"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
Kourtney's heart ached at her father's words, the pain evident in his voice. She could see the turmoil in his eyes, as she knew he was a proud man who barely ever admitted his mistakes. But nowâŠ. Now he was doing that in front of everyone.Taking a deep breath, she responded. âI forgive you, Dad. It's okay!âLuke visibly sagged with relief, his shoulders relaxing as he absorbed his daughter's words. He never thought it would actually be this EASY!So easy!!!He reached out quickly and enveloped Kourtney in a warm embrace, further proving their relationship was good again.Kourtney was taken aback at first. She couldn't remember the last time she hugged her dad. This man who had never truly cared enough to embrace her for as long as she could remember was doing so now in front of everyone.She felt bitter-sweet!Seeing Kourtneyâs compassionate response to Luke, the rest of the Allens present, except Kathlyn, started approaching, asking for forgiveness concerning the previous incident a
Kourtney's blood immediately ran cold on hearing Sebastian's brazen proposal.âUhh?â she asked, still in doubt of the extent of his demands.âYou heard me,â he replied proudly.His face was completely straight and unreadable now, which meant he was super-duper serious.Kourtney shrugged.âWhy does he always have to make everything so difficult⊠so complicated?â She thought to herself, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.This man⊠he always had to push boundaries!Naked in the shower⊠With him?How can he be so shameless?She had known Sebastian was a shameless fad, but this was a whole new level of absurdness.Ridiculously Unreasonable!!!She knew what he wanted, what he always seemed to want from her. Yet, she could never grow accustomed to his insane demands.âYou.. can't you just be reasonable and less vulgar for once?ââWellâŠWhereâs the fun in that?â Sebastian replied smugly, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her knees weak."He knows exactly what he's d
She glanced around the table, meeting the eyes of her family members as they all looked at her with eyes full of hope and expectancy.How could she secure this land and save her family's legacy?âHeck! It means going through that man again, isn't it?â she grimaced inwardly.She just never seems to escape Sebastian's clutches. The man appeared to hold the key to every door she needed to unlock.It was traumatizing at this point!With a deep breath, she turned her attention back to her grandmother. âI'll do it, Grandma. I'll find a way to get that land for us. I⊠Iâll talk to my husband about it.âA glimmer of hope danced in Grandma Florence's eyes as she reached out and squeezed Kourtney's hand. âOh, bless you, my dear. You are truly our ray of hope in these dark times.âKourtney could only force a fake smile as she took in everyoneâs praises and words of admiration throughout the rest of the brunch.******Later that evening, as the Allens prepared to depart from the Serenity Villa, M
Kathlyn hesitated for a moment, her eyes darting away for a fleeting moment before locking onto Kourtney's gaze.A bitter laugh escaped her lips, devoid of any humor. "Oh, you really don't know, do you? You have no clue about the pain you've caused me, the opportunities you've stolen from me. But one day, the world will see you for who you truly are, and then youâll understand why I canât stand the sight of you.âKourtney's brow furrowed in confusion. "What are you talking about, Kathlyn? What do you mean by that? What are you hiding?â Her voice quivered, betraying her inner turmoil as she tried to make sense of Kathlynâs remarks.Her mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle of her sister's cryptic words.But Kathlyn remained stoic, her resolve unyielding. âOh, not now, Sister! But youâll find out soon enough. But for now, just know that I have my reasons for despising you.âWith a final glare, she turned on her heel and strode towards the door, leaving Kourtney standing there,
âWHY??? Why am I so affected by him? It's just a shower, just a deal. But itâs... it's intoxicating," Kourtney pondered, her breath catching in her throat as heat coursed through her veins. But then she needed to stick to the plan and not get carried away by the manâs drop-dead gorgeous body and charms.Sebastian was a master of seduction, a man who knew how to play her like a finely tuned instrument, but she wasn't going to let herself fall under his spell this time.She knew she couldn't let him have her so easily tonight. Despite the overwhelming desire that pulsed through her veins, she needed to stay focused. FOCUS!Meanwhile, Sebastian licked his lips slowly as he let his sly gaze roam over her naked body, taking in every curve and contour with a hunger that bordered on obsession.The sight of her body before him, all wet, vulnerable, and alluring, sent a rush of blood straight to his member, causing it to twitch and throb with an urgency that demanded attention. **"Sh
After shuddering for a fleeting moment, Kourtney met Sebastian's intense gaze, her eyes searching his for understanding. âNnnn⊠Uhmm⊠Actually, I have a condition of my own. And you must agree to it before we go any further!âSebastian's expression darkened even more before he chuckled, a low sound that sent shivers down her spine. He couldn't believe her audacity.âWhat makes you think you have the right to condition me, Woman?ââWell⊠you did condition me into this in the first place. So, I am just giving you a taste of your own medicine. And if I remember correctly, your condition only stated for us to have a shower together⊠naked. Touching me wasn't part of the deal. Was it?â Kourtney said, putting on a brave face.She wasnât about to let Sebastianâs frightening eyes and demeanor scare her off from her already perfectly-crafted scheme.They say a man is at his weakest when he is aroused beyond control. Sebastian was no exception, and she was determined to use that to her advantag
He started to pump his cock hard and fast in her wet folds.âOh, God!â he groaned, feeling the lubricious, amazing, warm tightness surrounding HIM.It surrounded not just the length and breadth of his cock, but all of Sebastian, as though his entire physical and mental being was fully enveloped within the incredible, sweet sheath of Kourtney.His movements became even fiercer, more erratic, and unrelenting, driving her to the brink of madness with each powerful thrust. Kourtney clung to him, her nails digging into his back as she gave herself over to the pleasure that consumed her.She heard him growl in her ear, and she knew that was him trying to keep control of himself- he didn't want the fun to end too soon, and neither did she.She looked at his face as he power-thrusted hard into her, his eyes nearly crossed as he bit his bottom lip with pleasure.The sensations are only getting hotter, setting off more fireworks in her head. âUmmhmmm, she moaned out loud, feeling the intense pl
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