Chapter 4

"Madge! Mona's sick too. Even if you hate her, you don't have to go this far! Since when did you get so cruel?" Rory snapped.

I trembled from the pain, but when I heard that, I let out a bitter laugh. "Cruel? Rory, of all people, you're judging me?"

Rory's brow furrowed and he quickly averted his gaze, unable to meet my eyes. "Why can't I call you out when you mess up? If you did something wrong, just admit it and apologize already."

As soon as he said that, Mona—still leaning against his chest—started sobbing even harder. "Rory, don't be mad at Madge. She's never liked me, so it's not surprising she'd pick on me."

"Maybe I should just move out," Mona added softly.

Rory stared at me, his eyes growing cold. Without another word, he picked Mona up and walked out.

I watched their backs disappear, muttering under my breath, 'Just need to hang in there one more day. I hope Rory will appreciate my last gift to him.'

That night, Rory didn't come back. He texted me, saying he'd apologize to Mona for me and take care of her all day.

I just replied, [Okay.]

Meanwhile, my phone wouldn't stop buzzing. Every single ding was another photo from Mona.

In those pics, Rory was wrapped around her, kissing her neck—way too close for just friends.

Mona messaged me. [Madge, take a good look. Everything you care about? I'm about to snatch it all away.]

[The top pilot spot, your kidney, and Rory—soon enough, they'll all be mine.]

I let out a scoff and replied coolly, [Go ahead, it's all yours. Hope it's everything you wished for.]

When I opened my eyes again, Jerry Barrymore was already standing by my bedside, suited up in her flight suit.

She reached out, and I smiled, weaving my fingers together with hers.

Just as I was about to head out, Rory messaged me again. [Mona's getting worse. I really can't leave her alone right now. Take care of yourself.]

I couldn't help but laugh at myself. Whenever it came down to me or Mona, he never even hesitated—he always picked her.

I left my phone on the hospital bed. Then I got into my flight suit and headed to the base.

Less than two hours later, I was in the cockpit, flying straight into the no-man's land.

Rory was in the kitchen, simmering soup for Mona. Suddenly, the pot shattered, and a jolt of anxiety gripped his chest.

Rory rushed into Mona's room; when he saw she was okay, he finally managed to exhale.

Even so, his nerves stayed on edge, and he couldn't shake the restless feeling. He pulled out his phone and realized I still hadn't replied to him.

Just as he was about to call me, his phone rang.

His coworker's frantic voice exploded in his ear, "Did you hear? The plane heading out to the wilds just crashed. The pilot—Madge Burton."

A piercing buzz exploded in Rory's head. He stammered, "Who?"

On the other end, his coworker choked out, "It's Madge."

"Impossible!" Rory snarled, finally losing it. "No way that was Madge! She just got out of surgery—who in their right mind would put her in a cockpit?"

Rory practically screamed, "Even if she somehow dragged herself over there, you think the base would risk a pilot flying with just one kidney?

"Forget it. I'm not buying it. No way."

Rory slammed his phone down so hard, it sounded like it shattered.

Then he bolted out like an arrow released from a bow. He raced to the airbase as fast as he could.

The airbase was deathly quiet. He rushed up to a pilot standing alone in the distance, wiping away tears. Rory's voice was hoarse with desperation. "Where's Madge? Tell me—where is she?"

Tears streamed down the pilot's face—they couldn't stop crying.

The pilot's voice barely held together. "Madge took the assignment into no-man's land, but the plane went down. Nobody could have survived, not in those conditions."

Rory released his grip on the pilot, dumbfounded. He kept shaking his head, unable to accept it. 'How could this be?'