A Love Mess: Who loves who? のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 10

Glasses clinked, soft chatter filled the hall as attendees laughed and socialized. This gathering wasn’t just attended by everyday individuals; it drew a mix of affluent and prominent figures from various fields. It was one of those parties that exuded wealth, fame and influence. Bright light reflected off their expensive jewelry causing some waiters to squint as they served drinks. Servers moved between the crowd trays balanced effortlessly, never once colliding despite the sheer density of bodies packed into the space. Every so often, the flash of a camera would go off near the entrance, capturing whichever celebrity or executive had just arrived, their names destined for tomorrow's society pages. Only people with significant wealth and influence could host a gathering that attracted such high profile guests. And those people were Mr Stone of St Buildings and Constructions, Mr Clifford of Cliff Electronics, and the Mayor. They believed gatherings foster connections, lead to new de

Arlen got out of bed and stretched his tired bones and joints before turning on the light. The big clock on the wall, a housewarming gift from his dad, read 7:30 AM. His room wasn’t very large, just how he preferred it. He didn’t like big spaces that made a room feel empty. Everything in his room was neatly organized, with all the essentials and white-painted walls. A single framed photo sat on his nightstand of himself, Nick, and their father at his café's opening day, one of the few pictures of the mayor he actually kept on display. He walked over to the mirror to check his messy appearance. He walked over to the mirror to check his messy appearance. He has spent several hours yesterday, reflecting on the conversation he had with others, shivering at the memory. Justin had pushed him to go to the party, even though Arlen didn’t want to attend. Besides feeling uneasy around so many strangers who were too loud for his taste, he knew Cade would be there, and he wanted to avoid that.

The two men took turns shaking hands with the Japanese business mogul as he prepared to leave, accompanied by four men in suits. Cade and his dad had just finalized a deal worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The evening felt great, but something about it seemed off to Cade. Just two hours earlier, his father had called to let him know he would be joining him to wrap up the deal, which felt unusual. While his father, still an active CEO, always oversaw significant deals, he usually trusted Cade completely when it came to signing off on transactions involving millions. Moreover, this particular deal was straightforward since both sides were happy with the terms; it was practically finished and only needed final signatures. Cade couldn't figure out why his father wanted to "join" him for this meeting. However, he decided not to ask questions and would wait for his dad to explain when he was ready. A few minutes after the Japanese man left, Cade noticed his father scanning the menu

"That'll be all," Cade's personal assistant said as she left the office. Cade let out a sigh; he felt a headache coming on, but he still had plenty of work to do, and it was only past three in the evening. This morning, he had called his dad to agree to the marriage. He was tired of wallowing over one person and decided it was time to move forward. He'd told himself it was a practical decision, nothing more, the kind of calculated move he made a dozen times a day in business. It was easier to believe that than to admit how much of it was simply exhaustion from wanting something he couldn't have.He turned on his computer and searched for the other man involved in the Italian restaurant project—the father of the son he was supposed to marry. Information about the man appeared on his screen. In his early thirties, he had a wife and a son. Cade clicked on the son's name, eager to learn more.Cade straightened up in shock when he saw that the boy was only seventeen years old. He quickly w

The main hall inside the ST building was set to host a press conference. It was already crowded, with whispers echoing off the walls as reporters and TV stations gathered. Two key figures were scheduled to make an announcement, which is why everyone showed up, collecting questions and checking their equipment. No one knew what the announcement would be, and every TV station wanted to be there to cover it. Some speculated it might involve the Italian restaurant since both men had connections to it. Cables snaked across the polished floor, camera crews jostled quietly for the best angles near the podium, and a low hum of speculation ran through the crowd as reporters compared notes on what little they'd managed to piece together beforehand.Arlen was dressed in a suit, waiting in the hallway to be called into the main hall. He had spent the night at Justin's house for some comfort. Last night, he held Justin tightly as he wished today wouldn't come. Justin reassured him that they would