Like a queen living in her new castle, Kourtney reveled in the thrill of the Serenity Villa on her first day as the young mistress of the manor. The grandeur of the estate was overwhelming, with its sprawling gardens, luxurious furnishings, and breathtaking views. It was so fucking gorgeous! It was a far cry from the Allen villa she had lived almost all her life. Matter of fact, the Allen family villa, no matter how grand it seemed, looked so mediocre and ancient compared to this! Kourtney couldn't help but feel a wave of excitement, wondering how she had ended up in this situation. She had always been a simple girl, content with her modest life. However, fate had a funny way of intervening, and now she was living in a lavish mansion as the wife of the cityâs wealthiest and most powerful Billionaire. Everything felt so unreal! But at the same time, there was a nagging doubt in the back of her mind. Wasnât this all too good to be true? She wanted to run! She wanted to stay! As
Skyline EventsKourtney couldn't help but notice the curious glances from her colleagues.âAre you okay, Kourt? I swear, your walking steps are kinda different today!â Kourtneyâs workplace Bestie, Irina, said after clearing her throat awkwardly.Kourtney gulped a mouthful of saliva as she felt the weight of Irinaâs gaze on her, waiting for a response. Her walking step was indeed different, yes! But not from any physical injury, but from the lingering soreness that resonated deep within her body from the relentless actions of #that man the night before, and the night before that.Her body still hurts from the manâs merciless thrusting all night long. The second night in a row!âSo people are noticing? Oh God! I'm screwed!â she cringed to herself, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.The urge to disappear, to fade into the background and become invisible, tugged at her. But despite feeling awkward and exposed, Kourtney knew she had to maintain a facade of normalcy.With a forced smile
Luke leaned forward, his gaze piercing into Kourtney's soul. âThe Allen corporation is on the verge of collapse. We need help, and you can provide that, Kourtney.ââAnd what does that have to do with me? You didnât even let me work there anyway, so how on earth am I supposed to help?â Kourtney's gaze hardened with contempt as she locked eyes with her father.Her dreams of contributing to the family legacy, of proving her worth within the walls of their company, had been mercilessly dashed time and time again.Luke's excuse after her graduation had been a cruel twist of fate - her degree in events management was deemed unworthy of the family business, while Kathlyn, who pursued that of a scientific field, was deemed more suitable and had been lauded and supported to join the company.She had been relegated to the sidelines while Kathlyn was ushered into a managerial position in the Finance department.The hypocrisy of it all made Kourtney's blood boil, but she swallowed her anger, bury
Woods Corporation.Inside the boardroom meeting, Sebastian kept looking at his $3.9 Million Patek Philippe 5004T wristwatch almost every 60 seconds, impatiently waiting for the time to strike 6 pm.He found himself missing his dear wife and couldnât wait to be out of this boring, annoying-ass meeting!He also kept tapping his pen against the mahogany table, his mind drifting to the fact that he used to relish staying in the office until 11 pm daily, tirelessly working on deals and projects. Back then, his mansion was empty and devoid of life. There was really nothing to go back home to, so why bother?But now, all he could think about was heading straight home to his wife, Kourtney.This time, he had someone to go back home to.It's crazy how things changed so fast and so unexpectedlyâŠâŠ..The memory of her slipping out of bed that morning, leaving him alone with nothing but the faint scent of her, brought a wry smile to his face. Kourtney had practically abandoned him in his sleep an
Kourtney's eyes widened in a mixture of guilt and shame as she tried to turn away, hiding the evidence of her pain."It's... itâs nothing, just a little accident," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.Sebastian's heart clenched at her obvious distress, a surge of protectiveness and worry flooding through him. To think he was rushing home to see the pretty face of his wife, not knowing it had already been messed up and bruised.The raw agony etched on her features hit him like a punch to the gut. Even her swollen eyes meant she had been crying for long, and the sight pierced through his heart like a knife, seeing his vibrant wife reduced to a shell of herself.Her cheeks were inflamed and discolored - a stark contrast to her usual radiance.âWho did it?â he rasped.âUh??âI said, who did it?ââUhmmmâŠ. It's no one. No one did it, okay? I... I said it was an accident!â Kourtney stammered a lie through her teeth.She had assumed the man would be back home late and probably woul
The next morning dawned with the harsh light of consequences and a storm of chaos for the Allen family. The entire household, along with staff, sat in their lavish living room, watching in horror as their stocks plummeted in real-time on the screen, a visual representation of their downfall.The atmosphere was tense and suffocating!News of their cooperation crumbling, investors fleeing, bankruptcy looming, and debts piling up like a mountain spread like wildfire across every TV station. Reporters didn't hold back, their words sharp as knives."The once-mighty Allen family is now on its knees, a warning tale of greed and mismanagement,â one business reporter on TV barked."The Allens are no longer among the titans of the industry they once were. It seems the golden facade of the Allen empire is finally cracking. Is it finally over?" one anchor declared openly.Another reporter ridiculed, "Investors are in a frenzy, trying to salvage what's left of their investments. The Allens are in
Sebastian, seated behind his desk, regarded her coolly. "Ah, my dear Wife. Always a pleasure to see you, especially under such... dramatic circumstances."âWhat did you do to my family? This... this sabotage. It's your doing, isn't it?" Kourtney wasted no time for pleasantries and cut straight to the chase.Sebastian leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. "My, my, such accusations. And here I thought we were starting to get to know each other better."Kourtney gritted her teeth at his obvious childish banter during a serious confrontation.âYou⊠Just cut the crap. You know exactly what I'm talking about.âSebastian's smirk widened. "Ah, yes. The little incident with your father that you refused to tell your HUSBAND about. Quite the scene. Wasn't it? But rest assured, my dear, that was merely a taste of what's to come."âThatâsâŠ. That's what all this is about? You're destroying everything my family has worked so hard to build just because my father lost his temper for a
"Thank you, Ted. Please inform my wife, Kourtney, that we have visitors," Sebastian instructed smoothly, his voice a mask of composure.The old butler bowed and swiftly made his way to deliver the message, leaving Sebastian to contemplate the chessboard of power and emotions that lay before him.He strode out of his study, each step purposeful, his footsteps echoing off the polished marble floors, and then he stopped at the top of the grand staircase. From there, he could oversee the entrance and observe the Allens' approach.The door creaked open, and they came, one by one, in a straight queue, like sacrificial lambs entering the lion's den.Sebastian smirked, enjoying the view.This was the Allens, his supposed in-lawsâa once proud and formidable family, now shadows of their former selves.His gaze lingered on them, calculating and detached. He observed the tension in their stance, the flicker of hope in their eyes as they shifted about, unsure of where to stand. Their steps were he
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