Bet You Loved Me.]

They say Evan cried until he collapsed and was rushed to the hospital.

When he woke up again, he turned against everyone who'd ever participated in pranking me.

Meanwhile, amidst the snowstorms of Russia, I smiled as I burned my death records.

...

Just a wall away.

Serena's voice lilted: "Evan, prank number 96 is officially a success!"

Evan's voice held an unfamiliar edge: "Did you find it amusing, Serena?"

"Getting back at her for you, babe," chimed in Evan's buddy, Liam.

"Who told Nina Harrington to steal your NSF Grant and the Game Design Championship?"

The others joined in, "Yeah, babe! Just a few more pranks, and Evan can officially make you his girlfriend!"

My blood ran cold.

"Gotta hand it to Evan though," another friend, Mason, laughed.

"Faking amnesia to mess with Nina? Genius."

"Remember the first one? Making her search for that necklace in the pouring rain? Her face when he 'found' it and gave it to Serena..."

My nails dug into my palms.

That emerald necklace was my mother's dying gift. Evan claimed he'd lost it when he moved.

That day, I searched for seven hours in a downpour and spiked a 104-degree fever.

"And the thesis defense day! Evan called her, wasted drunk, claiming he was getting beaten up in some dive bar."

Mason snorted.

"Nina bolted out of there, found no fight, and begged her professor while sobbing... I got the whole pathetic scene on video."

I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood.

I'd abandoned six months of thesis prep for Evan and ended up having to retake the defense.

Serena giggled.

"My favorite? Using her game design sketches C the ones she pulled three all-nighters for C to make paper airplanes. She picked them up all night with red eyes, like a stray dog."

Evan chuckled along.

"So, what's next for Nina?"

"Tell her Evan's in the ER! Get her rushing over while we party elsewhere. Let her wait all night!" someone suggested.

My phone buzzed instantly. Evan's text:

[NYU Langone ER. Come now.]

Afraid they'd hear me, I slipped away.

Two minutes later, Evan recalled the message, as if he regretted sending it.

I pretended I never got it and didn't reply.

Honestly, I wasn't surprised.

I'd found Evan's phone while he was showering. There was an encrypted folder labeled "Game Progress."

Ninety-six videos inside.

Exactly matching the number of pranks I'd endured.

The password was Serena's birthday: 1224.

He'd lied, telling me it was our anniversary.

Last year on that date, I waited three hours for him in the snow on Christmas Eve.

He was at the Sinclair mansion, placing a birthday crown on Serena's head, not showing up until midnight.

Evan carefully wrapped his scarf around my neck that night, seeming so tender.

A dull ache spread through my chest. I opened our chat.

Scrolling up, I saw it. He sent daily updates to Serena. Pages and pages:

[Today: Told her I was working late, but actually took you to Disney. She waited until 3 AM.]

[Gave her the wrong time for her competition. HHer running in pajamas was hilarious.]

The last entry was from the alumni mixer.

When Serena "accidentally" spilled scalding coffee, Evan instinctively shielded me.

But his message to her read:

[Touching her felt gross. Used hand sanitizer three times.]

I called my Dad and told him I wanted to move to Paris with him.

He'd lived there since Mom passed five years ago, staying near the place they fell in love.

I'd stayed behind for Evan, turning down grad school abroad, barely seeing Dad.

I thought melting Evan's icy heart would bring spring.

I forgot that melted ice just leaves bone-chilling cold.

My moth-to-flame love was just a cruel prank.

I was the clown he used to chase his crush.

Dad sounded thrilled. "Sweetheart! You finally came to your senses!"

I choked back tears. "Yeah."

"Dad, when I leave... make it look like a plane crash."

He didn't understand, but agreed.

The plane crash was my final gift to Evan.

I wanted the name Nina Harrington to haunt him forever.

I deleted every photo of us. While I was packing at home, a leather-bound notebook slid from Evan's safe.

Dark green cover, embossed with the phoenix logo from Ashen RealmsC the game I'd designed during 36 sleepless nights.

He'd had it custom-made.

Inside were all my design sketches over the years, meticulously collected, with wishes for my dreams to come true.

On page seven, I froze. Beside a photo of me in glasses, coding, was a sticky note:

[She called the producer a hissing cat today. Her revised design was ten times better. How is she this brilliant?]

Evan used to stay up with me during all-nighters, massaging my shoulders, making ramen.

He would run out at 2 AM because I craved cake.

He would make ginger tea and bring heating pads every month.

A prank? He'd fallen just as deep.

The last page held ticket stubs from last Valentine's Day. His bold script filled the margins:

[If I could choose again, I'd still pretend to lose the tickets. Making her stay at the airport all night reworking the proposal. It was prank #72 for Serena.]

Rain lashed against the bay window.

All his love was built on lies. Maybe he cared about me, but Serena came first. I was just a punching bag.

Hands trembling, I pulled out my phone and booked the abortion.

Late that night, Evan came home, cold air clinging to him. I pretended to sleep.

There was a long pause, as if he'd frozen.

I wondered why. I hadn't played along with the latest prank, surely embarrassing him in front of Serena and the guys. Was he letting it slide?

The mattress dipped. Strong arms wrapped around me.

Evan buried his face in my neck, like a weary bird finding shelter.

His warm breath held relief. "We're having a baby, Little Moon."

Little Moon was his nickname for me.

He said I was like the moon in the sky, shining only for him, and it sounded like my name.

But I knew he'd told Serena I was fake-pure. Little Moon was just another joke, part of the game.

It was all to watch me fall in love, topple from grace, and become a lovesick fool.

I stayed silent. He didn't know I'd chosen not to keep this child.

Unaware, Evan pulled out my ultrasound. He'd drawn three tiny hearts on it in pen ink.

It was the Montblanc pen I bought him with my first paycheck. He carried it everywhere.

He held me tighter, whispering sweet nothings, but my heart felt encased in ice.

"I'm exhausted. Let's sleep."

He instantly hushed. "Tomorrow, Serena's birthday party," he murmured, drifting off.

I lay awake all night.

Evan built a lie with fake amnesia while I paid with three years of real love.

Now, I'd weave a lie of fake death. He'd pay with a lifetime of regret.

At the party, Evan's buddies surrounded me in the VIP booth, pushing the biggest slice of cake my way.

"Eat up, Nina! Evan loves watching you enjoy sweets."

Evan looked away, feigning indifference.

The first bite turned bitter. Nausea surged.

Serena grabbed my hand, shoving more cake into my mouth.

"Nina! It's my birthday. Don't be rude. Or do you find me disgusting?"

Sharp cramps seized my lower belly.

Evan's friends laughed, treating me as the butt of their joke.

I forced the cake down, then bolted for the restroom, vomiting violently.

Raucous laughter erupted from the booththe prank was a success.

"Stomach flu still bugging you?" Evan offered water with mint leaves C his trick from our first date to settle my stomach.

I couldn't stomach his fake concern. The pain was excruciating, like needles stabbing deep.

I looked down. Blood was trickling down my legs, a horrifying sight.

I grabbed Evan's arm. "Hospital... now..."

Serena blocked the door, smirking.

"Just irregular flow, honey. Totally normal. Evan, don't be dramatic."

"Move!" Evan roared.

First time he'd ever snapped at Serena.

Waking up, I heard Serena outside the ER room, whining to Evan's friends.

"You guys overdosed the laxatives! We agreed just to make her embarrass herself!"

Liam chuckled. "Getting rid of a bastard kid counts as a merit. Evan should thank us."

"Exactly! It's been three years. A kid would've made dumping her messy," Mason added.

Evan was silent for a long time. "Pranks are one thing. Don't touch her body."

Serena paused, then hissed, "Who said 'let's make that bookworm taste the dirt' to get back at her for me?"

"Making Nina the birthday clown was your idea! Have you fallen for her?"

Instantly, Evan recoiled. "Never! You know I love you."

Laughter bubbled up again outside.

They celebrated the end of prank #98 and began planning #99.

I touched my flat stomach, a faint ache lingering.

My baby was just another prop in their game, a birthday present for Serena.

I canceled the abortion appointment.

I didnt need to make decision. The father had already signed the death warrant.

I was about to call Dad when Evan walked in. I shut my eyes tight.

His voice was raw with guilt. "Nina... I'm so sorry..."

The reason needed no explanation.

After I recovered, Evan said his friends and Serena wanted to apologize and suggested hiking Mount Adirondack.

The temple at the summit was famous. We could pray for our lost child.

Probably another prank. But thinking of the baby, my heart ached.

After this, I'd be in Russia. Let this be a final farewell.

They clustered around Serena, laughing, fawning, ignoring me.

Near the wishing tree, Evan bought a prayer plaque. We wrote a blessing for our child together.

Serena smiled sweetly nearby. "Nina, you're such a good mom."

I ignored her.

There were few empty spots left on the tree. To hang ours, I leaned over the railing.

As I reached out, a sudden, violent shove from behind.

"Aahh"

I plummeted forward, tumbling down the steep slope.

Agony ripped through me. My leg was badly injured, nearly immobile, and I blacked out almost instantly.

Semi-conscious, I felt Evan lift me. His eyes were bloodshot.

"Little Moon, hold on. I've got you."

"Why...?" I whispered, tears blurring my vision. "Why do this?"

The wounds were outside, but my heart shattered too.

Horror and guilt warred in Evan's eyes. "I didn't know... I swear I didn't..."

Then my consciousness faded into darkness.