Love Redux: Fated to the Handsome Doctor

Lara’s face flushed, not out of embarrassment… but because the effect of alcohol had gone to her head.

“Too close…” Andre tried to turn his face away. He knew Lara wasn’t fully aware.

“Hm? What did you say?” Lara’s voice sounded teasing, with her hands and feet starting to tease Andre completely. Lara’s hair strands made Andre’s blood rush to his head. How could they not? Lara’s hair was so tempting with the scent of flowers emanating and arousing suppressed passion, coupled with Lara’s moans, everything was so perfect.

The perfection that tortured Andre so much because it held back his raging desires!

“Lara….” The man looked awkward and embarrassed as if feeling attacked first. Andre was the type to be the aggressor, if so… he felt overpowered and confused about what to do.

“Andre….” Lara’s voice was teasing again, instead of releasing her grip, the woman dared to get closer. This time, her lips brushed against her lover’s chin with a plan to keep rising until they could look at each other.

“Mmhh….” Lara enjoyed a sweet and tender kiss from her lover’s lips, with a reversal of roles this time. Andre gripped the back of Lara’s neck and laid her back on the bed, like their initial position.

“You started it,” Andre whispered breathlessly, undoing the top two buttons of his shirt. Lara’s increasingly teasing moans warmed the room that was initially cool from the air conditioning. The room was now heating up, similar to the increasingly tumultuous kiss.

“Andre, wait….” Before they went any further and stripped off all their clothes, Lara seemed to loosen her embrace. She suddenly remembered the unpleasant experience with her husband, who eventually dumped her.

“I-I might not be ready, Ndre,” Lara finally straightened her dress, which was open enough to reveal her entire chest area. Andre looked disappointed, but… he tried to accept Lara’s decision.

“Take your time, Honey,” Andre said softly, kissing Lara’s forehead. He seemed to rise from his position and now sat on the edge of the bed with a face that returned to normal. Andre understood that Lara’s psychological condition was still not perfectly calm. She still needed to arrange her heart and mind.

“Sorry….” Lara’s voice was soft, while she hugged Andre’s broad back.

“No problem,” Andre didn’t show his disappointment for too long. He didn’t want Lara to worry and get hurt even more. He turned his body and looked at Lara with an ordinary gaze. Nothing had changed, even though Lara hadn’t been touched by him.

“I love you, Ndre,” Lara said, shedding tears. Her heart and mind couldn’t be forced and synchronized as she pleased. Andre knew the reason. The post-traumatic syndrome experienced by Lara might have left a deep mark on her mind.

“I love you more, Ra. But… I think I need to take a cold shower first,” Andre tightened his hug while burying his face in his lover’s neck. But he didn’t hear an answer. Lara fell asleep!

“Ugh… it’s hard to talk to a tipsy person,” Andre sighed sadly as he laid Lara on the bed. The red wine he had just sipped successfully relaxed Lara’s nerve muscles, making her behave wildly… then fall asleep!

“You surely don’t know what you’ve done to me, Naughty Girl!” Andre then covered Lara’s body and went to the bathroom to cool off. The passion he had so hard to hold back finally erupted.

Unfortunately, it was all just a joke. Lara had truly ensnared Andre in a pit of despair. “Haha!” Andre laughed bitterly as he dragged the bath towel. He had truly been fooled!

***

Meanwhile, in the courtroom-where the case of Seno and Lara was being considered-it was bustling with the presence of many people. Many TV crews were covering the event, both inside and outside the building. Seno’s case was so intriguing because he was a prominent figure in the business world.

Seno’s journey as a successful young businessman had once been the main topic in leading business magazines. Undeniably, he had become an inspiring figure. However, what was seen in the magazines was so different from the reality today. The violence case involving his name was so interesting to follow. The public was very enthusiastic about the latest developments that revealed the dark side of Seno’s story.

“Are you ready?” Andre whispered to Lara.

“I am,” Lara replied confidently. Today, she had been invited as a witness in the violence case charged against her ex-husband. After going through a fierce trial, the third trial was finally held again. This time, Lara was brought in as a witness (victim).

With steady steps, Lara entered the courtroom. The air in the room felt tense, filled with sharp glances from the audience, including Seno sitting on the defendant’s bench.

Behind the wooden door as the boundary, Andre sat with a tense face. He was worried about Lara. Andre was ready to provide moral support to Lara, but he still felt nervous.

“I hope she’s not nervous or says something wrong,” Andre muttered as he watched Lara’s back move further away.

The judge sitting on the podium looked around the room briefly before starting the trial. The echoing bell signaled the beginning of the legal process that should provide justice to anyone who needs it.

That’s how the spirit of this trial should be. That’s why the law exists in society and provides clarity on a case.

“Bring in the next witness,” the judge ordered firmly.

Upon hearing the order, lawyers from both sides stood up. Seno’s lawyer stated, “We want to call Lara Selene Smith here as a witness, Your Honor.”

“Allowed,” the judge replied.

Andre looked at Lara with hope. Lara nodded slightly as a sign of readiness. With firm steps, Lara walked into the middle of the courtroom and stood before the judge, lawyers, and Seno.

Seno’s lawyer began to ask Lara questions, trying to twist the facts according to his client’s defense strategy. Lara answered calmly and firmly, not affected by the lawyer’s attempts to shake her testimony.

“Then, why did you go to your ex-husband’s office if not to blackmail him? Haven’t you been divorced?” the lawyer asked threateningly. Lara trembled, but she was confident in the truth she believed in.

“I came to confront him because he had kidnapped me before! He even operated on me without my consent, and my child died! Then… I suddenly woke up in a dark place waiting for death–”

“Lies, Your Honor,” Seno’s lawyer interrupted Lara’s speech.

“W-what?” Lara widened her eyes in disbelief. How was the lawyer so sure that her words were lies?

“When did you claim to be kidnapped, operated on, and abandoned?” the lawyer asked again.

“Um, around March 23, 2022.”

“Let’s see.” The lawyer then provided a plane ticket photo and also a portrait photo of Seno when he was at the airport on the date mentioned by Lara. “My client was in Bangkok on March 23, 2022, according to the time given. You all can see the evidence in front of you.”

Lara gaped and couldn’t deny the evidence provided. “It could be a lie!” she yelled angrily.

“Sister, please calm down,” the judge interjected with a cool head.

“Speak when asked to speak. Defense counsel, continue.”

“Are there any physical evidence to support the witness’s statements? I don’t think so. If there is, it can be presented here. But, all of that is not in the evidence list.”

Lara growled. She remembered the judge’s words that she shouldn’t interrupt.

The prosecutor sitting at the table opposite Seno’s lawyer interjected firmly, “Your Honor, I request that our focus remain on the evidence presented. Sister Lara’s testimony is not only based on one incident but also on medical evidence and police reports supporting that she was a victim of violence committed by the defendant.”

The judge looked at both sides with careful consideration. “Very well, I remind both parties to adhere to the rules of the trial and refrain from unnecessary interruptions. Now, continue.”

Seno’s defense lawyer nodded and continued his questioning of Lara. “Do you have physical evidence showing that you were kidnapped and operated on without consent?”

Lara swallowed for a moment, trying to calm herself before answering. “This evidence, my abdomen was cut open. Isn’t that enough?” She showed the surgical scar on her stomach.

However, Seno’s defense lawyer quickly responded, “That may be a scar from another incident or a medical procedure you voluntarily underwent. Isn’t there any evidence showing the defendant’s involvement in this?”

Lara felt increasingly pressured by these questions. However, she persisted with the truth she believed in. “I never agreed to that surgery. I was kidnapped and forced to do it!”

The judge decided to give the prosecutor a chance to respond to the defense lawyer’s arguments.

The prosecutor stood up perfectly. He was ready with all the questions that could incriminate Seno as the defendant.

“Your Honor, we have medical evidence showing that the injuries suffered by Sister Lara are consistent with the violence she reported. In addition, we also have testimonies from other witnesses who saw the acts of violence committed by the defendant. All of this evidence shows that the defendant is responsible for the violence against Sister Lara.”

The judge nodded, “The evidence presented by the prosecutor is strong enough. The court will consider all of this evidence in the decision-making process. Does Seno’s defense counsel have additional evidence to present?”

Seno’s defense lawyer seemed to think for a moment. He glanced at Seno for a few moments, but then he admitted that the evidence held by the prosecutor was indeed strong. “We do not have additional evidence to present at this time, Your Honor. But, we will look for additional evidence that refutes the witness’s argument.”

The judge then looked at Lara, “Do you have any additional testimony or evidence you want to present in this trial?”

Lara shook her head. “No, Your Honor. I have presented everything I have.”

The judge understood. “Very well, the trial will be adjourned for the time being. The court will give both parties the opportunity to prepare additional arguments and evidence, if any, for the next trial.”

Thus, the trial was adjourned to give time for both parties to prepare strategies and additional evidence needed to support their arguments.

However, of course, Seno would not let that happen.