I Hope We Never Meet Again のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 9

The moment I ended the call, I drove straight to the apartment.I had barely pulled up downstairs when two disheveled figures were dragged out by the police.The woman was Jess Kacher—my girlfriend.The man was Sonny Peterson—my brother in all but blood, the one who had grown up with me.I had spent an entire day and night on an international flight just to rush back and give Jess a birthday surprise.Now, the surprise had turned into a shock.I sat in the car, my body rigid, my mind completely blank.Jess angrily shook off the officer's grip, loudly arguing about something. Then she pulled out her phone, her fingers flying across the screen.A second later, my phone rang."Grayson! What the hell is wrong with you? You called the police on me?"The moment I answered, her voice was sharp and frantic—none of her usual coquettish sweetness remained.Leaning against the car door, I watched her twisted expression under the harsh lights not far away and replied calmly, "What do yo

Jess didn't seem to notice at all that both she and Sonny had several glaring hickeys on their necks."I came back early to celebrate your birthday," I said evenly. "I called you, but you didn't answer."She immediately grew flustered, rushing to explain, "I had a little too much to drink. Sonny just brought me home, that's all."Sonny, on the other hand, looked completely at ease. He stepped forward and casually draped an arm over my shoulder, as if it were the most natural thing in the world."Grayson, you came back without saying a word? I could've thrown you a welcome party," he said with a grin. "What, don't you consider me your bro anymore?"His other hand dug sharply into my flesh.The sudden pain made me instinctively try to shove him away—but before I could even touch him, he reacted as if he had anticipated it all along. With exaggerated force, he stumbled backward, crashing straight into the tall glass display cabinet in the living room."Sonny!"Jess's scream and he

My parents' expressions changed instantly. They rushed forward, trying to pull me back.But Jess's older brother beat them to it. He charged up and threw a punch straight at my face."What the hell are you saying, Grayson?! You dare betray my sister?!"Jess finally snapped out of it, her tears breaking loose all at once. "Grayson, you bastard!"My parents grabbed me tightly, their voices low but furious. "Everything was fine—why would you say something like that?! You were the one who insisted on marrying Jess, no matter what. And now you're saying you won't?"Her father stepped forward as well, his face dark as iron. "Grayson, if you don't give me an explanation today, our family will not let this go."Accusations surged toward me from every direction.Jess wept uncontrollably, her voice shaking as she demanded, "Did you fall out of love with me?! Why? Why?!"Is it just because last time I let Sonny sit in the front passenger seat? Is this your way of getting back at me?"Wha

I still remembered the first time Sonny took a steaming hot dog from my hand. He clutched it tightly, tears falling harder than anyone else's.He told me I was the kindest person in the world to him—that he would stay by my side for the rest of his life.Later, he went out to work. When he received his first paycheck, he spent most of it buying gifts for my entire family.In my heart, anyone in this world could have betrayed me. Anyone—except him. Except Sonny.But I never expected… that the one who would drive the deepest, most fatal knife into me would be him.After the chaos of that Thanksgiving night, I never went back to the apartment I had shared with Jess. Instead, I contacted a housekeeping service, had all her belongings packed up, and sent them back to her home via same-day courier.When she returned and found nothing, she must have panicked—because she went straight to my parents' house.When my mother called me, there was anger tightly restrained in her voice."Don'

"Grayson."I turned around.It was Sonny.He looked ten years older—sunken eyes, unkempt stubble, a wrinkled T-shirt with a stubborn grease stain clinging to it. His gaze locked on me, throat bobbing as he swallowed."I owe you an apology."I said nothing, just watched him, waiting for him to continue.He gave a self-deprecating twist of his mouth, then went on as if speaking to himself."I've always envied you, Grayson. Really—since we were kids, I've envied you. You had everything—your loving family, a smart and beautiful girlfriend, a future full of promise."At first, it was just envy. But later… it turned into jealousy. I know you were good to me. I can never repay those debts in this lifetime. But I don't regret it. Really. To steal even a little from you…"…even if it was just a tiny bit, I felt completely happy."I looked at him and suddenly felt a deep pity.Like a worm wriggling in a gutter, thinking that grabbing a speck of sunlight meant owning the entire sun."