Back in her bedroom, Dana Woods and her daughters, Sheila and Sophie, had also seen the news about Scarlet. They became wrapped up in their own discussion.âLook at all these comments online,â Sophie said, happily scrolling through her phone. âPeople are going wild! âScarletâs back and itâs about time!ââThis is great news for us. Turns out that Kourtney wouldnât be staying long as the Woods's young mistress, after all,â Dana sneered with spite. âScarlet is an interesting girl. She is definitely back to claim her rightful place beside Sebastian.ââAre you sure about that, Mother?â Sheilaâs bitter voice echoed through the bedroom. âDo you think heâd leave Kourtney just like that? You canât deny sheâs a force of nature!ââOh, honey. Iâm one hundred percent sure he has never been able to get over Scarlet. He never remained the same after she left. And now, we just need to make her our ally. Kourtney doesnât even stand a chance!âDana was very certain of this.She had a sleepless night plo
âSo you had no idea she was coming?â Edwin pestered.âI donât!âSebastian, who had been sipping his glass of whiskey, answered in his usual stoic tone.But beneath his composed exterior was a man in complete disarray.The name Scarlet Thompson sent a jolt through him, memories flooding back from a time when he was young and infatuated. She was his first love, the one woman who had held his heart captive all those years ago.He felt a pang of somethingânostalgia, perhaps?Or was it something deeper?But why now?What could bring her back after all this time?***********Later that day, at the grand dining room of the Woods estate, the smell of fresh savory dishes filled the air as the family gathered for their traditional Sunday afternoon brunch.Kourtney could feel the buzzing tension around the table.The familyâs whispers were like daggers.She could hear tiny bits of their discussions.It was still all about the Scarlet Lady.She felt like she couldnât breathe properly.And Sebasti
Kourtneyâs steps were light as she approached the ornate double doors to Sebastianâs study on the uppermost floor of the Woods villa. He had left immediately after lunch, saying he had some important work to handle.She hissed, still a little hurt just thinking about it.It was Sunday, and she wondered what was so important that couldnât wait till a work day.And how long would it take for him to handle the sudden emergency?She needed a breather from all the drama unfolding after the news of Scarletâs arrival. Since her husband had left her all alone to her fate in the hands of his wicked aunts and other relatives who hated her guts, Kourtney knew it would be wise to just stay in her lane and not go back downstairs till when necessary.She pushed the doors open gently, not wanting to disturb the sanctity of his space. It was built and designed just like the one they had at Serenity Villa.Seems like the man took his bland and boring style so seriously. There was not even a single bri
âMaybe that's why he still refused to let go of their old memories,â Kourtney continued talking to herself.She knew these images would be etched in her mind for a long time, a constant reminder of the love that had existed long before she came into the picture. Tears threatening to spill gathered in her eyes as she squatted down to pick up the photos.But on second thought, she felt a surge of defiance. She decided not to pick them up. Somehow, she wanted Sebastian to know she saw them without having to confront him about it.Did she even have the guts to bring it up?How could she possibly question him about something so personal?The thought sent a shiver down her spine.What would she even say to him? âHey, Sebastian, I found a box of your ex-girlfriend's photos, and Iâm feeling a bit insecure about itâ? That would sound like the ramblings of a jealous, obsessive woman, and she was determined not to be that person.She didnât want to come off as the psychotic wife who couldn't ha
Micheal grinned on hearing her positive response. âIâm glad youâre so interested in hearing what I have to say.âKourtney was getting impatient now, âYeah, so what is it?âIn truth, she only wanted to get the conversation over with so he could leave her alone.The man smirked, reveling in the power he held over her. âTrust me. It's a perfect solution that we can both enjoy.âKourtney's instincts screamed at her to be cautious. The way Michael leaned in, his expression shifting to something more intense, made her stomach churn. She didnât want to hear whatever twisted proposal he had in mind, but a part of her was suddenly curious, almost desperate to know what could possibly come next.âWhat exactly do want?â she asked again, her voice tinged with a hint of annoyance as she silently wished he would suggest something that wouldnât make her hiss with contempt.âHmmm. So letâs be real here,â he started, his voice low and steady, almost hypnotic. âBastian is clearly not committed to you.
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
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
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
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