His Obsession Began After Losing Her-Chapter 45: Unexpected Situation

Roy stepped into the grand lobby of KE Law Firm.

The firm, once helmed by the esteemed Ethan before he moved on to become General Counsel at Paragon, now had Karlene as its newest partner.

KE Law Firm was renowned as one of the top firms in the city, its reputation built on a foundation of excellence and an impressive roster of high-profile clients.

Shortly after arriving, Roy was approached by Karlene's assistant, May Parry, a poised and professional woman who greeted him with a warm smile.

"Mr. Lloyd, Ms. Lee is expecting you. Please follow me."

Roy followed May until they reached Karlene's office and May knocked on the door. "Ms Lee, Mr. Lloyd is here."

"Alright, let him in." came her reply.

May opened the door and Roy widened his eyes in surprise.

He saw a woman dressed in a tracksuit, her long dark hair tied up into a ponytail.

Her fair skin had a healthy glow, and she looked slightly sweaty as if she had just returned from a workout.

Despite the casual attire, there was an undeniable beauty and confidence about her.

"Oh, you're right on time, Mr. Lloyd," Karlene said and casually took a sip of her energy drink.

Roy was momentarily stunned and couldn't utter a response for a while.

A lawyer in a tracksuit?

This was a first for him.

Yet, it only added to the intriguing aura she exuded.

He found himself deeply impressed by her unconventional demeanor.

Karlene noticed his stare and frowned. "Why are you still staying at the door? Take a seat."

"Ah, yes..." Roy uttered, quickly composed himself, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Ms. Lee, it's a pleasure to finally meet you."

He offered a handshake.

Karlene took a towel from around her neck and wiped her hand before shaking his.

Despite her strong appearance, her hand was soft.

Roy smiled and said, "I've heard a lot about you from Ethan. You've got quite a reputation..."

Initially, Roy had been reluctant to work with another lawyer besides Ethan, but after learning more about Karlene, his interest was piqued.

He discovered a few things that left him both astonished and impressed.

Karlene once threatened a crucial witness to ensure they testified in court, assaulted a police officer who was roughing up her client, and even got involved in a gang fight to obtain key evidence for a case.

No wonder Ethan was intrigued by her.

Roy thought that only an unconventional attorney like her could help me win the settlement.

"...and you look even better in person than on TV," Roy added, still smiling.

"You've got quite the reputation yourself, Mr. Lloyd. But you don't look too good in person," Karlene said as she took a seat on her office chair.

"Ha!" Roy laughed, not expecting her to say that.

It was the first time he had met a woman who didn't bother to flatter him.

How interesting!

"I guess I didn't give you a good first impression then. How regretful. I wanted to get on your good side."

"Then you just have to pay my attorney fee on time after I help you win the settlement."

Roy smiled, leaning forward. "You sound confident like you can win this case."

Karlene looked him in the eye, her expression unwavering. "I don't take up cases I have no confidence in winning."

She pulled out a file from her desk drawer. "I've read through your case and know most of the details."

She opened the file, glancing over the documents. "Your wife, Anne Powell, claims you cheated on her repeatedly and is demanding compensation for her emotional distress and miscarriage.

She alleges that after discovering your infidelity, she suffered a miscarriage and now wants 80% of your assets in the divorce settlement."

Roy's face hardened at the mention of his wife's accusations. "That bitch is lying. I never cheated on her. She's making this all up to get my money. She's the one who cheated on me multiple times using my money."

Karlene raised an eyebrow at Roy's frustration. "It doesn't matter what the truth is; it's about what we can prove. Do you have any idea if Ms. Powell has evidence to support her claims?"

Roy frowned, thinking back. "I don't know. She might have some photos or texts that could be misinterpreted, but nothing solid. At least, I don't think so."

Karlene nodded. "We'll need to prepare for the worst-case scenario. Since we don't know what evidence she has, let's focus on gathering what we can. Do you know who your wife has been cheating with? If we can discover her affair, we might even argue that the baby wasn't yours."

"Yes, I've always had doubts that the baby was mine. I've been very careful, so there's no way she could have been pregnant with my child!"

Roy exclaimed in frustration before adding, "I've got a few names and some photos of the men she was with. But Anne has been very careful. She always has bodyguards around, so it's been difficult to get any intimate photos to prove she was cheating."

"Send me their names and photos. Did you dig deeper into those men?"

"I did. None of them would admit they had an affair with Anne. I've already sent my men to follow her affairs to see if we could dig out any more information. But since Anne is now involved in a divorce settlement with me, they've been very careful. She hasn't met any of them."

Karlene smirked confidently. "Don't worry. As long as we drag this out, we can obtain the evidence we need. Ms. Powell can't avoid meeting her lovers forever unless she really didn't cheat. If she did, she would eventually slip up and meet them."

Roy nodded in agreement. "I'll continue to have my men follow her and keep an eye on her activities."

Karlene leaned back in her chair, looking pleased. "Good. Now, we'll arrange a meeting with Ms. Powell and her lawyer for a settlement discussion. It's time to see what cards they have to play and strategize our next move."

Roy couldn't help but keep staring at Karene.

She had this undeniable charm he couldn't quite describe, something that drew him to her.

Little did Karlene know that, despite it being their first meeting, she had drawn Roy in more than he ever expected, leaving him with a lingering pull he couldn't quite shake.

...

At Riverpark Residence in Sol City.

Shuri was on her way out to meet Hana at the Aria Grand Concert Hall.

As she made her way out of the apartment, her phone buzzed with a new text message.

She glanced at the screen and saw a message from Hana, "Riri, something came up and I can't go with you today. I passed our tickets to Jin. Please attend the concert with him. Enjoy yourself~"

Shuri paused, a sigh escaping her lips.

Her mother definitely set this up!

She should have known her mother would arrange for her to have a date with Jin.

Jin Park was a friend she met at university, a charming and intelligent man with an impressive background.

He was the third son of the chairman of Park Bank, one of the top private banks in the country.

As the Director of Strategic Investments at Park Bank, Jin had a significant role in shaping the company's future.

Park Bank was the largest investor in Co.Lee, and Jin's mother, Aera Sung, had become close friends with Hana over the years, so the two friends had been trying to matchmake their children.

Shuri wanted to go back upstairs but then she saw Jin stepping out of his car, making it impossible for her to retreat.

When Jin saw her, his eyes lit up in joy.

"Shuri, you look stunning today," he said, his eyes lingering appreciatively on her.

She was dressed in a modest yet elegant dress with a V-neck design that cinched perfectly at the waist, highlighting her slender frame.

She looked very simple and graceful, without any jewelry, like a gentle breeze.

"Thanks, Jin," she replied, her voice steady despite her mixed feelings.

"I'm sorry that my mother set us up like this. We can skip the concert if you're feeling uncomfortable."

Jin chuckled softly. "Why would I feel uncomfortable? I've been looking forward to going with you. Do you not want to go with me?"

Shuri hesitated, but it didn't seem right to turn a friend down, especially when he looked all dressed up for the concert. "Of course not, it would be a pleasure to go with you, Jin."

Shuri was not at all uncomfortable around Jin.

In fact, she had pleasant feelings for him.

They had known each other for many years, and he wasn't just handsome; he was warm, kind-hearted, and genuine.

He excelled in his work and was popular with the ladies, yet he remained humble and approachable.

If Shuri wasn't still in love with Noran, or if she could forget him, she believed she might have fallen for Jin.

Jin drove Shuri to the Aria Grand Concert Hall, the car ride filled with casual conversation and comfortable silence.

As they arrived at the grand entrance, Jin stepped out and handed their tickets to the usher.

To Shuri's surprise, the usher greeted them warmly and directed them toward the VIP section.

Her eyes widened slightly as she glanced at the tickets again.

They were indeed VIP tickets.

Her mind drifted back to the time when Noran had given her VIP tickets to the Global Orchestra Concert in her first life.

A quiet, bittersweet smile curved her lips as she realized today would be filled with memories of him.

They followed the usher to a pair of double doors, which swung open to reveal a luxurious VIP box.

Shuri's breath caught in her throat as she thought, "Wow, even a VIP box?"

Everything seemed to mirror that night from her past life, except this time, she wasn't alone, and Noran wasn't here.

Jin noticed her dazed expression and gently touched her arm. "Shuri, are you alright? You seem a bit lost."

She snapped back to the present and offered a reassuring smile. "I'm fine, Jin... I'm just a little surprised."

Jin smiled, a hint of mystery in his eyes. "Just wait, the real surprise is coming."

Shuri was confused and wanted to ask more, but Jin just led her to their seats.

As the concert began, Shuri was reminded of how much she had missed classical music.

The melodies enveloped her, and she found herself lost in the performance. Jin, pleased to see her so engrossed, discreetly watched over her.

As the music from the orchestra faded, an announcer's voice filled the hall. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are honored to introduce a very special guest soloist this evening. Please join me in welcoming the renowned Noran Kingston to the stage..."

"W-What...?" Shuri blurted out, thinking she had heard the announcer incorrectly.

Jin turned to her with a knowing smile.

"Surprised? They updated the program list last minute. Mrs. Lee mentioned you used to be a fan of Noran Kingston..."

But Shuri couldn't hear what Jin was saying.

Her heart was pounding too loudly in her ears.

She sat frozen in her seat, eyes wide, as she watched Noran stride onto the stage with the same confidence and grace she remembered so well.

Every detail of him was as vivid as the last time she saw him.

The way he carried himself, the intensity in his eyes—it all came rushing back.

She could barely breathe as memories flooded her mind.

Her lips parted slightly, and she murmured his name, "Ran..."