He Became a Tyrant After Losing Me

That evening, at the Global Urban Development Association's 55th-anniversary gala.

Noran stepped out of the car in front of the luxurious five-star Grandeur Pavilion Hotel dressed in a tailored black suit that highlighted his impressive physique. His dark hair was impeccably styled, framing his chiseled jawline and piercing dark eyes, drawing admiring glances from onlookers as he made his way towards the entrance.

As he walked into the main hall, heads turned toward him, and whispers of admiration followed in his wake.

"Oh my, that hot guy who just came in is Noran Lee, isn't he?"

"I heard his real name is Noran Kingston."

"No way! He was from the Kingston family? The one they called the Musical Monarchs?"

Noran paid no attention to those whispers and only stopped to exchange greetings with various cooperation leaders who approached him.

He had expected others to talk about him when they found out he was originally from the Kingston family, who had a rich history of producing musical talents of unparalleled caliber through their establishment of prestigious schools and organizations dedicated to nurturing musical excellence.

The Kingstons were known as the Musical Monarchs because their influence stretched beyond just the music industry, reaching into cultural and educational domains, making them akin to kings in the international music scene.

"I see you're still as popular as ever..."

Noran turned around to see his longtime close friend, Roy Lloyd, making his way towards him.

Roy, who had studied at Kingston College of Music, befriended Noran due to his admiration for Noran's musical talent. Despite Noran leaving school and the country, Roy maintained contact with him.

He attended the gala tonight with his father, the chairman of the Lloyd Media Group, and his brother who took the CEO position. The Lloyd Media Group was the leading media and broadcast corporation in the country, with a formidable presence in both traditional and digital platforms.

When Roy saw that Noran was done exchanging greetings with the many corporate leaders who had approached him, he took the opportunity to go over.

Noran smiled subtly at Roy's earlier remark. "Curiosity dies down fast."

He thought that his current popularity stemmed from nothing more than mere curiosity or novelty from the public.

"The only things destined to die are your admirers' hearts. Do you know how many hearts you have broken so far?" Roy sighed.

"I'm not interested in the statistics."

As long as Shuri's heart belonged to him, he couldn't care less whether other women had their hearts broken or not.

"Geez, so heartless." Roy shot him a slightly exasperated look as he took a sip from his wine glass.

"You're right," Noran smiled. "I gave my heart away to my Rin twelve years ago."

Roy choked at Noran's reply. "Gosh… Cough… Declaring your love like that… Have you got no shame?"

"I don't see anything shameful with being honest."

"Forget it. I should have guessed you were hopeless when you sacrificed everything for her," Roy retorted.

Noran grinned meaningfully at his remark. "Those things don't mean much to me."

He never understood why everyone, including Shuri, believed that he had given up everything for her. His birth family, his musical talent, and his fame from back then held little value to him. He only did what he was told like a puppet until he met Shuri, where he found meaning in life.

"I bet you're the only one in the world who thinks this way…" Roy paused when he saw a familiar-looking woman approaching them. His lips twisted involuntarily as he commented softly, "Noran, your most persistent pursuer is here."

He was referring to Sophia Carter, the heiress of the esteemed Carter family. Not only was she the heiress, but also the Chief Operating Officer of the Carter Investment Group, a financial powerhouse renowned for its strategic investments and formidable influence in the country's economic landscape.

Sophia wore a sleek black strapless evening gown and five-centimeter black diamond stilettos. She flipped her long curly hair back, hoping to attract attention to her strikingly beautiful face adorned with classic makeup.

"Noran, Mr. Llyod, it's nice to see the both of you here," she greeted both men but only had her eyes on Noran.

"Likewise, Miss Carter," Noran exchanged the greeting with a smile.

Sophia was so captivated by his charming smile that she could barely hear Roy's greeting in return.

"Didn't I tell you to call me Sophia? Since we'll soon be working closely on the upcoming development project, we should get to know each other better," she replied, completely ignoring Roy.

Despite his approachable demeanor, Noran always maintained a certain distance from other women.

"I respect my clients by not overstepping boundaries, Miss Carter."

Sophia frowned, while Roy stifled a chuckle at Noran's response.

Only Noran could gracefully decline someone's advances with such professionalism, all while wearing a warm smile.

"Noran is right," Roy interjected, siding with his friend. "Miss Carter, the Carter Investment Group and our Lloyd Media Group have been long-term business partners, but we've never addressed each other casually, have we?"

"I don't believe we should adhere so strictly to formality," Sophia countered. "Besides, I notice that neither of you uses formality with each other."

"That's because, unlike you, I'm not Noran's client." Roy placed his hand confidently on Noran's shoulder as he declared proudly, "I'm his best friend."

"You…" Sophia gritted her teeth, trying her hardest to suppress her anger.

"If there's nothing else, I'd like to introduce Noran to my father. So, please excuse us." Roy faked a smile at Sophia and led Noran away.

Roy clearly didn't like Sophia. As the vice executive director of the Lloyd Media Group, Roy had access to a wealth of information about high-ranking individuals in the country. Sophia and her family were known for their cunning maneuvers and their willingness to manipulate the economy and stock market for their own gain.

Roy had seen the damage Sophia's actions could inflict firsthand. He had witnessed the fallout of her schemes, the lives ruined and businesses destroyed in her wake.

To him, Sophia may have appeared beautiful on the outside, but inside, she was far from it. She was a wolf in sheep's clothing, ready to pounce on any opportunity, no matter the cost to others.

"Be careful of that woman. She isn't that simple," Roy warned Noran.

"Don't worry, I have no interest in getting close to other women except my Rin," Noran replied, showing no sign of concern or interest in Sophia.

Sophia glared at the backs of the two men who had just left and cursed quietly.

How despicable!

She hated how Noran still put a distance between them, despite his friendly demeanor.

Sophia had harbored a crush on Noran ever since she first laid eyes on him. The Kingston family had arranged for them to be engaged twelve years ago. However, Noran suddenly left the country, only returning after twelve long years.

In an effort to get closer to him, Sophia had invested in his company, Oasis Development, and orchestrated their collaboration on a significant project.

Yet, when they finally met again, she realized that Noran couldn't even recall who she was. The realization filled her with bitterness and resentment.

"Well, you still can't escape me… Just you wait…" Sophia muttered under her breath as she gestured for her assistant.

"You call, Miss Carter?"

"Is it done?" Sophia asked her assistant.

"Yes, we've completed the task as per your instructions."

"Good." Sophia licked her lips as she glanced at Noran from afar, twirling the wine glass in her hand. "Let's have some fun tonight, Noran."

…

As the gala progressed, Noran indulged in a few more glasses of wine while engaging in several more conversations.

Eventually, Noran decided it was time to depart from the venue. He felt the weight of fatigue settling in. The strain of wearing a forced smile for an extended period had drained him considerably.

If it weren't for his director's persistent pleas to attend the gala, he wouldn't have even considered coming. Noran disliked returning home late, knowing that Shuri would wait anxiously for him and refuse to sleep until his safe return.

Not wanting to draw any further attention to himself, Noran searched for a quiet exit. Upon reaching a deserted corridor, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over him, causing the world to spin uncontrollably.

"What…?"

He placed his head on the wall to stabilize himself. However, the room continued to sway, and Noran struggled to maintain his balance.

Noran's head throbbed with every heartbeat, a sharp pain shooting through his skull. He tried to keep his eyes open, but darkness closed in, ready to overwhelm him.

Struggling to stay upright, Noran's vision blurred and his legs weakened. With a final effort, he tried to hold on, but darkness overtook him. He collapsed to the ground, unconscious.