With a resigned sigh, Kourtney picked up the hospital menu. "So what would you like to eat, Your Highness?"âI don't eat hospital food. My Assistant will bring in the meal my personal Chef made.âKourtney eyed him annoyingly. The man had a thing for always showing off, never missing an opportunity to flaunt his wealth and privileged lifestyle. His arrogant manners kind of made her want to punch him across his devilishly handsome face. "Must be nice,â she muttered under her breath."Well, when you're used to a certain standard, settling for less just isn't an option," Sebastian smirked, seemingly unfazed by her remark while Kourtney rolled her eyes.A few minutes later, Jamie rolled in a trolley containing dishes that would make even the most perceptive food critic's mouth water. Kourtney couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the spectacle. Each dish looked like it had been carefully crafted to nourish and delight the senses. The centerpiece was a rich, velvety soup in an ornate bowl
Kourtney felt her cheeks flush deeper as she realized the implications of their current position. She was seated on his lap with his arms encircling her waist, and the intensity of his gaze was undeniable. She immediately struggled to get off him, but the man just wouldn't budge. He held her tightly against him. âMr Woods, I beg you to let me go now.â âWhy the rush? We're a married couple, after all. What's wrong about sitting on me?â he rasped. Sebastian's tone was defensive, and he continued to hold her with an iron grip in a possessive manner. Even his usually composed expression was replaced by a flicker of something more primal. There was a burning heat evident in his eyes. Kourtney, on the other hand, was flustered and conflicted, her face a deep shade of crimson red. She wriggled in his embrace, desperately trying to free herself. âThis man! How much more petty can you get!â she thought. Meanwhile, Sebastian's body, against his better judgment, responded to the close proxi
"Nothing to be overly concerned about Mrs. Woods, just some series of physical breakdowns caused by extreme fatigue. Apparently, your husband is a workaholic," Ryan lied diplomatically.Kourtney's eyes narrowed in a mixture of relief and annoyance. "Fatigue? That's it?ââYes, he just needs some rest and a healthier work-life balance. It's not uncommon for high achievers to push themselves too hard. Bastian needs to learn when to take a break."Kourtney sneered. âOH⊠I see. It was nothing serious, and your friend here made me pamper and feed him like he was some dying old Grandpa! All this drama for fatigue?â Sebastian, unapologetic, shot back, "Well, isn't it nice to know you care so much?"Kourtney, not one to let Sebastian have the last word, retorted, "Oh, you'll be lucky if I even lift a finger again. You can feed yourself!âSebastian raised an eyebrow, a challenge in his eyes. "Is that so?âHe shot her a sour look while Ryan couldn't help but chuckle as he watched the bickering
Kourtney tightened her grip on the bag of fruits as she recognized the couple â Brandon, her ex-fiancĂ©, and her sister Kathlyn, the same people who had betrayed and cheated on her.They seemed so happy together, and a bitter taste filled her mouth as she recalled the pain they had caused her. Her stomach churned, and she felt a headache, witnessing the life that was stolen from her. The universe seemed to conspire against her today.Frozen in her steps, Kourtney debated whether to turn around and find an alternate route, but then, they were standing on the road leading back to Sebastian's room, blocking any escape.Brandon, with his keen eyes, spotted her first. âKourtney???â he called out.He had a somewhat surprised expression on his face as if he hadn't expected to run into her here.Kathlyn, on the other hand, wore a triumphant smirk, her eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief."Oh, look who's here! Our dear Kourtney."âOh, Hi,â Kourtney sneered with disgust evident on her face. B
âIâm just doing charity from the bottom of my good heart.â Sebastian smirked. âCharity or not, It's good to know that you care for your husband.â âMr Woods, are you gonna open your mouth or not?â Kourtney asked impatiently, âI might change my mind, you know.â Meanwhile, on the sidelines, Jamie cleared his throat. âUhmm... Madame, Sir... usually donât eat fruits. I meanâŠâ Sebastian shot him a deadly glare, silencing him immediately. Kourtney chuckled. âLMAO! Who doesn't like fruits? My God⊠you're such a weirdo, Mr Woods.â âI like it now,â Sebastian replied icily. âOh... I see! Open your mouth then,â she dangled the watermelon slice closer to his lips. Sebastian opened his mouth agape, his eyes fixed on Kourtney. His lips slightly brushed against her fingers now as he accepted the slice, unlike the time she fed him with a spoon. And just like that, Kourtney felt her heart thumping and her cheeks heating up. His lips coming in contact with her fingers made her feel some type
Four hours later, the room's background light had shifted from the warm glow of late afternoon to the dark shades of late night. Sebastian, ever the attentive partner, had dimmed the hospital room overhead lights to create a more soothing atmosphere so Kourtney could enjoy her sleep.Even though he needed more lighting to be able to work, he willingly turned down the lights so she could sleep better. He also couldnât stop himself from stealing glances at her every now and then.Even with tons of work documents in his hands, he watched her from time to time as she reclined softly against the pillows like a cute little toddler. And the tenderness in his eyes also spoke volumes. She looked so cute! Too cute! âMy wife is super adorable!â he murmured.With her looking like this, Sebastian couldnât possibly concentrate on his paperwork.He could hardly help himself anymore as he reached out to touch her. He gently brushed his fingers against her nose, cheeks, and lips. It wasn't weird or a
"I beg your pardon, Mr Woods. Did you forget our agreement? You promised to give me a one-week grace period before moving in together. And we still have three days left. Did you forget?â Kourtney sneered.She felt she still needed more time to adjust to this whole idea. She hadn't even had the courage to tell anyone about it yet; not even her best friend, Lilian Powell.Meanwhile, Sebastian's arrogant demeanor faltered for a moment. He hadn't anticipated her reminding him of their agreement, which he had reluctantly put in place.His eyebrows furrowed, and there was a conflict visible in his eyes. He hated to admit it, but Kourtney had a point. They did have an agreement, and he couldn't disregard it completely."Oh, right. I did say that, didn't I? "Yes, you did. So, stick to our agreement!âAfter a tense silence, he finally relented. "Fine, you win this round. You can go home, but I don't like it."Kourtney exhaled, feeling a sense of victory. "Gee, thanks.âSebastian, still feelin
Sebastian was the actual owner of the hospital and could do whatever he wanted. However, after a moment's consideration, he decided to let it go, even with the extreme power he held.With a shake of his head, he turned away, dismissing the idea of forcing her back in. He had missed three full workdays, and there were piles of paperwork awaiting his attention. The workload was a lot!Yet, as he delved into the sea of documents, thoughts of Kourtney lingered in his mind. Sebastian couldn't shake the distraction she had become. He could hardly concentrate while she was sleeping beside him, and he still couldn't even now that she was gone.Just the simple thoughts of her brief peck on his cheeks left him in a state of disarray. Her teasing kiss and the challenge in her eyes had left a lasting impression on him."Damn, what's wrong with me?" he muttered, frustrated by the unexpected intrusion of these thoughts.Her presence, or the memory of it, lingered in his mind. He shook his head, att
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
As planned, the two friends headed out to a trendy district in Melbourne filled with the most classy high-end boutiques.âAre you ready for this?â Lilian asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement as they entered a mildly populated Dior department store.âMore than ever!â Kourtney replied, clutching the treasured black card that Sebastian had given her like a lifeline.It was the first time she would take the initiative to use the extravagant 300-million-dollar black card from her billionaire husband for shopping expenses.She remembered when he had given it to her after their first night together at Serenity Villa. She recalled how the man had behaved like such an insane amount of money was no big deal.He nonchalantly handed it over, claiming it was just a tool for her to use as she pleased. âGo on, spoil yourself,â he had said with a grin, totally unfazed by the fact that it was worth three hundred million fucking dollars.He was such a Big Casanova spender!âOkay, letâs find someth
Meanwhile, across town, Sebastian was sitting in another urgent board meeting at Woods Corporation to plan the launch of their new company branch in the UK. While everyone present was droning on about numbers and projections, his mind was elsewhere. Thatâs when his phone beeped, echoing a sound that cut through the tension and serious atmosphere in the boardroom. Sebastian hurriedly picked up his phone from the table to view the text. He hadn't expected a reply from Kourtney to come so fast.All eyes turned to him, surprised. The big boss himself was now smiling like a kid on Christmas morning.They all exchanged baffled looks. âSince when does he smile like that during these boring meetings?âTheir usually stoic and focused boss who had previously forbidden everyone, including himself, from using their phones during meetings, had his fingers dancing across the screen like an obsessed gamer who'd just received the latest gaming console.Since when did he text so much?These past fe
Kourtney's eyes dropped to the floor as she took in the criticism.There goes her confidence once more!She had spent hours agonizing over the color scheme, trying to find the perfect balance between elegance and drama. But now, it seemed like everyone had an opinion."I like the color scheme," Irina, her work Bestie, chimed in, her voice firm. "It's bold and eye-catching. Trust me, it'll make the event stand out."Kourtney smiled, grateful for Irina's support. She knew that she couldn't let the negativity get to her. Not now, when the event was just one day away.But her female colleagues just didn't know when to stop."Yeah, right! I bet she thinks she's so much better than us just because she got this project," one of them said, arousing a fresh wave of chattering.âShe better not mess this up! But it's already looking like she would. The stage is too damn high!â They kept complaining about every single thing."I heard the higher-ups are already getting cold feet about this event,"
Kourtney gasped.Her body quickly responded to the sight of him.Would she ever stop being stunned every time she sees it?The sheer size of him always took her breath away!âMmm, like what you see?â Sebastian teased, the corner of his mouth lifting in a wicked grin.Kourtney blushed, and he inched closer, the promise of what was to come looming over her like a storm.First, he captured her lips with his in a fierce, demanding kiss that left no room for argument. She immediately allowed herself to drown in the sweetness of his desire, in the raw passion that radiated off him.His lips found her neck, trailing kisses along her jawline, making her gasp at the sensations that raced through her.He pressed her against the polished surface of the desk, and with a flick of his wrist, Sebastian undid the buttons of her pajamas, pushing it open to reveal her lacy bra beneath. She shuddered as the cool air danced over her bare skin.His lust-filled gaze roamed over her body like he'd never see
âWhatâs wrong? Did I offend you?â Kourtney asked, finding him surrounded by books and papersâhis own fortress of solitude.He had been different since he got home. Itâs like she didn't even know him right now.Sebastian gritted his teeth, and his eyes darkened with a possessive rage. âIâve had a long day, Kourtney, but something needs to be addressed.âHe stood up, approaching her, and she felt her blood run cold. Time slowed as her heart beat harder in her chest, waiting for him to say whatever needed to be addressed.She blinked blankly at him, hoping it wasn't what she was thinkingâŠ.âNext time,â he continued with a low and dangerous edge to his voice, âwhen that blonde-haired colleague of yours comes at youâignore him. I donât want my wife to be seen hugging a guy in public.âKourtneyâs eyes widened in disbelief.How did he even find out?How could he know that she shared a small, innocent hug with Liam that afternoon? Except he was stalking and prying on everything she did!The t