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
âHowâs she?â Sebastianâs voice was low and tense.âShe's okay. The nurses checked. She is untouched, not damaged or marked in any way... Well... apart from a few wound scratches and some large handprints on her⊠ass!â Ryan, his close friend and an ER Doctor said, the last part slipping out before he could catch himself.Sebastianâs face turned pale, the reality of Kourtney's assault crashing over him like a tidal wave.The guilt was suffocating. How could he have let this happen?âBut, wait! What really happened?â Ryan asked, his eyes enquiring.âI mean, You are THE Sebastian Woods. You rule this City! How did you even let your wife get kidnapped? And she almost got raped?âRyanâs voice was incredulous, his medical professionalism momentarily forgotten while Sebastian shifted uncomfortably on his feet.The questions came at him like a barrage of bullets, and he felt himself retreating into a defensive posture.âWait! What was she even doing at Coolaroo? That wretched place is no place
At the Smith Villa, the atmosphere was tense. Brandon was lounging on the terrace, a drink in hand, looking relaxed as if he hadnât a care in the world.His parents were inside, worried sick about the photos that has taken over the internet. They had always warned Brandon to stay clear of trouble or anything that would get their family name into the mud.But now, he had unleashed such chaos.âBrandon, you should really think about what youâre doing. Why still getting involved with that Kourtney girl,â his mother called out from inside. âYou have no idea what kind of trouble youâre inviting. Your wedding to the other Allen young mistress is just a few days away. Goodness!ââRelax, Mom. Besides, itâs not my fault those pictures were posted online,â Brandon said, a smirk on his face. In fact, he loved the outcome. At this point, he no longer cared.But just then, a sound broke through the nightâa revving engine, followed by the screech of tires as different cars pulled up to the villa.
Brandon pushed himself up, wiping the blood from his nose, trying to regain some show of dignity.Gritting his teeth against the pain, he forced himself to speak, trying hard not to show any form of weakness.âYou think you can just do this to me?â he spat, his voice shaky but defiant. âYou canât just kidnap me. Iâm a Smith! My family has connectionsââBoom!Sebastianâs men wasted no time as another landed a hefty blow to his stomach. Brandon landed on his back with a thud, the air knocked out of him.Meanwhile, Sebastianâs lips curled into a smirk, and he took a slow drag from his cigar, letting the smoke curl around him like a serpent.âKidnap? Hardly. This is just a friendly visit to discuss your little stunt with my wife.âHe stood up from his desk, towering over like a dark shadow as he moved with an air of elegance toward his target.Family?Connections?What a joker!Brandon and his family were no match for him in any way or anything!The thought of him feeling untouchable beca
Kourtney paid the driver hastily with trembling hands and made her way towards Lilian's charming brick house, nestled among the flowering trees.Because of a misunderstanding a few months ago, Lilian had moved out of the Powell family villa. A decision Kourtney had supported wholeheartedly.She didnât even need to ring the doorbell; she knew the password. Lilian had always been her safe haven, and she desperately needed that comfort now.With a deep breath, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.The large living room was dimly lit, the soft glow of the television illuminating the space. Kourtneyâs brows furrowed when she saw Lilian sprawled out lazily on the couch, popcorn bucket in hand, utterly engrossed in a K-drama.Melodramatic music played in the background as a handsome male lead confessed his undying love to the female lead, his eyes glistening with unshed tears, while Lilianâs eyes sparkled with joy.She didnât even notice Kourtney had entered until she cleared her thro
This time, Kourtney could only hope he respected her decision.âYou... You donât get to just waltz in here after what you made me go through. I need space, Mr Woods!âSebastian rubbed a hand over his head, exhaling sharply as if trying to control himself.He needed to!He didn't want to give the woman any more reason to distance herself from him.She was back to calling him Mr Woods again and that somehow made his blood boil. It was as if they were back to square one all over again!âGo away, I beg you. I want you to leave me alone,â Kourtney's tears glistened under the dim light, and he felt a deep ache in his chest. No matter what happens hereâŠ. He knew he wasnât going to sleep tonight!âPleaseâŠâ she whispered. âJust go, Mr Woods. I donât want to see you.â At this point, Sebastian couldnât bring himself to press further. The hurt in her gaze was a stark reminder of how he had failed her. He was a man used to getting what he wanted, but Kourtney had been the only thing that had eve
âShut up, Denise,â Grandma Florence finally snapped.The whole living room fell silent, all eyes turning to her.âMum, stop defending her!â Aunt Denise interjected, her tone accusatory. âSheâs the reason weâre in this mess! If she had just listenedâââEnough!â Grandma Florence barked again at her daughter. Her patience was wearing thin.Denise opened her mouth to argue again but was swiftly silenced by her motherâs voice booming through the room once more. âI said shut up. Kourtney is still family!âDenise was very pained.This wasnât the reaction she had been expecting from her mother after seeing the news.Why wasnât everyone in the family celebrating Kourtneyâs downfall like she was?âYouâyou canât be serious, Mum. Kourtney thought she had arrived with that sudden marriage and started treating us like nothing. This is the perfect opportunity to cut her off. Give her a taste of her own medicine!âFlorence shot her daughter a glare sharp enough to silence her. âThis is not the time f
Grandpa Woodsâ commanding presence filled the room.âNot another word from any of you,â he scoffed, lifting his walking stick in the air. âYou minions should be ashamed of yourselves! Kourtney is family now, and I will not have you bullying my young granddaughter-in-law. You ought to be ashamed!âThe women fell silent, their expressions shifting from smug satisfaction to shock.Since when did Thomas Woods become such a softie?Since when did he become so protective of anyone, especially an outsider?It was as if the arrival of Kourtney to the Woods Estate had flipped a switch in him, and suddenly, he was like a mere shadow of his former self.They couldnât recognize the Old Man anymore.How did Kourtney manage to curry his favor in less than 3 days when they had known him for decades but couldn't?The way he fell enchanted with her in such a short time was still so hard to explain...No one saw it coming!Meanwhile, Kourtney's heart warmed at his defense, and she felt a small smile t
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