His Obsession Began After Losing Her-Chapter 39: Paths Converging

Eight years later.

Clifford Roland sat at the head of the table in the sleek, modern boardroom of Paragon Group, a top-tier investment firm known for its dominance in real estate development and cutting-edge technology ventures.

Today, the company was holding its regular quarterly meeting to review progress and strategize for the future.

Around the table were key members of the board, including Roy Lloyd, the co-founder and vice director, and Beatrice Kingston, the Chief Strategy Officer. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

"We have several important topics to review today, including our financial performance for the last quarter," Clifford started, his tone firm and authoritative.

"Our financial performance has been relatively stable, but we need to address some market fluctuations."

He adjusted his tone, looking respectfully at Roy as he asked, "Mr. Lloyd, would you like to share your thoughts on how we should proceed?"

Despite Clifford being the acting CEO, Roy, as the co-founder of Paragon, had more authority in leading the company forward.

Roy nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Given the market fluctuations, I propose we diversify more into commercial real estate. It's a more stable investment in the current market."

Beatrice chimed in, her voice clear and confident. "I agree with Roy. Additionally, we should consider expanding our international portfolio. There are emerging markets that present significant opportunities, particularly in Asia."

Clifford listened intently. "These are all excellent points. We'll need detailed reports and projections to make informed decisions. Let's also review our current project timelines and address any potential delays."

After a brief discussion on these points, Clifford wrapped up the session. "Thank you, everyone. We'll reconvene next quarter with more data."

As the directors began to file out of the room, Clifford called out, "Mr. Lloyd, can I have a word?"

"Sure, what's up?"

Clifford lowered his voice, glancing around to ensure no one could hear him. "Do you know when Mr. Lee will be back?"

Roy sighed, a hint of frustration in his eyes. "I wish I knew. He hasn't been in contact with me either."

He then turned to Beatrice, who was gathering her papers. "Beatrice, do you have any idea when he will be back?"

Beatrice looked up, her expression neutral.

She knew who Roy was referring to. "I'm no longer his manager. I don't have his schedule. But I can ask my agency for you if it's something urgent."

Besides being the CSO of Paragon, Beatrice was also the founder of BEAT Music, a leading artist management agency based in New Valley City, which specialized in managing classical musicians and orchestrating their concert tours, recordings, and other professional engagements.

"That won't be necessary, Miss Kingston. It's just a personal matter regarding my contract that I wish to discuss with Mr. Lee," Clifford said.

Roy and Beatrice exchanged knowing looks, opting to stay quiet.

Clifford excused himself, looking worn out as he left.

As he walked away, both Roy and Beatrice couldn't help but think, "Poor guy, he's really overworked."

After parting ways with Beatrice, Roy headed back to his office.

As he settled in, his secretary knocked and entered. "Mr. Lloyd, Mr. Lee is back in the office."

"H-He's back?!" Roy's eyes widened with surprise and urgency.

He quickly got up and made his way to the Chairman's office.

The Chairman's secretary greeted him as he approached. "Good afternoon, Mr. Lloyd."

Roy, too focused on his mission, ignored her greeting and went straight into the office without knocking.

The secretary, recognizing the urgency, didn't dare to interfere.

Roy flung open the door, and the first thing he saw was Noran, seated at the Chairman's desk with a fluffy white dog on his lap, reading some documents.

The sight of Noran, calm and composed, contrasted sharply with Roy's sudden entrance.

"Yelp! Yelp!" the fluffy dog, Snowball, greeted Roy while Noran didn't bother looking up, as if he already knew who it was.

Roy walked over, his frustration evident. "Why didn't you contact me for a month? Don't you care about the company at all?"

Roy had never been one to prioritize work over living a relaxed, enjoyable life.

He had always valued his freedom, preferring to spend his days pursuing a carefree lifestyle rather than being tied to a desk.

He would have happily stayed and worked in his family business, Lloyd Media, if Noran hadn't approached him with a vision to create Paragon Group.

At first, Roy was amazed by Noran's uncanny ability to navigate the complexities of the investment and real estate markets.

Noran's decisions often seemed almost prescient; he could predict market trends with astounding accuracy, identify undervalued properties with exceptional potential, and pinpoint the perfect locations for new developments.

Under Noran's guidance, Paragon Group expanded rapidly.

They made strategic investments in emerging markets, acquired valuable land in growing cities, and developed high-end commercial and residential projects that quickly turned profitable.

Noran's foresight allowed them to anticipate shifts in the market and adjust their strategies accordingly, giving Paragon a competitive edge that other companies could only dream of.

In addition to his market acumen, Noran had an exceptional talent for finding and hiring the best people in the field.

He built a team of top-tier professionals, including their CEO, Clifford Roland, and their General Counsel, Ethan Hughes.

This strong leadership team further solidified Paragon's position as a powerhouse in the industry.

However, Noran rarely appeared in the office, leaving the day-to-day operations to be managed by his partners, which was why he didn't take up the CEO position.

He spent most of his time traveling around as the renowned pianist, Noran Kingston, instead of acting like the founder and Chairman of Paragon, Ran Lee.

Noran finally looked up, his calm demeanor contrasting sharply with Roy's agitation.

He placed the documents down and gently petted Snowball. "There's no reception in the Guardian Forest."

"Guardian Forest? You went to the Guardian Forest for a month?" Roy asked in disbelief.

He thought his friend was acting ridiculously, abandoning his multi-billion-dollar business to venture into a forest.

"I have my reasons," Noran replied vaguely, still stroking Snowball.

Roy rolled his eyes. "Don't tell me you went to that forest to look for her?"

Noran kept quiet, his silence confirming it.

Roy sighed. "I don't know who she is. But it's been eight years, Noran. Don't you think it's time to stop?"

"You will never understand," Noran said stubbornly.

Noran had never stopped looking for Shuri.

He had spent considerable resources, money, and time searching for her, but there was still no trace.

He had become one of the most famous pianists both locally and internationally, hoping she would notice him, but she never contacted him.

If it weren't for the bag of Noran cookies he found eight years ago, he would have thought she didn't exist.

He even resorted to venturing back into the Guardian Forest.

But no matter how many times he ventured in, he didn't find the divine tree or meet those fairies.

The only good thing that came out of all this was finding their dog, Snowball, when he went to Midori Town six years ago.

"Did it ever cross your mind that maybe she's avoiding you?" Roy continued to persuade Noran.

"Impossible," Noran firmly denied the possibility.

Even if she couldn't remember him, he believed his lovable Rin wouldn't avoid him.

There had to be another reason she couldn't reach out to him, and he couldn't get to her.

But no matter what it was, he wouldn't give up looking for her.

...

At Sung Medical Hospital in Sol City.

Juni Song's first day as a nurse in the psychiatric ward was anything but ordinary.

She had just started her shift when the calm of the ward was shattered by a patient's sudden breakdown.

The patient, a middle-aged man with a history of severe anxiety, was screaming and thrashing about, his eyes wide with panic.

Juni's heart raced as she approached him with her colleagues.

However, no matter how much they tried, they couldn't calm the patient down.

"Quick, call the doctor!" one of the senior nurses exclaimed when she realized the patient's agitation was increasing.

Juni felt a surge of panic as she saw the patient clawing at his own arms, leaving angry red marks that quickly began to bleed.

His desperate actions startled her, and she froze, unsure of what to do next.

Suddenly, a gentle voice came from behind. "Let me try to help him."

Juni turned around to see a very beautiful doctor dressed in a white robe, accompanied by a golden retriever.

The doctor's serene presence was almost otherworldly, with her long, flowing hair framing a face that seemed to radiate calm.

Her eyes, a deep and soothing dark brown, met Juni's briefly before she moved toward the patient.

The doctor knelt beside the man, her movements slow and deliberate.

The golden retriever sat quietly beside her, its warm eyes watching the scene intently.

The doctor leaned in and whispered something to the patient, her voice so soft that Juni couldn't make out the words.

Miraculously, the patient's screams quieted, and his thrashing subsided.

Within moments, he was calm, his breathing steadying as he looked into the doctor's kind eyes.

Juni was amazed, her disbelief mirrored in the wide eyes of the other nurses.

The ward, which had been a scene of chaos moments before, now felt like a sanctuary of peace.

The senior nurse sighed in relief and began thanking the doctor profusely.

Juni watched as her other colleagues expressed their gratitude.

She turned to the nurse beside her and whispered, "Who is that beautiful doctor?"

Her colleague smiled. "She is a veterinarian, not a doctor in our ward. She comes to give animal-assisted group therapy. Since it's your first day here today, why don't you go and introduce yourself?"

Nodding, Juni approached the beautiful doctor, feeling a bit nervous. "Hi, I'm Juni Song. It's my first day working in this ward. It's nice to meet you."

The doctor turned to her, and the moment she did, Juni was mesmerized by her beauty, realizing she looked even more stunning up close.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Song," the doctor replied with a serene smile. "I'm Shuri Lee."