Regrets [COMPLETED]

Chapter 42

Lisa sat in her lawyer’s office, the dim lighting casting long shadows on the polished wooden desk. The room was filled with the faint scent of leather and paperwork, a testament to the many battles fought and won within these walls. She was anxious, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest of her chair as she waited for her lawyer, Mr. Park, to update her on the progress of her divorce case.

Mr. Park finally entered, carrying a thick file and looking slightly weary. He offered a polite smile as he took his seat across from Lisa.

“Lisa, thank you for coming in today. I’ve reviewed the latest updates on your case,” he began, opening the file and glancing at the documents inside.

Lisa leaned forward, her eyes intense. “Any progress? Has Han Soo Hee signed the divorce papers yet?”

Mr. Park sighed, shaking his head. “Unfortunately, no. Despite multiple attempts to reach out to her, she has still not signed the papers. It's been four years, and we’re running into the same roadblocks.”

Lisa's frustration was palpable. She clenched her fists, trying to keep her composure. “Is there any other way? Can we invalidate the marriage somehow? I need to end this, Mr. Park. I can’t move on with my life until this is over.”

Mr. Park nodded thoughtfully. “There are a few options we could explore, but they’re not straightforward. One possibility is filing for a divorce by publication, which means we would publish a notice in a newspaper to serve her officially. This can be a lengthy process and still requires a waiting period.”

Lisa's expression hardened. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes. What about annulling the marriage? Can we argue that it was never valid to begin with?”

Mr. Park adjusted his glasses, considering her suggestion. “Annulment is a complex route. We’d need to prove that there were legal grounds for the marriage to be considered invalid from the start—such as fraud, coercion, or that it wasn’t consummated. This can be difficult to prove and might require extensive evidence.”

Lisa sighed deeply, the weight of the past four years pressing down on her. “What if we can’t find her at all? Is there a way to get the divorce granted without her signature?”

Mr. Park leaned forward, his tone more serious. “If Han Soo Hee continues to be unresponsive, we might be able to proceed with a default divorce. This would involve proving to the court that all reasonable attempts to contact her have failed, and if accepted, the court could grant the divorce without her consent. But again, this is a last resort and could take additional time.”

Lisa nodded slowly, processing the information. Her determination was unwavering. “Let’s start with the divorce by publication. I need to get this done, Mr. Park. I can’t keep living in limbo.”

Mr. Park made a note in the file. “I’ll get the process started immediately. We’ll prepare the necessary paperwork and publish the notice. In the meantime, we’ll continue to attempt direct contact with Han Soo Hee.”

Lisa stood up, a sense of resolve in her stance. “Thank you, Mr. Park. I appreciate your help. Please keep me updated on any progress.”

Mr. Park nodded, offering a reassuring smile. “Of course, Lisa. We’ll do everything we can to resolve this as quickly as possible.”

As Lisa left the office, the burden of her unresolved marriage still weighed heavily on her shoulders, but she felt a glimmer of hope. She was determined to end this chapter of her life and finally move forward with Jennie, no matter how difficult the path ahead might be.

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Jennie sat on the couch, staring at the clock. It was 11:30 PM, and Lisa still wasn't home. Lately, Lisa had been getting home late every night, offering vague excuses about work and meetings. Jennie couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Exhausted from waiting, she decided to go to bed.