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
âWe can leave now if you want,â Sebastian said as he took her reddened hand, massaging it softly.She didn't have to put up with this nonsense.Kourtney looked up at him, her heart swelling with gratitude.âNo, I donât want to. I can handle them,â she replied, determination flooding her veins.You can call her so many things. But a âquitterâ isn't one of them.âVery well then. They will either accept you or face my wrath. I assure you this,â Sebastian spoke with ruthless precision as he pulled her closer.As a child, he had watched helplessly as his late mother was bullied continuously by members of the Woods family.Because of her poor background, they had never liked her.Back then, he couldn't do anything about it except clench his fists in frustration. However, one day, he vowed never to feel powerless like that ever againâa promise that fueled his fierce determination to succeed and made him become the man he is today.And now, he couldn't help his protectiveness over Kourtney a
The next day came quicker than expected for Kourtney. It was Saturday afternoon, and the Woods ladies always hosted a tea party. It was like a compulsory family-friendly tradition, they said.âWho still holds tea parties in the 21st century?â she muttered to herself, shaking her head in disbelief.The Woods family, apparently.Over here, everything felt ceremonious with a touch of rigid formality.Just the thought of it made her want to laugh and cry, at the same time.The ladies were dressed in elegant gowns, their hats adorned with flowers while holding dainty china teacups and sitting beneath a grand oak tree at the center of the Woods estate garden. Kourtney felt like she had stepped into a time capsule that took her to the past.Oh lord!Itâs giving the 19th century.It was the Victorian era once again!What would they have next?A masquerade ball?She chuckled lightly as she placed her own flowery hat on her head, feeling as though she was part of some kind of regency novel.Li
Kourtney glanced around the room, eyeing the other women. They were all looking at her with suspicion as if she were a suspect in a crime she didnât commit. Indeed, she was the target.âOh wow! This has never happened in our history before.â âWho could be the thief?ââWe've never encountered such cases at any of our gatherings in the past!âKourtney sneered on hearing their annoying remarks.It was painfully obvious they were trying to make it look like the thief was someone new in their circle. It all seemed like a slow-motion scene from a bad movie that made her bored, and she couldn't help but roll her eyes in disgust.Did they really think they could frame her like this?She didnât need a prophet to know she had been set up. The irritation bubbled within her. These women were more petty than she had ever imagined.âThat's true! Why donât we start by checking the purse of our beloved new young mistress?âBefore Kourtney could say, Jack, Sheila had moved swiftly, snatching her purs
Scarlet knew that getting a little revenge would at least make her feel so much better about herself tonight.While she stood, brainstorming ideas of what to do, the live performance ended.âGive it up for BTS!â the host announced as all seven members left the stage in high spirits.It was a spectacular ten-minute medley of their top hits across the span of their decade-long career. The crowd erupted into thunderous applause, still buzzing from the electrifying performance that had turned the evening into an unforgettable spectacle.The crowd of people that had gathered including Kourtney and Lilian, started going back to their various seats. Everyone was chatting so excitedly.âDid you see that choreography?â one woman exclaimed, her eyes shining with awe.âRight? I thought I was going to faint!â her friend replied, clutching her purse as if it were a lifebuoy.It was one hell of a show!The performance was finally over, and it was time to move on to another part of the program.âNow
His eyes drifted across the crowd, scanning for something familiar.Then he saw herâKourtney.It was effortless to spot her amid the crowd; her vibrant green dress had been so eye-catching all night.Of course, she was going to be there at the forefront enjoying this nonsense!In fact, it was like she was at the center of it all.Soon enough, he was capturing every move she made, unable to tear his eyes away as she danced with her friend. It was almost as if they had previously mastered the moves as they imitated the backup dancers on stage.Hilarious!But the more Kourtney glowed with undeniable joy, the more Sebastianâs irritation melted away, replaced by something warmer as he felt a strange tug in his chest.Just seeing his wife so happy lifted the weight off his shoulders, as if he were dancing along with her.And to his surprise, he found himself swaying slightly in rhythm to the music. Unconsciously, he began to nod his head, tapping his foot against the polished floor.Just wa
Lilian hated this.She didn't want Kourtney to wake up one day and realize you wasted years waiting for a man who only wanted you in the shadows.She wasnât just Kourtney anymore; she was Kourtney Woods, the wife of the most powerful man in Melbourne. And she needs to shine beside him.âLook, Kourt, I care about you, and it worries me. You have every right to be out there, sitting by his side and drawing the kind of respect that comes with being his wife. Youâre not just some side project; you deserve to shine, to be the most important person in his life.âKourtney bit her lip, filled with the combination of sorrow and a will to believe in Sebastian. âBut⊠But he introduced me to his family. Doesnât that mean anything?ââMaybe,â Lilian said, softening a bit. âBut you need to have a talk with him. Make him realize that hiding you isnât an option. Youâre not a secret; Girl, youâre his wife! And I swear to God, if you let this man keep treating you like some *hidden secret*, I will perso
When Kourtney received the text right after stepping out of the ladies' bathroom, she frowned.She had just had the most insane confrontation with his ex-girlfriend, who threatened to throw her out of her âownâ event. The situation had left her rattled, and right now, she wasnât in a good mood.Once again, she ignored the manâs message and tucked her phone into her purse.âTypical Sebastian,â she muttered under her breath, feeling that simmering frustration become something deeper.Why couldnât he understand that this wasnât just a simple event for her?She was nervous as hell, wishing everything would go smoothly.Her whole career was at stake here!Nothing must go wrong, and she was supposed to make sure of it.However, the fact that she was living a double life right here made things so difficult.First, she was bullied by Sheila and her friends, now, she had run into Scarlet. Her emotions were all over the place now, and she could barely focus.Just as she grappled with her feelin
âI should just rip this off of you! You donât deserve it! Who the hell do you think you are?â Scarlet spat, her demeanor feral, like a wild animal cornered and desperate.âJust a woman who refuses to blend into the background while you prance around like you're the queen of the world.âShocked gasps echoed through the room. The vibe in the restroom had shifted in Kourtneyâs favor.A handful of other women had already gathered around the two like bees. Some had their phones secretly pulled out and recorded the altercation as it unfolded.A supposed world-famous model and idol was behaving wildly and harassing a lady over a dressâit was surely going to make good headlines for the press.Scarlet barely even noticed they were being taped, too consumed by the red haze of jealousy and rage that clouded her judgment. âLook at you, acting like you own this place!â she shouted, her face flushed with indignation.Kourtney, standing her ground, firmly replied, âI am owning it!âScarlet noticed t
Scarlet Thompson glided towards the lavish ladies' restroom with a heavy heart.She felt dejected, each step heavier than the last.She was more than just a blonde bombshell; she was the queen of this realm. But at this moment, she felt stripped of her crown.Despite being known for turning heads wherever she went, tonight, she felt utterly invisibleHer heart sank as she recalled how, for the whole evening, Sebastian hadnât even bothered to look her way.The man didnât pay attention to anyone but himselfâŠ.He sat at his solo table, effortlessly charming, with the air of a king who couldnât be bothered to glance at her for a second while she remained an invisible shadow just a few meters away at her familyâs table.Absolutely devastating!The sting in her chest twisted harder each time she glanced his way.It pained her so much that the man didnât seem to give a fuck about her. It hurt her ego so much.How could he not even acknowledge her?âJust breathe,â she murmured, leaning her we
âHonestly, Sheila? I just thought Iâd wear something nice for the gala. Not everyone needs approval to feel good about themselves,â she shot back, attempting to keep her voice steady.âPlease! Whoâs going to notice you? He didn't even bother to acknowledge your existence. Youâd think heâd at least do something with all that effort you put into your look,â Sheila leaned in to mock into Kourtney's ears, trying not to raise more suspicion from her friends.Kourtneyâs heart sank deeper at Sheila's words, the sting of the truth cutting through the âunbothered girlâ facade she tried so hard to project. Why was she subjected to this? Incensed, she retorted, âYouâre just bitter because you canât stand that Iâm comfortable in my own skin. I'm not insecure about my looks like others!â Sheilaâs expression darkened, the jealousy boiling into new heights. While she and her friends walked around in overpriced outfits that felt too much, Kourtney had simply shone without even trying. That though
The thought of Sebastianâs absence stung more than it should, and Kourtney couldnât shake the apparent truth. Her husband was the elusive ghost of the evening.Although everyone expected him to materialize at some point.âŠâŠThe event proper began and the evening was shaping up smoothly. Just then, the crowd erupted into a frenzy. Kourtney looked around to see what the new commotion was all about.And there he wasâŠ..Sebastian, her husband, emerged, dressed impeccably in his dark suit, his presence magnetic. Instantly, the room gravitated towards him.This was a normal occurrence thoughâHe always commanded attention and respect like it was a piece of cake.He was a man who needed no introductions by the hosts, his name was already on the lips of everyone as they gaped at his arriving figure.Kourtney's heart raced at the sight of him.Sebastian Woodsâinfuriating yet impossibly charming.Tall and powerful!The crowd parted for him like the Red Sea, and he moved without a hint of hesitanc
The entire Woods household was present down to their head servant, Madame Collins.âThese people were indeed weird,â Kourtney thought.It was like they turned the red carpet into their regular house events and weird tea parties.She swallowed hard, reminding herself that hiding here wouldn't solve anything. They were still going to see her anyway.Yet, even as the Woods family paraded down the red carpet, she found herself paralyzed with indecision.These were the same people she had previously spent the weekend in the mansion but she dared not to join them over there on the red carpet.She should be out there with themâher husbandâs family and her chance to step into this world. But she felt like a girl playing dress-up in a world that was far too big for her.To sum it all up, her husband wasn't even with them.Sebastian!He still wasnât here yet!However it wasn't surprising to anyone because Sebastian rarely attended the red carpet with his family at any big events. He was always