The Woods Family Villa.The sprawling estate nestled among the prolific hills and lush greenery buzzed with tension. The grand room, adorned with antique furnishings and portraits of ancestors who seemed to watch over the familyâs every move, was where Edwin found himself surrounded by the ever-fuming Grandpa Woods and other members of the family. âCan you believe it? That boy has gone too far this time! Changing the ownership of the San Bora land to his wife? What kind of madness is this?â Grandpa Woodsâ bushy eyebrows knitted together in a frown as he paced the length of the room, his voice echoing with indignation. The other Woods family members exchanged uneasy glances, not daring to speak up at this time. Grandpa Woods was a man well known for his formidable presence with a reputation for his bad temper. The only person who had the guts to always offend him like this was none other than Sebastian, his antagonistic and rebellious grandson.âCan you believe it?â his groggy voice
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue across the villa, Edwin decided to take a stroll in the garden to clear his mind. Damn! He hasnât been himself all day. No, all these days since he met that woman.What was it about her that intrigued him?Why couldn't he shake her from his mind? âEd!â A voice called from behind him, breaking his reverie. It was Clara Woods, his little sister. Her expression was a mix of concern and curiosity. âYouâve been awfully quiet today. Whatâs going on in that head of yours, big bro?ââJust thinking,â he replied, trying to brush it off.âAbout what?â Clara teased, arching an eyebrow. âI saw the way you looked so distracted earlier. Itâs so unlike you. And donât tell me itâs about the whole drama with Seb, 'cause I know you donât give a damn about that!âClara knew her brother almost like she knew the back of her hand. There was something else on Edwinâs mind. Something more...âWait! Donât tell me... youâre falling in love with someon
However, Sebastian sat behind his mahogany desk, barely acknowledging her presence. Instead, he was buried in a stack of papers on his desk, his dark brows furrowed in concentration.Rachael felt a pang of disappointment as he didnât even glance up to greet her.She could feel the embarrassing mix of frustration and sadness swelling in her chest.As usual, he was acting as if she were just another piece of furniture in the room.What would it take for this man to notice her?She swallowed hard, the presence of his two hulking bodyguards hovering in the corner of the room making her feel even more small and vulnerable. She knew they were there to prevent her from getting too close, a reminder of the boundaries he had drawn after their last encounter in his office space.He had made it clear that he didnât want anything personal between them, and that hurt more than she cared to admit.But why is she still...here?âBastian,â she started, her voice smooth and confident as she prepared to
The men walked straight to her, ignoring Liam completely. âMrs. Woods, Mr. Woods wants you to come join him in his car right away,â one of them said.Kourtneyâs heart dropped. âHeâheâs here?â she stammered, glancing nervously out the window. Sure enough, her husbandâs white limousine was parked outside, surrounded by a crowd of curious onlookers. It felt like a scene straight out of a movie!âOh no! What now?â she winced inwardly.How did he even find out she was here?Would he accuse her of being promiscuous again?Surely, he might confuse this little luncheon with Liam for a romantic date. Right?The man was quick to jump to conclusions, and she feared facing the wrath of his anger again.What would he do to her this time? Drive her to Coolaroo again?Kourtney shivered with that thought in mind. Her heart started racing with fear and confusion.She stood up, her hands trembling as she shot Liam an apologetic look. âI... I have to go.ââGo? Go where?â Liam demanded, his expression
Sebastian stepped out of the car, holding the door open for her. âCome on, letâs go inside,â he urged gently as he extended a hand to her.Kourtney hesitated for a second but then took his hand, feeling the warmth of his grip. As she stepped out of the limousine, she was greeted by the bright lights of the boutique and the luxurious aura that surrounded it. Inside was a treasure trove of elegance. Silks, satins, and shimmering fabrics adorned the racks, each piece gorgeous and unique. She felt a flicker of excitement as she walked through the aisles while Sebastian watched her, admiration filling his eyes.She looked like a delicate flower in a garden of riches, and he wanted to shower her with the best of the best.âPick whatever you like,â he ordered.Her heart fluttered at his words. âReally? You donât mind?â âNot at all,â Sebastian rasped.The way her emerald eyes lit upâit was mesmerizing. Just like that, they spent the next few hours shopping.The shop attendants treated Kour
After a moment of silence, when she didnât hear any response, she shrugged it off as if nothing had happened.Edwin Woods's heart was hammering in his chest.That was a close call!He peeped, watching her from the small hole by the door.He realized she was still wrapped in that delicate white towel, her hair cascading down her back in damp waves. His mind raced, imagining how soft her skin would be if he could touch her. But he had to stay hidden.He observed every little movement, from the way she brushed her damp hair back to the way her towel hugged her curves. She was so beautiful, so enchanting, and he couldnât tear his eyes away from her.He felt like a thief, stealing moments of her life, but in his mind, he was merely a guardian waiting for the right time to make his presence known.He watched as she rummaged through her closet, pulling out clothes.She resumed her whistling, a carefree tune that made him smile. The way she moved, so blissfully unaware of his presence, sent a
The drive to the Woodsâs ancestral villa was filled with an electric tension that made Kourtney feel alive yet utterly terrified. She perched on the plush leather passenger seat of Sebastianâs Bentley while he drove, gliding through the streets with great skill and charisma.Her heart was thumping loudly in her chest, and she placed a hand on it as if to calm her raging storm of emotions.Sebastian, effortlessly handsome behind the wheel, glanced over at her with an eyebrow raised. âCan you stop being so nervous?â He asked, a hint of irritation seeping into his voice while his dark eyes narrowed slightly. He saw no reason for her to feel that way. She was making him feel like they were heading to a live-or-die boxing match instead of just his family villa.The woman simply had nothing to worry about. If only she knew....... Meanwhile, Kourtney rolled her eyes at him, a small gesture of defiance, but she said nothing.He still didnât understand. He still didnât get it.And she gue
That fear!It was that fear that somehow protected her like a shield, making them comply with whatever Sebastian commanded, even if it meant accepting her as his wife.They hated her presence here but could do little to nothing about it.Great!Just great!As they moved deeper into the grand living room, ornate chandeliers hung from the ceilings, casting a warm glow that seemed almost mocking in contrast to the chilly reception she was currently receiving.Apart from Grandpa Woods, other family members began to step forward to greet her. But their attempts felt empty and void, mere formalities arranged with forced smiles, making her feel small and insignificant.âWelcome to the family, Young Lady,â a middle-aged woman with perfectly styled blonde hair said. âWeâve heard so much about you.â The words dripped with sarcasm, and Kourtney could see the flicker of contempt behind her bright blue eyes.Oh!They knew!It was clear they already knew her entire history.Her identity and recent
Meanwhile, Kourtney couldn't help but notice the appearance of more wrinkles on Aunt Deniseâs face. It seemed to have more lines than she rememberedâŠ.like she had aged over 10 years in the past week.Oh, how Denise must hate how glamorous she looked tonight. The thought brought an inward smirk; she felt like a phoenix rising from the ashes, while Denise had probably never moved past her own miseries.And she was shameless enough to question her presence here.It was almost laughable how her own family had no idea she was the mastermind behind this event.Her mind whirled as she wondered what their reaction would be if they found out she was the head planner of this very event.Would her dad feel ashamed for the way he'd treated her?Would he finally recognize that she had in fact built a name for herselfâone that was not tied to their family?Would her parents be regretful?Would they regret dismissing her career while supporting Kathlynâs?Speaking of her sister, Kourtney noticed she
The Silverstone gala was trending at no1 worldwide. It was the biggest event of the year and it wasn't a surprise that the entire world wanted to know what happened by the second.Numerous livestream videos were all being viewed by millions of people. Top TV stations were also live and covering the event. The red carpet was currently filled with thousands of paparazzi who couldn't wait to get the best clear shots of the arriving guests.Kourtney made her way around, ensuring everything remained perfect. The decor was stunning, the food was exquisite, the live music sounded breathtaking, and the few guests who had already arrived were enjoying themselves.Her event was unfolding beautifully.Just as she dreamed it would.For nowâŠ..The air was electric with excitement and the occasional click of cameras as paparazzi scrambled for the best shots. Luxurious gowns and sharp suits adorned the guests as they posed for pictures on the red carpet.It was all a stunning display of wealth and e
When Kourtney finally arrived at the venue of the event, it was already noon. The Silverstone Gala would be starting in less than six hours, as the red carpet unveiling was set for 6 PM.She was so damn late!As she got out of the car, she could feel her head being served on a food platter, especially since she was the head planner.Rushing through the entrance, her heart raced in her chest. âKourt, are you insane? Where the hell have you been?â Irina was the first to spot her. Her tone was filled with disbelief and urgency.âI...Iâm sorry. IâŠI lost track of time!â Kourtney stammered, trying to catch her breath.âLost track of time? On your biggest day ever?!â Irinaâs voice rose, and Kourtney winced.She knew Irina didnât mean to be harsh, but the pressure was boiling over.A pit of anxiety settled in her stomach.Inside her head, she could hear herself cursing Sebastian with the most aggressive curse words she knew. If it hadnât been for the man, she wouldnât be in this mess, scrambl
The next morning, the insistent buzz of the alarm jolted Kourtney awake. It was 6 am, and the sound felt like a personal attack.She groaned, reaching out to hit the snooze button, but then she remembered.The Silverstone Gala! She had to be there early to oversee the final preparations. Everything depended on her. She needed to be on time.After a night like the one they had just had, she wanted nothing more than to stay in bed, but duty called. The thought of the gala gave her a fresh surge of energy.With a sigh, she sat up, ready to start the day. She knew she'd be exhausted as usual after a long night of lovemaking, so she had set the alarm to wake her.However, as she made a move to get out of bed, a strong arm snaked around her waist, stopping her in her tracks.âWhere are you going?â Sebastianâs voice was a low growl, still thick with sleep.âUhh⊠I need to go to the venueâŠâ She paused, trying to formulate the sentence.âThe Silverstone gala, it's today!â she finished.Sebast
Kourtney’s cheeks burned hot as realization dawned upon her. She knew him so well already. It wasn't hard to connect the dots.His words werea subtle reminder that what he really desired right now had nothing to do with dinner; it was her.This man!He was always in the mood.Oh, how he could twist her inside out with just one teasing phrase!“I—I’ll go take a shower!” she stammered.It was amusing how easily he could unbalance her. It didn’t take much for Sebastian to evoke these feelings in her. She didn’t even turn to look back as she hurried toward the stairs with a red face.Sebastian chuckled softly, watching with amusement as Kourtney ran up the stairs like a scared little kitten. She was always adorable when flustered,but it only fueled his craving.It made him want her even more!And right now, the more pressing concern for him was the growing hardness of his
âI know. Right? But I have learned that you need to defend yourself if you want to survive in this wicked world.ââYouâre lucky you have your husband to teach you,â Lilian said with a small smile. It was obvious Kourtney changed only after marrying Sebastian. She had to give the man his credit.âYes, I am. He always says that I have to stand up for myself. Thatâs what I did.ââI love the two of you! I'm glad you have him to teach you. Finally, youâre no longer the pushover Kourtney I used to know. And I canât believe heâs so generous giving you a card like that! Thatâs fuucking insane! Heâs so Daddddyyy.ââYes! Heâs the best,â Kourtney blushed, daydreaming about the man.âWhat should I cook for him when I get home?â She pondered to herself.Or perhaps she could give him a neck and shoulder massage!Or maybe.......Suddenly, the waiter brought their ice cream. Kourtney snapped out of her thoughts and got the vanilla while Lilian got the strawberry. They dug in and didnât speak for a w
Scarlet took a deep breath and straightened her spine, knowing she was losing this battle but unwilling to surrender gracefully.âI dare you to tell me who you are and where you got that card!âKourtney smiled, the victory sweet on her lips as she glanced around the store; everyone looked at her with so much surprise, admiration, and newfound respect, which gave her so much confidence.Turned out Sebastian knew what he was doing when he gave her this black card that day!It commanded so much authority.Today, she might have walked in as a humble shopper, but she would leave wearing a crown, and that was a win in her book.âI donât think I have to answer you. It is none of your business.â She turned her head, dismissing Scarlet with a wave of her hand.Scarletâs face boiled with rage. âYou have no idea who youâre dealing with.âRight now, she was trembling at the edge of sanity.Kourtney remained unyielding, snapping her fingers as she said mockingly. âOh, please. Are you that desperat
âShe is theââKourtney hastily placed a hand over Lilianâs big mouth, desperate to prevent the truth from emerging.âDonât, Lil,â she pleaded, her eyes wide.Scarlet watched their little display with irritation.Holding onto her self-importance, she said mockingly. âYeah! I thought as much! Sheâs a nobody. Take it off!âThe condescension dripped from her words.Kourtney felt annoyance ripple through her, but she remained composed. She was the Woods family's young mistress. She was not going to let this woman intimidate her.Deep down, she recognized Scarlet's magnificent beauty; it was undeniable.But beauty without grace?That was something Kourtney could hardly respect. She bit her lip, trying to contain herself, as her mind raced with thoughts of how she could salvage the situation without revealing her connection to Sebastian here like this.Feeling the tension rising, Kourtney decided it was time to play her hand. âSince she wants to make this into an auction, letâs see! I would
The other shoppers began to circle around them like vultures, curious about the unfolding drama. Whispers fluttered through the air like restless butterflies. Kourtney wasnât one to back down easily as well, especially not when she was already feeling so confident in her new dress. âWith all due respect, Maâam. Iâm already paying for this dress!â she said flatly, not wanting to take part in any BS.The manager, a well-dressed middle-aged lady with a no-nonsense attitude who appeared from behind the counter, nodded in support. âThat dress has already been chosen by this customer so I suggest you find something else that suits your unique taste.âJust like in typical fashion houses, there was only one of such dress available. It was custom-made for just one customer!There wasnât even a replica of it that could be given to another person. And by the way, she can't just waltz in here and demand for something that was already picked by another lady who intended to make the purchase.Who