His Obsession Began After Losing Her-Chapter 82: Roy in Sol City

After arriving in Sol City, Roy made his way to the Paragon office the next day. The secretary informed him that Noran was not in the office, causing a surge of frustration to rise within him.

Noran had been the one who insisted on moving to Sol City to oversee the expansion, leaving the main projects at headquarters for Roy and Clifford to manage.

Yet, here he was, skipping work just as he had back at headquarters.

Roy always wondered if there was any other chairman in the world who behaved as irresponsibly as Noran did.

Roy's irritation only grew when he thought about the video of Noran kissing his fiancée that had gone viral online.

Noran had a fiancée?

Since when?

It was clear now—Noran hadn't come to Sol City for work but to pursue his romantic interests.

And now, he was nowhere to be found.

Roy had texted Noran to inform him of his arrival, but the only reply he received was, "You're not needed here."

Not even a single question about why he had come!

Roy clenched his fists, determined to track Noran down and vent his anger.

Leaving the office in frustration, Roy's mood lifted when he received a message from Karlene telling him she had arrived at their meeting spot.

His driver dropped him in the heart of the bustling city, where a spacious and grand café called Co.Lee awaited.

This café was a trendy and popular destination in Sol City, known for its stylish decor and relaxed atmosphere. Co.Lee was famous for its signature blue coffee and boasted numerous branches all over the city.

The interior was a perfect blend of modern furniture, cozy seating arrangements, and warm lighting, creating an inviting and chic ambiance.

Roy entered the café and immediately spotted Karlene. She looked effortlessly sophisticated, her long straight black hair elegantly tied up.

She was wearing a short black skirt that highlighted her elongated legs and a crisp white blouse that added to her polished look.

With a cup of iced coffee in one hand and her phone in the other, she exuded a casual grace. Roy's face lit up the moment he saw her, his heart skipping a beat.

He approached her table with a bright smile and called out, "Did you come early because you missed me?"

Karlene looked up and immediately rolled her eyes but couldn't resist a smile. "This place is owned by my family, you know? I should spend some time checking it out once in a while."

"I was hoping that you missed me," Roy feigned sadness and sat down.

A waitstaff came over to take his order. The cafe was meant to be self-service, but because Karlene was the daughter of the CEO of Co.Lee, the staff paid special attention to her and her guests.

"I'd love whatever you recommend," Roy told Karlene with a smile.

She would know what to order best since the cafe belonged to her father.

"One blue coffee with ice for him," Karlene told the staff.

The staff noted it down and left.

"How's your injury?" Karlene asked, looking at his shoulder, noticing he appeared to have recovered.

"As you can see, the gunshot can't kill me. I can block a few more for you," Roy said lightheartedly.

Karlene let out a soft chuckle. "I didn't know you enjoyed getting shot so badly. I won't hesitate to use you as my shield the next time there's a gunfight."

Roy replied in a slightly serious tone, "Of course, you shouldn't hesitate to ask me to protect you."

Karlene stopped smiling and looked at him thoughtfully. "Do you happen to like playing the hero that much?"

Roy smiled warmly. "Only with you."

Karlene fell silent.

At times like this, Karlene found herself unsure of how to take Roy seriously. He always responded playfully, yet he would risk his life for her and pay so much attention to her.

Ever since she left New Valley, he had been texting her nonstop. Their constant messaging had become a habit for Karlene.

Unlike with Ethan, whom she respected and saw as her mentor, she felt more at ease with Roy. He seemed genuinely delighted when talking to her and never got offended by anything she said.

This made her feel comfortable, like she didn't need to put up a front around him.

He accepted her as she was.

However, Karlene hadn't considered Roy in a romantic light yet, but he was definitely someone she enjoyed spending time with.

To her surprise, she actually looked forward to their meetings. His smile always made her feel like she brought him immense joy, even when she was criticizing him.

As a result, she couldn't help but suspect he might be a bit of a masochist.

"I heard Paragon is planning a big expansion in Sol City. Did you come here for that?" Karlene asked after the waitstaff placed a cup of iced blue coffee in front of Roy.

"No, I came because I miss you."

Karlene was speechless once more. freewebnσvel.cѳm

She thought she was used to Roy's open declarations of love by now, but she was wrong.

Did he have no shame in blurting out such things all the time?

Even the waitstaff who overheard their conversation seemed slightly embarrassed, quickly retreating with a smile on her face. She probably assumed Roy was Karlene's boyfriend.

"You really need to stop saying things like that," Karlene said, trying to maintain her composure.

"You don't like the way I express my love for you?" Roy asked, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Love? Then let me ask you, what is it about me that you love?"

Roy widened his eyes in mock surprise. "Are you serious? I can't believe you don't know how attractive you are, Karlene."

For the first time, Karlene felt her heart skip a beat.

The sincerity in his eyes, looking at her like she was the most beautiful being in the world, left her momentarily speechless.

Despite being a top attorney in the West, she found herself unable to refute him. If he hadn't almost died saving her, she might have doubted his sincerity given his past reputation as a playboy in New Valley.

However, Karlene was not easily moved.

"But I don't feel the same way about you."

"I know," Roy replied with a genuine smile. "I'm not forcing you to reciprocate my feelings for you, I'm just glad you have accepted me as your friend."

A corner of Karlene's lip curled up.

She wanted to say, "I don't see anyone as my friend that easily."

But then she swallowed her words when she suddenly thought about Sigmund.

The strange feeling of considering Sigmund a friend had been haunting her, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake it off.

Thinking he had made Karlene uncomfortable, Roy changed the subject as he savored his cup of blue coffee. "How long are you planning to stay in Sol City?"

Karlene snapped back to reality, blinking before she replied, "Oh, I don't know, maybe until after my sister's wedding."

As much as Karlene didn't want Shuri to get married, she knew Shuri was set on marrying Noran.

"Your sister is getting married?" Roy asked, genuinely surprised.

"Oh yes," Karlene paused for a brief moment, then continued, thinking she didn't have to hide anything from Roy since everyone should have seen the video by now.

"I'm sure you've seen the latest trending video of Noran Kingston and his fiancée. Well, his fiancée happens to be my sister."

"What?!" Roy jumped up from his seat, startling Karlene.

Several patrons in the cafe turned to look at him, curious about the commotion.

"Why are you reacting like that?" Karlene frowned.

"Haha... Hahaha..." Roy couldn't contain his laughter as he sat back down, leaving Karlene baffled.

What had gotten into him?

Roy's expression was now one of utter disbelief.

He knew how Noran had been searching for his love interest for a decade, going to extraordinary lengths to find her.

Roy always wondered what kind of woman could make the proud and untouchable Noran act so desperately.

In the end, that woman turned out to be Karlene's sister.

"What a small world," Roy said, still chuckling. "I think I need to meet your sister, Karlene."

A broad grin spread across his face, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

...

The bedroom was dimly lit, shadows cast by the moonlight filtering through the heavy curtains. Sigmund lay in bed, his gaze fixed on the woman sleeping beside him.

She was nude under the sheets, her breathing deep and even.

Slowly, he slipped out of bed and donned his robe, tying it securely before quietly exiting the room.

His footsteps were soft on the carpeted floor as he made his way downstairs to the basement.

The basement was a stark contrast to the luxurious setting above. The air was cool and damp, and the concrete walls were bare and uninviting.

Sigmund flicked on the lights, the harsh fluorescent bulbs illuminating the eerie scene.

A dozen people were scattered around the room, lying and seated in various positions, their eyes vacant and expressions blank.

They were his long-term guinea pigs, test subjects to refine and improve his sinister abilities.

Sigmund's lips curled into a wicked smile as he surveyed his collection. "I'd need to add more puppets, especially beautiful ones... like those two."

His mind drifted to the couple who had been immune to his power, Shuri and Noran.

The thought of them sent a thrill down his spine.

They would be his greatest challenge yet.