11. Fractures

JordanI pushed the front door open as quietly as I could, the hinges giving that familiar little creak that always sounded louder at night. The hallway light was off, but the small lamp on the side table was still glowing, the kind of soft yellow that made everything look warmer than it really was. My watch said 1:03 a.m. Two hours. I’d spent two whole hours sitting across from Jagger in that empty rooftop bar, talking about nothing and everything, and somehow the time just slipped away. I still couldn’t believe I’d called him like that, late at night, half expecting him to ignore it or sound annoyed. But he hadn’t. He’d just said my name like it was normal.The house was quiet at first until a soft laughter, Ashley’s laugh. Low and breathy, the way she used to laugh when we were first married and everything felt easy. It was coming from down the hall—Billy’s room. The door was cracked just enough for the sound to leak out, followed by his deeper murmur, something I couldn’t make ou

12. Unwanted Guest

JaggerI didn’t plan to come in myself.The files could have been sent through my assistant, signed, reviewed, returned without me stepping into his space again, but I found myself picking them up instead, checking through them twice before leaving my office like I needed a reason that made sense.By the time I got to the building, I had already accepted I was not here just for paperwork.The receptionist looked up when I stepped in, her polite smile coming automatically. “Good afternoon.”“Afternoon,” I replied, already walking past. “Mr Blake in?”“Yes, sir. He’s expecting you.”I nodded once and headed for the elevator, slipping my hands into my pockets as the doors closed. My reflection stared back at me from the mirrored panel, composed as always, nothing out of place, but I knew better than to trust appearances. Something about this case had been sitting under my skin since the beginning, and it had nothing to do with paperwork.The elevator opened on his floor.I stepped out an

13. The Gala

JordanThe annual Business Foundation Gala arrived whether I wanted it to or not.I stood in front of the mirror while the designer adjusted the sleeve of the suit he had just brought in.“This is the one you requested last time, sir,” he said, smoothing the fabric down my arm. “It fits exactly the same.”I looked at it.Same color. Same cut. Same everything.For a second, my chest tightened so suddenly I had to look away. I could see it too clearly. Memory of my last life flickering in front of me, a heavy chandelier light fall on me. I stepped back before he could finish adjusting it.“No,” I said.He paused. “Sir?”“I’m not wearing that.”He blinked, confused, glancing at the suit again like maybe I had missed something. “It’s the one you approved.”“I know,” I replied, already reaching for something else. “Bring the other one.”“The navy?”“Yes.”He hesitated, then nodded quickly. “Of course.”I didn’t explain myself. There was nothing to explain that wouldn’t sound insane. I just

Ch.14

Jordan I sat in the waiting room chair, my body hunched forward and my hands trembling. I didn't care about the other people moving around or the nurses walking past. My focus was entirely on the double doors where they had taken Jagger. Every few minutes, my pocket buzzed. I pulled the phone out and looked at the screen. Ashley. Billy. Ashley again. I stared at their names, feeling a cold wave of disgust. They were probably sitting at home, wondering if that little 'accident' had finally finished the job. I held the power button down until the screen went dark, cutting them off completely.Across my lap, I held Jagger's suit jacket. I had snatched it from the floor of the ballroom without thinking, and now I couldn't bring myself to put it down. I gripped the fabric, my knuckles turning white. He had moved so fast. One second he was standing there, and the next, he was shoving me out of the way, taking the full force of that metal and glass. He shouldn't have been there. He shouldn

Ch.15

Jordan Clara Moore stomped directly toward Jagger's bed, her fingers digging tightly into the strap of her designer bag. Her eyes were wide, flashing with a mix of embarrassment and absolute fury as she pointed a manicured finger right at him.“What kind of absolute nonsense is this, Jagger?” she demanded, her voice rising to a sharp pitch that echoed off the walls. “I just watched the videos on the local news blogs. Everyone is talking about it. I saw exactly how you threw your body under that massive chandelier at the gala. You shielded a complete stranger with your own life. Tell me right now, do you want to die that badly?”Jagger let out a low, rough groan, his jaw clenching hard as he closed his eyes against the sound of her voice. The sharp noise was clearly rattling his injured head, making his concussion feel ten times worse. He tried to shift his upper body further up against the pillows, but the sudden movement made him wince, his hand flying up to press against his heavil

Ch.16

Jordan I reached up, my fingers moving to the top button of his shirt. My hands were shaking slightly as I worked the small plastic piece through the hole, moving down to the second and third buttons. Because of how close we were standing, my knuckles kept brushing against the bare skin of his chest. His skin felt incredibly warm, and I could feel the steady, heavy beat of his heart right beneath my fingertips.I carefully slid the fabric off his uninjured right shoulder first, then slowly guided the sleeve down his bandaged arm, making sure not to snag the white gauze. I grabbed a clean, damp washcloth from the counter and stepped back into his space, gently wiping down his chest and the back of his neck to get rid of the sterile hospital scent.The entire bathroom felt incredibly small. I could hear every single breath he took, the sound filling the quiet space between us. A deep sense of guilt began to weigh heavily on my chest. Every time my fingers made contact with his warm ski

LIVE AGAIN: My Divorce Lawyer's Love のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 11 - チャプター 16

11. Fractures

12. Unwanted Guest

13. The Gala

Ch.14

Ch.15

Ch.16