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
Kourtney woke up the next day with her eyelids heavy and swollen from a restless night filled with tears. Sunlight streamed through the curtains, illuminating the room in a soft golden coloring that felt almost mocking against the turmoil in her heart. She groaned, raising a hand to her forehead, which throbbed painfullyâa reminder of her emotional breakdown from the night before. It was as if the universe had conspired against her.âGood morning, sleepy head. Breakfast is ready!â Lilianâs cheerful voice floated into the room, cutting through the fog of Kourtney's despair, a tray balanced delicately in her hands. âI made your favoriteâavocado toast with a poached egg. You need to eat something, sweetie.âKourtney didnât respond immediately. She lay there, staring blankly at the ceiling, feeling utterly defeated.Seeing her nonchalant attitude, Lilian placed the tray on Kourtneyâs lap, her brow furrowing with concern. âYou have to eat, Kourt. You havenât had a proper meal since⊠well
Kourtney arrived at the Allen Corporation, still not knowing what to expect. As soon as she stepped into the sleek, glass-walled lobby, she felt the usual unwelcome wave of discomfort wash over her. Once again, she couldn't shake off the feeling of being an outsider, an alien.The polished marble floors and glass walls screamed success, but to her, they felt like an impenetrable fortress. She was a stranger in her own familyâs empire.And, of course, she was met with the usual bitter stares, accusatory glares, judging whispers, and seething snares.âCan I help you?â the receptionist at the front desk asked, her tone as cold as the air conditioning that blasted overhead.âIâm Kourtney Allen, here to meet with HR,â Kourtney replied, forcing a smile despite the rudeness.âWell. Sign in,â the sharp-tongued receptionist barked, barely looking up from her computer screen, her fingers tapping away like a machine.Kourtney's heart sank as she complied, scribbling her name on the visitor log.
The police arrived at the scene in no time and started asking questions.âThis woman pushed Ms Allen. I saw it with my two eyes,â a male voice sprang out loud.Kourtney looked over to see the person who was uttering such lies. It was the same naive and innocent-looking intern who had brought her up the stairs.She wanted to cry, to scream, to fight back against the injustice that was unfolding before her eyes. But instead, she stood there, her heart heavy with regret for even bothering to come here."Maâam, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law," a police officer stated, his tone firm yet devoid of any compassion.She was handcuffed and led away, the cold metal biting into her wrists, and the embarrassment of being paraded in front of so many people stung like salt on an open wound. She could feel their judgmental stares on her back, the whispers that echoed in her ears.Kourtney held back the tears that threatened to
Upon reaching Woods Corporation, Lilian rushed into the towering glass building in haste. She could feel the prying eyes of the staff on her as she stormed through the lobby, her determination radiating from her every step.âI need to see the CEO, Sebastian Woods,â she declared to the receptionist.The receptionist, a young woman with an air of arrogance, raised an eyebrow. âDo you have an appointment?ââAppointment? Kourtneyâs in jail, and I need to talk to him now!â Lilian exclaimed, her voice rising with urgency.The receptionist smirked, flipping her long hair over her shoulder as if Lilianâs panic was a mere triviality. âIâm sorry, but you cannot see President Woods without a proper appointment.âLilian felt like slamming her overly done plastic surgery face on the desk, but she held herself back.However, her blood continued to boil over. Heat rose in her cheeks, and her hands trembled with barely contained rage.âDo you even understand the situation? My friend could be in serio
Lilian turned her head toward the voice. It was a very tall, striking man with raven-dark hair that cascaded just above his chiseled cheekbones. His piercing blue eyes seemed to hold a universe of secrets, demanding attention from everyone in the room.And the way he carried himself screamed power and might.He was an Adonis, and for a fleeting moment, Lilian felt her mouth go dry, but she quickly regained her composure, reminding herself that she was here to save Kourtney, not to gawk at handsome strangers.âYeah! What's it to you?â she shot back, her tone laced with her usual bossiness, trying to mask the flutter of attraction she felt. âGreat, now I sound like a teenager!â she thought, annoyed with herself.The manâEdwin Woods, chuckled softly, a sound that was both charming and infuriating.âIt's nothing to me, but I'm related to someone for whom that name means the world.âLilian's heart skipped a beat, and she gasped, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized him closely. She notice