Skyline Events.Kourtney dragged her sore and tired body to work, feeling the lingering effects of the intense and vigorous exercise Sebastian had put her through the previous night. They had gone from the bathroom to the dressing room mirror and then, to the bedroom, exploring different positions like two hungry lions lost in passion. She didn't get a wink of sleep all night.And even though every fiber of her being longed to stay in bed till God knows when, Kourtney knew she couldn't risk missing work, especially with the Silverstone Gala she was in charge of planning just two weeks away. As she tried to focus on her tasks, the news about Allen Corporation stocks and shares surging within minutes caught her attention. A wave of relief washed over her, knowing that the Man had indeed fulfilled his end of the deal.But at what cost?Despite the reassurance, Kourtney couldn't shake off the emotional turmoil brewing within her. Not even a single person from her family had reached ou
"You have some nerve. You're shameless!â Kourtney yelled.But Brandon didn't stop there.His next words only fueled Kourtney's fury. With heavy regrets etched in his voice, he revealed how Kathlyn had been the one to seduce him, painting himself as the saint caught in a web of deceit. He also blamed Kourtney for being too focused on her job, neglecting their relationship in the process which made him fall too easily for Kathlynâs temptation. He claimed she was always too preoccupied with her career to give him the attention he craved.Kourtney chuckled. But her laughter was sharp and cold.Unbelievable!So now he was blaming her for his mistakes? Now, he was trying to gaslight her into believing he was also a victim.She could only conclude that he came here drunk. After all, his mouth mildly smelled of vodka. âThat had to be the reasonable explanation for this charade,â she thought."IâŠ. I can't believe you," Kourtney seethed, her hands clenched at her sides. "Why are you telling me
Woods Corporation.The CEOâs office exuded an aura of power and luxury, with sleek modern furniture and expansive windows offering a breathtaking view of the Melbourne city skyline.Sebastian Woods sat leisurely in the mahogany desk, glancing through the daily business newspapers. He was lost in the world of numbers and reports, his mind focused on the latest financial news while his piercing gaze drifted lazily over the bold headlines, scanning the words with a sharp focus.He barely registered the presence of anyone else in his office until a familiar âannoyingâ voice broke through his concentration."Hey! HEY! I'm still here, remember?" The voice belonged to none other than Edwin Woods, Sebastian's cousin and most trusted confidant, a man he tasked with his most delicate affairs. Matter of fact, Edwin was the one who always helped him to do his most dirty business - the most recent one being taking down the Allen family Corporation.Among the entire Woods family, Edwin was probabl
Falling in love again had always been one of his biggest fears.He had always hated the feeling of being vulnerably in love with someone, and truthfully, heâd been so thankful for that jarring accident years ago - the one that tainted and somewhat âmutilatedâ him. The one that caused him a psychological disorder, rendering him unable to get too close to the opposite gender.The incident had left him scarred, both physically and emotionally, but had also gifted him a life of solitude and peace. A life devoid of love yet strangely fulfilling in its own way.YES!His life had been boring and uneventful back then, but it was PEACEFUL.He never had to worry about the thought of anyoneâs betrayal. Never!He had avoided women like the plague, and that had always acted as a shield against the dangers of falling in love again.He had built walls around his heart, believing he was protecting himself from further pain.But nowâŠ. those walls lay shattered at his feet.Now, he had completely screw
Kourtney's eyes widened in surprise and confusion, her mind racing to make sense of his accusation. "Betray you? What are you talking about? I-I donât get it..."Sebastian's gaze bore into hers. His hoarse voice was thick with restrained emotion.âAre you playing dumb with me, Woman?ââI⊠I really donât understand,â Kourtney stammered with furrowed eyebrows and without any trace of guilt, unaware of the crime she had committed.Her heart was pounding like bass drums in her chest.Sebastian's jaw tensed, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly as confusion clouded his sturdy features.How could she not know?It was impossible for her not to have known or heard about the scandal by now since she was in the starring role of it all - so he believed.The thought that she was trying to play innocent and pretending not to know anything angered him even more, to extreme heights he never knew existed within him.His breaths came in jagged gasps now as he tried hard to control himself.He
Sebastian didnât know how he did it, but he drove back to Woods Corporation in one piece. The familiar sight of his company building loomed before him as he parked the car with an insane and wildly out-of-control screech. His hands were still shaking from the adrenaline rush of his reckless driving.He was still stark-raging mad!Walking unsteadily to his office, Sebastian didn't go unnoticed by his swam of nosy employees. But everyone knew well enough to shut up and bow respectfully as he walked through to get to his private elevator.It was as if a cloud of anger was hovering over him like a dark storm.As soon as he got into his office, he slammed the door shut behind him and made a beeline for the mini bar tucked away in the corner of the room.Without hesitation, he grabbed a bottle of Campari whisky as if his whole life depended on it.He wanted to at least get rid of a small portion of the venom and pain in his heart.Pouring himself a generous amount, he raised the glass to hi
Viewers discretion!!!This chapter may contain disturbing scenes!**********Sebastian bit uncontrollably on his fingernails in the backseat of his Bentley. It was a long-term habit of his since childhood to bite his nails whenever he was feeling disturbed or anxious. But those scenarios barely ever happened at all for years now.What could ever make the Almighty CEO of Woods Corporation anxious?Absolutely nothing!Or so he thoughtâŠ..He was very wrong to think he wouldn't feel that kind of uneasiness again.âŠ.especially when Kourtney Erin Allen existed.Jamie, who sat in the passenger seat beside him, nervously fiddled with his tie. He just ended a phone conversation with Sebastianâs head of security. He cleared his throat nervously, breaking the heavy silence that enveloped the car. "Sir, the Madame didn't go to her family villa," he spoke up, his voice laced with concern while Sebastian's bite on his finger tightened, worry gnawing at him."And Sir, the Madame also didn't go back
He had spent countless nights convincing himself that LOVE was just a distraction, a weakness he could not afford to have at any point in his life. But now, all those walls he built around his heart for years crumbled like dust to the ground.Because he loved herâŠ.YES! He loved herâŠ.He really loved herâŠ.Like a lotâŠNo! More than a lotâŠMore than he could describeâŠMore than he thought was possibleâŠMore than he thought he was capable ofâŠThe intensity of his feelings was so terrifyingâŠ.It was UNREALâŠ.He never planned on loving her this muchâŠ.Or even liking her this muchâŠBut now, his feelings for her are absolutely fucking INSANEâŠInsane enough to send a bullet flying through the man who had dared to touch her.A riff-raff.A pathetic excuse for a man!A mere nobody.A scum⊠the lowest of the low!A man like that had the audacity to lay a finger on what was undeniably HIS?Had the audacity to touch her with his greasy fingers?How dare he? How dare anyone think they could touch
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
Sebastian stepped out of the car, holding the door open for her. âCome on, letâs go inside,â he urged gently as he extended a hand to her.Kourtney hesitated for a second but then took his hand, feeling the warmth of his grip. As she stepped out of the limousine, she was greeted by the bright lights of the boutique and the luxurious aura that surrounded it. Inside was a treasure trove of elegance. Silks, satins, and shimmering fabrics adorned the racks, each piece gorgeous and unique. She felt a flicker of excitement as she walked through the aisles while Sebastian watched her, admiration filling his eyes.She looked like a delicate flower in a garden of riches, and he wanted to shower her with the best of the best.âPick whatever you like,â he ordered.Her heart fluttered at his words. âReally? You donât mind?â âNot at all,â Sebastian rasped.The way her emerald eyes lit upâit was mesmerizing. Just like that, they spent the next few hours shopping.The shop attendants treated Kour
The men walked straight to her, ignoring Liam completely. âMrs. Woods, Mr. Woods wants you to come join him in his car right away,â one of them said.Kourtneyâs heart dropped. âHeâheâs here?â she stammered, glancing nervously out the window. Sure enough, her husbandâs white limousine was parked outside, surrounded by a crowd of curious onlookers. It felt like a scene straight out of a movie!âOh no! What now?â she winced inwardly.How did he even find out she was here?Would he accuse her of being promiscuous again?Surely, he might confuse this little luncheon with Liam for a romantic date. Right?The man was quick to jump to conclusions, and she feared facing the wrath of his anger again.What would he do to her this time? Drive her to Coolaroo again?Kourtney shivered with that thought in mind. Her heart started racing with fear and confusion.She stood up, her hands trembling as she shot Liam an apologetic look. âI... I have to go.ââGo? Go where?â Liam demanded, his expression
However, Sebastian sat behind his mahogany desk, barely acknowledging her presence. Instead, he was buried in a stack of papers on his desk, his dark brows furrowed in concentration.Rachael felt a pang of disappointment as he didnât even glance up to greet her.She could feel the embarrassing mix of frustration and sadness swelling in her chest.As usual, he was acting as if she were just another piece of furniture in the room.What would it take for this man to notice her?She swallowed hard, the presence of his two hulking bodyguards hovering in the corner of the room making her feel even more small and vulnerable. She knew they were there to prevent her from getting too close, a reminder of the boundaries he had drawn after their last encounter in his office space.He had made it clear that he didnât want anything personal between them, and that hurt more than she cared to admit.But why is she still...here?âBastian,â she started, her voice smooth and confident as she prepared to