His Obsession Began After Losing Her-Chapter 28: Departure

"In breaking news today, Sophia Carter, the woman at the center of a high-profile investigation, has been located. She was found after managing to escape from a fire that engulfed a secluded villa.

However, she sustained severe injuries in the process. Miss Carter suffered extensive burns, resulting in significant disfigurement to her face.

Medical experts have indicated that even with treatment, she may face permanent damage.

This development follows the release of a video showing Miss Carter allegedly murdering Julia Park and Damon Kingston.

Additionally, three other unidentified bodies were discovered at the scene.

Miss Carter has been taken into custody but maintains that she has been framed.

Police are actively investigating the situation. Next, we have..."

Karlene was watching the news on her phone at the airport.

She stopped the video and put down her phone when she noticed someone sit down beside her.

It was Roy.

"I've created an alibi for Noran," Roy said quietly.

"No one will suspect him despite Sophia's testimony. Tell him he doesn't have to hide anymore."

"It seems you have someone tailing me," Karlene replied, her tone surprisingly calm.

"I'm telling the truth this time. I don't know where he is. But I suppose he should be on his way to find my sister."

Roy widened his eyes a little, realizing the meaning behind her words. "Why didn't you stop him? He has already done so much, isn't that enough?"

"Enough?" Karlene looked at Roy with a flicker of sorrow crossing her face.

"Roy, you haven't lost anyone precious to you. So, you will never understand Noran. I understand because I've lost three precious people in my life."

Roy was speechless for a while before he looked down and sighed quietly. "I have been insensitive. I'm sorry for saying something that upset you."

"You don't have to apologize. Both of us live in two different worlds and experience different things in our lives. It's only natural that we don't share the same sentiment."

Roy felt a bit awkward.

For the past year, Karlene had usually been on edge, if not defensive and cold toward him. But today, she seemed much calmer and surprisingly understanding.

He hesitated for a moment before asking, "Karlene, are you not mad at me anymore? Have you forgiven me?"

Karlene smiled a little as she patted Snowball from the pet carrier next to her when he suddenly popped up its head to her. "My sister is right. You must have your own circumstances for ghosting me back then."

Roy looked down as if in shame as he confessed, "No, you're right. I was a coward. Unlike Noran, I wasn't brave enough to abandon everything just for the girl I loved."

"My sister said you were just being logical," Karlene answered as she recalled the conversation she had with Shuri.

"You understand that it'd be a difficult and painful path for the both of us if we were to start a serious relationship. Just like Noran and my sister, you and I come from two different worlds. I don't think we would have been able to adjust to each other's life."

Roy was quiet for a while.

Indeed, that was the reason he chose to avoid Karlene after she had agreed to be together.

He knew his parents would never approve of his relationship with Karlene.

His parents taught him to only connect with people who would benefit him and his family. That's why they enrolled him in the Kingston College of Music, where many influential families sent their children.

They wanted him to befriend Noran, who was the most prestigious and sought-after young talent at the time among all the peers his age.

Everyone in his circle had a prestigious status that could benefit his future and his family, making Karlene the odd one out.

Back then, he thought it was absurd to abandon all his powerful connections and family just for love.

It made no sense to him to suffer with one girl when he could live a luxurious life surrounded by wealthy people.

However—

"All these years, I always wonder what if I had been willing to face the difficulties with you, to see if we could have made it work? Maybe things would be different now," Roy admitted, his voice tinged with regret.

Karlene shook her head with a smirk. "Or maybe we would have ended up like my sister and Noran."

Roy looked back at her with a frown. "My family won't resort to murder. They would probably give you a large sum of cash and send you off somewhere."

"Wow! We really should have dated back then, huh? Then, I'd have been a very rich woman now," Karlene replied with a light chuckle.

Roy's eyes softened at her smile.

It had been ages since he last saw her smile like this.

He felt his heart tighten and realized he still had deep feelings for her.

"Karlene, it's still not too late. You can still become a very rich woman now," Roy said, his eyes not leaving hers.

Karlene stopped smiling, understanding his implication.

He was asking her for a chance to be together.

She didn't reply immediately and continued to pat Snowball, who was now resting peacefully on her lap.

Then she said, "I don't want to go through what my sister went through, Roy. Yes, her relationship with Noran is sweet but very difficult. After losing everything, I just want a simple life now."

"Karlene, you still have me. I can give you whatever life you want. With my current position, even if our relationship faces objections, I can protect you," Roy stressed earnestly, hoping to persuade Karlene to stay with him.

Karlene replied with a resigned smile, "Roy, being devoted to one person isn't our style."

Without waiting for Roy's reply, she gently placed Snowball back into the carrier, stood up, and prepared to leave to board the plane with Snowball.

"Karlene..." Roy's voice was thick with disappointment.

However, he knew there was nothing he could do right now to make her stay.

Karlene met his gaze, her expression softening.

"Goodbye, Roy. Take care of yourself."

With that, she turned and walked away with Snowball's carrier in hand, leaving Roy standing there as he watched her disappear into the crowd.

...

Noran walked along the forest path, moving slowly and aimlessly as if he had no direction. His eyes were empty, and his shoulders drooped, making him look lifeless.

He had been wandering without purpose for so long that time had become a blur, with days and nights blending together seamlessly.

The depths of the Guardian Forest, closed off to the public, were thick with ancient trees. Their gnarled branches intertwined above, forming a natural canopy.

Soft beams of sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor.

The air was cool and carried the earthy scent of moss and fallen leaves, but none of it seemed to register with Noran.

He continued to walk, his feet moving out of habit rather than intention, the memory of Shuri was the only thing that kept him going.

She had last mentioned wanting to visit this forest together, her voice filled with excitement as she talked about uncovering its mysteries and finding the fairies.

"Rin, are you here somewhere?" he asked softly.

However, the forest was silent except for the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant call of a bird.

Deep down, as much as he didn't want to admit it, he knew she was gone, and he would never see her again.

Despite that, he clung to the only hope left, even buying into her far-fetched stories about fairies and the divine tree, and ventured into the Guardian Forest.

Even if it was all just a myth, what did it matter? He had nothing left to lose.

Noran walked aimlessly until the forest suddenly turned dark.

The dense canopy above blocked out the remaining light, and his body, weakened from the lack of food and water, could no longer withstand the strain.

Exhaustion overcame him, and he collapsed to the ground.

"Rin, what else must I do to see you again?" he murmured slowly, his cheek pressing against the cool ground.

If he were to die now, would she come back to him?

"Ran~"

Noran's eyes snapped open wide when he heard the soft voice.

"Hehe~ Ran, Ran..."

"What...?" Noran couldn't say another word.

His eyes widened at the sight of many tiny, mystical lights surrounding him, twinkling like stars in the night.

They danced and flitted around him, illuminating the forest in an ethereal glow.

Were they the fairies that Shuri had spoken of?

For some reason, his body felt light, as if a weight had been lifted off him, as the fairies continued to giggle and call him by the affectionate nickname only his wife used.

"Hehe, Ran, follow... here..."

They swirled around him, easing his pain while urging him to follow. With renewed energy, Noran stood up and followed the enchanting lights.

The fairies led him deeper into the forest, their glow illuminating the path. Time seemed to blur as he walked, his surroundings becoming more magical with each step.

Finally, they brought him to what seemed like a giant holy ancient tree that radiated an otherworldly aura.

Its branches stretched high into the sky, adorned with pink flowers and blossoms that rained petals gently down to the forest floor.

The tree glowed with a soft, mystical light, making the entire scene appear like a dream.

So, it wasn't just a fairytale.

The divine tree really existed.

"Is this what you were looking for, Rin?" 

Suddenly losing strength, his legs gave way, and he dropped to the ground with his back against the tree trunk.

The fairies paid no mind to his weakened state; instead, they continued to giggle and gather around his long coat pocket, curious about what he carried.

"Hehe~ pickpocket, pickpocket~"

With the last ounce of strength, Noran grabbed onto the bag of cookies they were trying to steal from him.

As Shuri had told him, fairies were mischievous creatures.

"You can't have it," he spoke weakly to them. "It's the last thing Rin gave me."

The Noran cookies had expired long ago, but he still carried them around and couldn't bring himself to throw them away.

A few fairies hovered over the cookies, singing the tune, "Gives precious~ Gets wishes~."

It seemed that fairies liked to take whatever was important to the person they guided.

Noran didn't have the strength to think much about their motives as he stared at the bag of Noran cookies in his hand.

"I wish to see you again... Rin..." he murmured his final words. freeweɓnovel.cѳm

Then, he heard the fairies' giggling and singing gradually fade away as a light breeze stirred, causing pink blossoms to fall and land on him.

As his body weakened and he felt life slipping away, he slowly closed his eyes, and memories of how he first met Shuri unfolded like a panorama...

Where it all started 13 years ago...