Law Firm Love Triangle: I'm the Fool のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 9

I was out for two hours, and my phone didn't even ring once. There wasn't a single call or message, as if my absence made no difference at all.After downing a long black in one go, I went back to the law firm.My colleague, Kimberly Glover, winked and asked, "Why are you the first one back? Where are the others?"Everyone at this firm knew that Chelsea Moran and Owen Steele were the "twin stars" of Pembrook College's law program.They worked seamlessly together, were equally matched in professional competence, and were widely regarded as the perfect golden couple.More than one person looked at me with pity.Even for this date squeezed in during make-up workdays, someone advised me, "Ramon Chaney, don't you know three is a crowd? When are you going to step aside?"I just laughed it off and said, "We're going to watch a movie today. There'll be plenty of seats in the cinema, so it's not going to be crowded."But we had barely set foot in the cinema when Owen casually mentioned

That night, I waited until past midnight, but Chelsea never came home. Instead, countless messages came flooding in from others."Ramon, Chelsea and Owen are already sharing a room. Doesn't it bother you at all that you've been cuckolded?""Honestly, they suit each other better. Don't be so stubborn, Ramon. Just let Chelsea go."I stared at those messages, feeling like my head was about to explode.No wonder Chelsea hadn't answered my calls or replied to my texts the night before. She'd been otherwise engaged.My vision blurred, and the two lines of text dissolved into a watery mess.I let out a deep breath and rubbed my eyes. Then, I tapped on the Instagram picture Owen had just posted.Two white bathrobes lay spread out on the floor, overlapping one another. Even though there was no caption, the implication was plain for anyone to see.I stared fixedly at the photo, barely able to keep myself upright.I had to admit that Owen was brilliant, sharp, and always thinking three s

That afternoon after I left, Chelsea was sitting in her office when a sudden wave of panic rose up inside her chest.She kept telling herself that she had done nothing wrong. After all, Owen was a rising star in the legal world, while I was just an assistant who handled basic paperwork. She should know which one carried more weight.She told herself this over and over again. But no matter what she said or how she tried to convince herself, that suffocating sense of unease simply wouldn't go away.For the first time ever, Chelsea left work early. On her way out of the firm, she even politely declined Owen's invitation to go over a case together.She made her way down to the underground parking garage and slipped into her car. As she started the engine, an inadvertent glance made her freeze in place.The passenger seat was covered in traces of Owen—a blue cushion, gray slippers, and his mouth spray tucked into the side compartment. Even hanging from the rearview mirror was Owen's zo

I was crouching under the locust tree, eating a bagel, when I saw Chelsea.I was in my pajamas and flip-flops. She was in a tailored dress, looking utterly travel-worn.Chelsea stood there, lips pressed into a thin line. Head lowered, she stared at me with a wounded, aggrieved look."Aren't you going to buy me breakfast?" she asked."Let me make myself a little clearer. Chelsea, we broke up. You shouldn't be showing up in front of me anymore," I said.Her mouth twitched. "You're right. But I didn't agree to it, nor am I willing to break up."I didn't respond."It's only now that I've realized I can't live without you. I've grown used to your smell, to seeing the round top of your head bobbing around the firm, and to the coffee you make for me. When other people make it, it's either too bitter or too sweet. I could never get used to theirs."She stared at me intently, as if trying to confirm something."It was always you I loved. Not Owen, and it never would've been him."I gl

Chelsea stood beneath the streetlamp, arms slacks at her sides, her shoulders drawn tighter than they normally were. Behind her stretched the street lit up by bursts of fireworks.I closed up the bakery and stood in front of her, a polite smile still lingering on my face.She lowered her head, her frozen face struggling to force out a smile."Ramon, I messed up. I had the best of you, and I lost it. I know you won't ever forgive me, and I'll never forgive myself either. But I just wanted to see you again."The wind swept up from the alley, sending the snowflakes tumbling and swirling.I glanced at the snow that had gathered on her shoulders, then turned away and rubbed my eyes."You've seen me, and you've said what you came to say. Chelsea, it's time for you to go. My mom set me up with someone. She's a college professor, and she's genuinely kind. She never makes me feel dumb."She doesn't switch up our plans at the last minute, and she sure as hell doesn't call me stupid. Most