Kourtney's face flushed crimson red, and she looked away, feeling a mixture of embarrassment, confusion, frustration, and attraction. She hadn't expected such a bold suggestion from him after she questioned his sexual orientation, and the thought of their wedding night made her heart race.His response caught her off guard, and she struggled to find the right words. "I... I don't want it. Forget what I said,â she stammered."It's... Itâs just that I thought... maybe the rumors were true. Some say you prefer men, so you avoid women like the plague. Others say you're impotent thatâs why you've been awfully single. And it made me wonder why you pursued marriage with me,â she added carefully."Rumors are just ârumors. But it's amusing to see you so curious about my personal life, my dear Wife.â"Well, forgive me for wanting to understand the man I just married.âSebastian's gaze locked onto hers, his demeanor softening just a fraction. "You're right," he admitted, surprising her with his
Kourtney turned around and caught sight of Kathlyn, the home-wrecker, approaching her from the living room. She noticed a hint of surprise flash on her little sisterâs face. However, it quickly disappeared as her expression turned into a menacing smirk.âKourtney, I didn't expect to see you here.â She heard the annoyingly coquettish voice of Kathlyn once again. Anger and irritation started brewing within her.âI live here, so where else should I be?â She replied with a sneer.Kathlyn was taken aback for a moment and seemed disturbed. She has known Kourtney since birth, and she understood her all too well.She knew that Kourtney was the type of person who would move out and probably cut ties with their family after what had happened today. After all, she had snatched her fiancĂ©, Brandon, and their parents had supported the affair, even giving their blessings for Kathlyn to marry him in Kourtneyâs place.It seems she had underestimated Kourtney's resilience and determination. Deep down,
Despite her raging thoughts filled with doubt and questions, Kathlyn managed to retort, trying to maintain her cool façade."You're lying, Kourtney! You can't just switch off your feelings like that. Brandon used to be your whole world, but now, he's with me. You're merely trying to convince yourself that you're over him, but deep down, you know you still love and want him!"âAnd stop feeling so fly! Brandon was the best thing that ever happened to you. He was way too good for you, and that's the reason you were too invested in him. Too bad he loves me, not you. We all know you can never get another man as good as him.â Kathlyn continued to bark, her frustration getting the better of her.She couldn't bear the idea that Kourtney was genuinely happy without Brandon. That thought shattered her illusion of victory and made her feel insignificant. So, Kathlyn decided to up the ante, hoping to push Kourtney's buttons further and make her break down.âAh ah ah!â Kourtney let out a humorous
On the uppermost floor of a grand mansion located in the heart of the city, Sebastian Woods sat regally on a plush chair. With legs crossed and donning a luxurious black robe, he exuded an air of elegance and sophistication. Part of his broad chest was exposed, revealing a toned physique that made him look like a living Adonis. The dim light from the lamp beside him added to the allure, casting mysterious shadows across his chiseled features. In one hand, he held a fat cigar, its fragrant smoke curling around him like a cloud, and in the other, a glass of whiskey glistened under the moonlight. Despite the casual setting, his posture and aura were undeniably great, like a man entirely in control of the world. A small, contented smile played on Sebastianâs lips as his mind wandered to thoughts of Kourtney, his new wife. He found himself thinking about her nonstop since he came back. He wished she had agreed to go home with him tonight, even though they had barely known each other. Ta
As the day went on, the gossip intensified, with everyone eager to find out about this mysterious woman who had captured the heart of their handsome big boss. But then they knew the Woods family had always been mysterious in their ways, and Sebastian was no exception.Rumors and wild theories spread like wildfire, adding an air of excitement to the usually serious and dull workplace environment of Woods Corporation. They were all eager to see their boss in love, hoping it would bring a positive change to the company.Back in his office on the 80th floor of the building, Sebastian couldn't help but smile as he overheard bits of the gossip floating in from every corner. His employees, of over eight thousand people, worked tirelessly to meet his high standards, knowing that failure was not an option.He expected nothing short of excellence and rewarded those who delivered results. Competence was valued above all else, and those who fell short, faced the consequences.So, on a typical day
A few moments later, the stunning redheaded and curvy beauty, nicknamed Woods Corporation's most gorgeous and sexy staff, Rachael Lind, walked into the CEO's office. Dressed in a tailored custom-made business suit that hugged her curves in all the right places, Rachael effortlessly combined professionalism with a touch of undeniable sensuality. Beyond her stunning appearance, the 26-year-old's reputation in the company was one of unwavering dedication and exceptional competence. She was known for her sharp intellect, problem-solving skills, and ability to handle high-pressure situations with composure. Her colleagues admired her not only for her beauty but also for her exceptional work ethic and leadership qualities. Everyone, including Sebastian, agreed that she was a significant asset to Woods Corporation. As she walked into Sebastian's office, her beauty and radiance were hard to ignore, yet the stoic man behind the desk did not even bother to cast a glance at her. Instead, his a
Skyline Events Company.âMiss Allen, stop staring into space. I need you in my office now!â Kourtneyâs wandering thoughts were rudely interrupted by her immediate superior, Brianna Martins.âSure, Maâam, I'll be right there,â she replied, putting up a fake smile to mask her disdain.As Kourtney stood up to follow the older woman, she wondered why her presence was suddenly needed. But she was even more worried after being caught drifting off by the infamously harsh and bossy Brianna Martins. But can you blame her for pondering too much?These last three days after Kourtneyâs breakup and eventual flash marriage have been an emotional rollercoaster for her. As she walked behind Jessy towards the office, her thoughts almost drifted back to base again. Kourtney bit her lips in frustration, struggling to maintain her composure and concentration.Off course, she's been doing everything she can to avoid Brandon and Kathlyn. But those two have shamelessly been parading themselves around her at
The sterile, white hospital room was filled with the soft hum of machines, casting a pale glow on the sculpture-like figure lying in the bed. Tubes and wires were attached to the patient, monitoring his vital signs for any improvements.His personal doctor and close friend, Ryan Turner, had worked swiftly to stabilize him by putting him in a medically induced coma.After what felt like an eternity, Sebastian Woods began to regain consciousness.Jamie, his dedicated assistant, had been keeping watch by his side. Right now, he was going through some work documents, but his eyes occasionally strayed to the man's still form.Then, suddenly, there was a twitch of movement. Jamie's eyes widened in surprise, and he leaned forward, his voice soft and full of relief."Sir⊠you're finally awake."Sebastian's eyelids fluttered, and he blinked several times, trying to focus on his surroundings. His voice was hoarse as he spoke."How long have I been out?"Jamie checked his wristwatch before answe
Sebastian packed his Rolls Royce Phantom outside Lilianâs house with a loud noise, the engine growling like a beast ready to pounce.The carâs polished exterior gleamed under the afternoon sun, announcing his presence to the entire neighborhood of Flinders Lane.Funny how this was the exact same car heâd been in the day he met Kourtney, the day their lives had collided in the most unexpected way.He couldn't help but chuckle at the coincidence.He could hardly remember the details of that day, but the image of Kourtney standing there, flustered and adorable, was burned into his memory for life.The thought made him smile. But it was quickly overshadowed by the tension building in his chest.Sitting in the driverâs seat, he took a moment to compose himself.Damn!When did he become this nervous about talking to anyone?He had faced board meetings, negotiations, and high-stakes deals without batting an eye. Yet here he was, feeling like a teenager about to confess his feelings for his c
After about an hour in Lilianâs apartment, the tears slowly subsided. Kourtney pulled back, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.âI didnât mean to bother you this much,â she said, her voice shaky.Lilian eyed her as if she just said something so annoying and offensive. âShut up, Girl. You know Iâm always here for you.ââThank you, Lil,â Kourtney replied, biting her lip to hold back fresh tears.âYou know, Kourt. Itâs a shame! Isnât it? I didnât even get to enjoy being the best friend of a Billionaireâs wife before it all fell apart. We didnât get to use his private jet to go see the penguins in Antarctica!â Lilian exclaimed, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she tried to lighten the atmosphere. âOh, come on! Youâre telling me we never got to step foot on his luxury yacht, sitting pretty in the Melbourne harbor? What a waste!ââPffffftâŠ.â Kourtney couldnât help but burst into laughter at the absurdity of it all.As usual, Lilian always found a way to make her laugh, even during
âShut up, Denise,â Grandma Florence finally snapped.The whole living room fell silent, all eyes turning to her.âMum, stop defending her!â Aunt Denise interjected, her tone accusatory. âSheâs the reason weâre in this mess! If she had just listenedâââEnough!â Grandma Florence barked again at her daughter. Her patience was wearing thin.Denise opened her mouth to argue again but was swiftly silenced by her motherâs voice booming through the room once more. âI said shut up. Kourtney is still family!âDenise was very pained.This wasnât the reaction she had been expecting from her mother after seeing the news.Why wasnât everyone in the family celebrating Kourtneyâs downfall like she was?âYouâyou canât be serious, Mum. Kourtney thought she had arrived with that sudden marriage and started treating us like nothing. This is the perfect opportunity to cut her off. Give her a taste of her own medicine!âFlorence shot her daughter a glare sharp enough to silence her. âThis is not the time f
Grandpa Woodsâ commanding presence filled the room.âNot another word from any of you,â he scoffed, lifting his walking stick in the air. âYou minions should be ashamed of yourselves! Kourtney is family now, and I will not have you bullying my young granddaughter-in-law. You ought to be ashamed!âThe women fell silent, their expressions shifting from smug satisfaction to shock.Since when did Thomas Woods become such a softie?Since when did he become so protective of anyone, especially an outsider?It was as if the arrival of Kourtney to the Woods Estate had flipped a switch in him, and suddenly, he was like a mere shadow of his former self.They couldnât recognize the Old Man anymore.How did Kourtney manage to curry his favor in less than 3 days when they had known him for decades but couldn't?The way he fell enchanted with her in such a short time was still so hard to explain...No one saw it coming!Meanwhile, Kourtney's heart warmed at his defense, and she felt a small smile t
Ever since he had heard about his First Loveâs arrival yesterday, Kourtney had barely seen or spent time with her husband. For the first time since she moved in with him, Sebastian had been absent in their bed when she got up.And even in her deep slumber, she knew she didnât feel his warm embrace or presence last night. She was more than certain he hadnât spent the night here.She could feel it in her bones!Just as she was about to lose herself in her spiraling thoughts, she opened the bedroom door and stepped out, only to be met by the sight of two of Sebastianâs bodyguards waiting just outside.âGood morning, Mrs. Woods,â one of them greeted with a polite nod.âUhmm⊠where is he?â The question slipped from her lips before she could stop it.âMr. Woods had something to do at the company, so he left first,â the other bodyguard replied, his expression unreadable.Kourtney felt her heart drop. âHe left me here again to go to the company?â she thought as anger bubbled inside her.She w
Meanwhile, as Sebastian drove away, his mind raced.How could she just show up like that?He felt sick from the memories the woman stirred within him. The nights spent dreaming of what could have been, the love that had once filled his heart, now twisted into something dark and painful.God! She had turned him into a shadow of himself.Why had she returned?Was she here to stir up trouble?Sebastian was a clever man, quick to understand the intentions of others. She has to be here to cause trouble. Nothing more, nothing less.He gripped the steering wheel tightly as he navigated through the congested streets of Melbourne. The evening traffic crawled at a snail's pace, much worse than usual.Soon enough, he got to know there was a recent ghastly accident. A multi-car pileup around the scene had brought the main road to a standstill.Because of this, he was stuck in the traffic jam for hours with a throbbing headache pulsating at his temples.As Sebastian sat there, trapped in his sleek
âFine. Then letâs talk about that person you married... it was just for formalities, wasnât it?â Scarlet probed, her eyes glinting with curiosity.At her words, Sebastian chuckled darkly. âYou think you know everything, donât you?â Scarlet's heart raced as she saw a flicker of something glinting in his eyes the moment when she mentioned that person. He was smiling now! He even laughed!âHeâHe canât possibly have feelings for her,â she thought frantically. âNo! Not after everything we had.âHer eyes narrowed as she assessed him, taking in the wedding band that glinted against his skin.It was as if something suddenly snapped inside her. Consumed by a wave of jealousy, she rushed at him, wrapping her arms around his neck, and pressing her body against his. She had moved so quickly before his bodyguards could move an inch to stop her. She took them all by surprise.âI need you, Bastian,â she said with desperation.Her breath was warm against his skin. She wanted to feel the heat of
Across town, Sebastian Woods sat in a sleek conference room, surrounded by his British investors. The mood was tense; the meeting had been called unexpectedly. They were supposed to arrive the next day morning, but their flight had changed, and now he had to face them early.It was annoying just sitting there for him. He hated urgent and unplanned business meetings like this, but he just couldnât keep these people waiting. He liked to treat his foreign investors well as they were important to the growth of his company. He had to be there no matter what.But, despite the urgent nature of the meeting, Sebastianâs mind was miles away.âPresident Woods?â one of the investors interrupted, waving a hand in front of him. âAre you with us?ââSorry, yes. Letâs continue,â he replied, shaking his head to clear the fog of distraction.He wanted to focus on work, but his mind kept wandering back to HER.It was funny how he kept glancing at his phone on the table, hoping for a beep, a call, or even
They both turned towards the voice. It was Edwin Woods.âWhatâs it to you? This is not of your business,â Micheal challenged.âIâll tell you what? Itâs every one of my business. Thatâs my awesome sister-in-law,â Edwin said stepping close enough to separate Kourtney from Micheal.âSheâs a grown woman. She can make her own decisions.ââRight. But stay away from her!ââYouâll never stop being Sebastianâs little sidekick, will you?ââBeing a sidekick feels much better than being the incompetent failure that you are,â Edwin scoffed.Kourtney watched as both men went head to head with scornful words flying around. She didnât ask for any of this drama. She only wanted to come here and cry, then probably inhale the fresh scent of blooming roses till she felt satisfied.What was this evening turning into?She could feel the tension crackling in the air between them, like a storm ready to break. It was hard to believe that these two men were cousins who grew up together, yet here they were, gla