âKOURTNEY ERIN ALLEN!!! Stop fucking with me!ââYou heard me, Lil. I'm really married to fucking Sebastian Woods!â Kourtneyâs expression was dead-pan serious. It was clear as day she wasn't joking, and Lilian could see that in her eyes. But the news was just too overwhelming. âWhaaaat??â Lilian's jaw practically hit the floor. A-Are you fucking kidding me?ââI wish I were kidding you, Lil, but I'm not. I'm dead serious!â Kourtney reaffirmed. Lilian's eyes widened even further. She was flabbergasted and could not believe her ears. "Sebastian Woods? THE Sebastian Woods? The Almighty President of Woods Corp? The Stone-cold man who rules the Melbourne Business Industry? Forbes #7 Richest CEO under 30? The same godlike Billionaire who's known for his reclusive nature and his hatred for women?" Lilian's asked in one breath. Her voice was filled with disbelief.She thought Kourtney was pulling her legs with that revelation. "Kourt, come on, this has got to be a joke. Right? You're joking
As she slipped into the dress, Kourtney felt like a vision of pure radiance, ready to command the attention of any room she entered. The white dress was truly a work of art, making her look like a timeless beauty. It suited her so well as if it was made just for her, giving the impression of walking on a cloud.Kourtney smiled happily. Lilian was indeed the best fashion guru. As she stepped out of the changing room, Lilian's eyes widened, and she started screaming as expected."Oh my God! Yes, it's perfect! You look amazing. It's classy and has just the right amount of allure, making you look like a goddess. Your husband won't be able to take his eyes off you."Lilian couldn't contain her excitement as the dress was such a masterpiece of elegance and grace on Kourtney. The sweetheart neckline added a touch of romance, while the fitted waist accentuated her slender figure.The attention of all the other women in the store was fixed on Kourtney immediately after she stepped out. It was
Sebastian Woods, the man of the moment, stepped out of his chauffeured black Rolls Royce surrounded by his numerous subordinates and bodyguards. The sun was shining brightly, casting a golden glow on the city's iconic landmarks. As he made his way towards the entrance of Forbesâ Sydney headquarters, the anticipation in the air was so intense. He was about to grace the prestigious stage for an interview that would undoubtedly solidify his status as a visionary entrepreneur and industry titan. Dressed in a sleek Prada suit, Sebastian exuded confidence and sophistication. The perfectly tailored suit accentuated his athletic physique, leaving onlookers in awe of his Adonis-like appearance. His charming good looks, combined with his undeniable charisma, made him a magnet for attention wherever he went. The air was thick with his dominating presence as he walked into the gigantic 80-story building, and whispers of his name echoed through the corridors. A sea of fans had gathered, eagerly
Sebastian sighed, running a hand through his thick black hair. The woman always made him talk too much, a lot more than he used to.âNot necessarily living in fear, but itâs good to take precautions like this.ââB-But... I donât want to feel like Iâm being watched all the time,â Kourtney protested, her voice quavering as she held the phone tightly to her ears.âThatâs why I told my people to make it as unobtrusive as possible. Theyâd only observe you from the sidelines and step in only when youâre in need of help or in danger,â Sebastian assured her, his voice softening to dimensions he never even knew existed.His brow furrowed with concern as he understood Kourtneyâs fears. There was also the fact that he wanted his people to report every important detail of her everyday life to him, hence why he asked them to follow and guide her. But he did not want her to find out about that part, or the woman would label him a psychopath.He wanted to protect her and keep an eye on her as well,
As the evening approached, the sun began its descent, casting a golden glow over the Allen family's opulent villa. The atmosphere inside crackled with electric energy as it came alive. The grand and spacious living room, adorned with lavish furniture, was full of people. Among them stood the formidable figure of Florence Allen, Kourtneyâs grandmother and the Matriarch of the family whose presence commanded respect and obedience. Ever since the death of old master Robert Allen 9 years ago, Florence had been in charge of the family, ruling with an iron fist. She had set strict rules and expectations for everyone, ensuring they maintained the family's reputation and legacy. Her eldest Son, Luke, who happens to be Kourtneyâs dad, was her favorite child, yet she didn't hesitate to discipline him when needed. Tonight, every single member of the Allen family, totaling about forty, was currently present for the meeting. Even the servants were here too, because Florence believed they were a
As she stepped into the spotlight, Kourtney radiated an aura of confidence that commanded attention. Her choice of attire, a simple black crop top, and baggy sky-blue jeans, may have been casual, but her natural beauty and inner radiance shone through effortlessly. She was the epitome of timeless elegance, the kind of beauty who looked stunning in anything she wore.Her long, brown, cascading hair framed her face, accentuating her striking features. Her eyes, a mesmerizing shade of emerald green, sparkled with intelligence and curiosity. Kourtney's flawless complexion also seemed to glow naturally, as if she possessed an inner light that illuminated her from within. Her slender figure exuded grace and poise, a testament to her disciplined lifestyle and commitment to self-care.All eyes were fixed on her, eager to hear the words that had brought them all together on this momentous evening while Kathlyn bit her lips painfully. She was doing everything she possibly could to prevent her
âSebastian Woods????â the entire room seemed to scream in unison.âK-Kourtney, are you⊠what are you saying? What are you saying?â Grandma Florence stuttered in astonishment. The Old Womanâs face and whole countenance have turned pale as if she might catch a stroke any moment from now. Kourtney wondered if her precious granny would be able to handle such heavy news without passing out eventually. But she also knew that she had to proceed with the disclosure since Sebastian surely wouldn't be giving her any more time to spare. She sighed, her mind racing back to the whirlwind events that led to her marriage. âUhmm. Yes, Grandma. My husband really is that person - the famous CEO, Sebastian Woods.âGrandma Florence's funny reaction was priceless. Her face changed from shock to amazement and then to anger in a matter of seconds. Her eyes widened, her mouth dropped open, and her wrinkled hands trembled as she tried to process the shocking news that her granddaughter was spilling. It was
Sebastian had on a stony expression as he stared down at the bustling city from the highest floor of the Forbes skyscraper. Up close, he looked frightening, and his dark aura was dangerously unmatched. Due to some scheduling conflicts, his live interview has been delayed for over 3 hours, so right now, he was about to lose his last string of patience. But then... âSir, you have a call from Mrs Woods,â Jamieâs announcement, as if it had magic properties, brought him back to a relaxed state of mind. âMy Wife?â âYes, Sire. Itâs Mrs Woods calling.â Sebastian quickly grabbed the phone as if his life depended on it. The coldness in his eyes disappeared in a flash. âHello?â came Kourtneyâs gloomy voice. âWhatâs wrong?â Sebastian asked, concern lacing his words. âMr Woods, I⊠I told my family about it. And guess what? Things didn't go well as planned. I feel terrible!â Kourtney sniffed, her words coming out in a babyish manner as if she wanted to be petted and comforted by her husba
Ever since he had heard about his First Loveâs arrival yesterday, Kourtney had barely seen or spent time with her husband. For the first time since she moved in with him, Sebastian had been absent in their bed when she got up.And even in her deep slumber, she knew she didnât feel his warm embrace or presence last night. She was more than certain he hadnât spent the night here.She could feel it in her bones!Just as she was about to lose herself in her spiraling thoughts, she opened the bedroom door and stepped out, only to be met by the sight of two of Sebastianâs bodyguards waiting just outside.âGood morning, Mrs. Woods,â one of them greeted with a polite nod.âUhmm⊠where is he?â The question slipped from her lips before she could stop it.âMr. Woods had something to do at the company, so he left first,â the other bodyguard replied, his expression unreadable.Kourtney felt her heart drop. âHe left me here again to go to the company?â she thought as anger bubbled inside her.She w
Meanwhile, as Sebastian drove away, his mind raced.How could she just show up like that?He felt sick from the memories the woman stirred within him. The nights spent dreaming of what could have been, the love that had once filled his heart, now twisted into something dark and painful.God! She had turned him into a shadow of himself.Why had she returned?Was she here to stir up trouble?Sebastian was a clever man, quick to understand the intentions of others. She has to be here to cause trouble. Nothing more, nothing less.He gripped the steering wheel tightly as he navigated through the congested streets of Melbourne. The evening traffic crawled at a snail's pace, much worse than usual.Soon enough, he got to know there was a recent ghastly accident. A multi-car pileup around the scene had brought the main road to a standstill.Because of this, he was stuck in the traffic jam for hours with a throbbing headache pulsating at his temples.As Sebastian sat there, trapped in his sleek
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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