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"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
Woods Corporations.The entire boardroom was packed with higher-ups, executives, and top staffs of the Woods Corporation, all anxiously waiting for their big boss to arrive. It had been a few days since he was last seen in the office, and everyone was curious about his absence, especially since he never missed work.Speculations and gossip filled the room, with some suggesting that he must be enjoying his new married life and couldn't bear to be apart from his wife."He must be on an extended honeymoon," whispered one executive to another, causing a few chuckles to ripple through the room.âI honestly still can't imagine or picture âTHE President Woodsâ in a romantic setting with anyone. It feels surreal.ââI wonder what kind of lover he'd be amidst his cold personality,â Monica Steely, the leader of the HR Department, says out loud. She'd always had a massive crush on the CEO, much like every other female at the company.âWhat if⊠just what if he turns out to be a softie who simps fo
Skyline Events âI'm outside your workplace parking lot.â Kourtney heard the manâs arrogant tone across the phone line. âUh? Wâwhy are you even here? What reason?â âDonât ask me silly ass questions. Do I need a reason to visit my wife?â âBut youââ âCome down here. Right now!â Sebastian commanded before ending the call abruptly. Kourtney heard the beeping sound and stared at the blank screen of her phone in anger. âThis man! What is he doing here? Isn't he supposed to be at the hospital?â Her mind was in a mess right now. Sheâd already made plans to visit Sebastian at the hospital this evening, but now he came looking for her instead, at her workplace where others might see him. She didn't know what to think as she shook her head nervously.As she walked out of her cubicle, she couldn't help but notice the curious gazes of her colleagues, their whispers filling the air. The last thing she wanted was for her personal life to become a spectacle in the office, but too late
The shift in conversation was immediate. The women around the table erupted into excited chatter.âOh, I found the most stunning dress at Marissaâs Boutique!â Sheilaâs sister, Sophie, exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. âItâs this deep emerald green, and I think it will look fabulous with my new earrings.âEmerald? How clichĂ©!â Another one scoffed. âIâm going with a daring crimson red. Itâs bold, just like me.â Meanwhile, Kourtney tried to maintain her composure, but was finding it difficult.Sebastian, ever the observant husband, noticed the sudden change in her mood.He leaned closer to her. âWhatâs wrong?âKourtney took a deep breath, feeling a rush of nerves as she spoke. âI...Iâm actually the one in charge of planning that event.âSebastianâs mood instantly lit up with pride radiating from him. âOh yeah! You did mention it before!âHe couldnât contain his excitement and announced it loudly across the table, âEveryone, my wife is the main event planner for the Silverstone Gala! She wo
Edwin raised his hands in mock surrender.âWoah! I bet no one so that coming,â he was amazed.At first, he had been super worried for Kourtney but, seemed like he wouldnât need to be.She could certainly take care of herself.He loved that she was a fighter who couldnât be bullied by those lots.He liked his new sister-in-law a lot!âMind doing us the Honour of an introduction?ââI wonât.ââCome on, donât be such a buzzkill. Iâm really eager to meet her,â Edwin stressed.The corners of Sebastianâs mouth betrayed a smile as he still stood up anyway.He had pretended to be nonchalant to Edwinâs request, but deep down, he was silently glad he could finally introduce Kourtney to the one person he rolled with the most among the Woods clan.As they walked into the kitchen, the air was filled with the delicious aroma of spices. Kourtney was in her element, wearing an apron, surrounded by some female members of the family and a few staff, all busily preparing dinner. She was slicing vegetable
Kourtney stood, perplexed. âDonât you want to know what happened?â âI donât care what happened. But I know you are right to slap whoever,â Sebastian chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners.He grinned like he just heard the best news all year round.Her eyes met his, and for a moment, they just stared at each other.Before she could gather her thoughts to speak, the ladies who had been at the tea party walked up to them, their faces pinched with disapproval. "Sebastian, you won't believe what your wife just did," one of the older ladies said with malice.Sebastian turned his piercing gaze toward them. His expression was cold and menacing, with eyes flashing with warning. "I think I can guess. But let me make one thing clear: my wife is off-limits. Anyone who dares to cross her will have to answer to me."âButâbut she slapped my daughter, Sheila!â Sheilaâs mother protested, her voice trembling.âI don't care. What I care about is that my wife was disrespected, and thus, she reacte
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
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
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
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
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
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