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.“I need to see the CEO, Sebastian Woods,” she declared to the receptionist.The receptionist, a young woman with an air of arrogance, raised an eyebrow. “Do you have an appointment?”“Appointment? Kourtney’s in jail, and I need to talk to him now!” Lilian exclaimed, her voice rising with urgency.The receptionist smirked, flipping her long hair over her shoulder as if Lilian’s panic was a mere triviality. “I’m sorry, but you cannot see President Woods without a proper appointment.”Lilian 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.“Do 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.“Yeah! What's it to you?” she shot back, her tone laced with her usual bossiness, trying to mask the flutter of attraction she felt. ‘Great, now I sound like a teenager!’ she thought, annoyed with herself.The man—Edwin Woods, chuckled softly, a sound that was both charming and infuriating.“It's nothing to me, but I'm related to someone for whom that name means the world.”Lilian's heart skipped a beat, and she gasped, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized him closely. She notice
Inside the precinct, Kourtney felt like she was in hell!After her horrible family had left, the wicked officers had dragged her through a series of dimly lit hallways, their grip unyielding as they pulled her toward an entirely different section of the station.They exchanged knowing glances before they shoved her into a stark, rough room. Kourtney did not need a prophet to tell her that a certain someone had ordered them to do this.This new space was a far cry from the sterile confines of the comfortable holding cell she’d just left. The walls were grimy, and the air was thick with the stench of waste and despair.Kourtney felt her heart pounding in her chest as she stepped inside. Her heart sank even further when she realized something— she was not alone.Hell!The more she took in the scene, the more her eyes widened in fear. The women around her were a far cry from the polished, privileged circles she was used to.They were spread out across the benches, their eyes narrowing as
Kourtney's heart ached desperately for him. She thought of his strong arms around her, enveloping her… securing her… shielding her against this wicked world.‘If only he would come for me,’ she thought desperately. If only he would burst through those doors and take her away from this nightmare. She needed her husband here now!She needed him now more than ever!The realization that she needed her husband was a hard pill for her to swallow. But now, she was done shying away from that thought. Lilian was right, after all.She knew now that she needed Sebastian so badly. He was like a God-sent to her, but she had been too blind to see and acknowledge that fact all this while.She needed that man, not only in this situation but also in her quest for revenge against her so-called family. At this point, Kourtney didn't care anymore.This time, she was done playing the good daughter.She was done being the naive little girl who they could step on so easily and get away with it.But now,
“Fire every officer on duty today. The ones who mistreated and manhandled my wife,” Sebastian commanded a frightened senior police officer after carrying Kourtney back to the lobby of the precinct.His voice was a low growl, and each word was laced with an unmistakable threat that echoed through the whole place like a gunshot. He expected nothing less than justice for what they did to his precious wife.The officer gulped, fear evident in his eyes. “B-but sir, I—”“No excuses,” Sebastian cut him off, his gaze piercing. “You’ll do as I say, or you’ll regret it.” The threat was clear, and the officer quickly nodded, scrambling to do his bidding. He was clearly shaken by the billionaire's unexpected presence. Even Governors were intimidated by this man, much less him, a mere Chief of Police. “Yes, sir! It will be done, immediately.”Kourtney watched as Sebastian’s anger simmered beneath the surface.‘You didn’t have to do that. I mean, firing them? Isn’t that a bit extreme?’Those were
As Sebastian carried Kourtney safely out of the precinct and away from the chaotic paparazzi, Lilian's eyes followed them, her heart swelling with relief and concern. She felt a wave of happiness wash over her. Lilian had always been Kourtney’s rock—the one who held her together whenever her family did her dirty. Memories of late-night talks about their dreams and fears flooded back, and now, seeing that her best friend had such a man to protect her after all that she’s been through in that toxic and shitty family of hers made her heart so glad.“At least she’s safe now,” she murmured to herself, a small smile breaking through her worried expression. “Let’s go. I’ll drop you off,” Edwin’s deep voice jolted her out of her thoughts. She turned to face him, and her eyes met with the intensity of his piercing gaze.There was an undeniable chemistry between them, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that the man was “trouble.”For all she knew, this man could be dangerous. And he seemed l
“Uhh?” Lilian frowned, her curiosity piqued. “I don’t know, what?”“An impasta!” His laughter filled the car, and it was so infectious that she couldn’t help but burst into giggles, the tension between them evaporating like morning mist.“Oh my God, that was terrible!” she exclaimed, holding her stomach as the laughter bubbled up uncontrollably. “You should be ashamed of yourself!”She couldn’t help but admire how effortlessly he lightened the mood. His humor was exactly what she needed to shake off the shadows of her earlier thoughts.But then, she clamped her mouth shut, mentally scolding herself for laughing so hard at such a boring joke. As she held her mouth closed tightly, she wondered why she was suddenly so self-aware around this stranger.Why was he making her feel so flustered? She was usually confident and composed, but here she was, giggling like a schoolgirl.What would he think of her then?“Are you alright?” Edwin asked, glancing at her with a teasing smile. “You look l
“I owe you an apology,” Sebastian started with all sincerity in his gaze.He wasn't used to giving apologies, but he wanted to try his best anyway.He took a deep breath, visibly trying to compose himself. “I’ve never been good at this,” he admitted, his gaze dropping to the floor. “But I need you to know that I’m sorry for all of it.”Kourtney remained calm, feeling a rush of emotions at his words. She had already zeroed her mind from getting any kind of apologies about what happened from this man. But now, he surprised her.“Honey… I never intended for you to go through what you did at Coolaroo. I should have protected you better. I want you to know how deeply sorry I am. You were scared, and I should have been there for you, not just in the end but from the beginning.” As he spoke, Kourtney noticed the way his fingers trembled slightly, betraying the confidence he tried to project.His voice was thick with regret, and her heart ached at the sincerity in his tone. “I…”“It's okay i
When Kourtney finally arrived at the venue of the event, it was already noon. The Silverstone Gala would be starting in less than six hours, as the red carpet unveiling was set for 6 PM.She was so damn late!As she got out of the car, she could feel her head being served on a food platter, especially since she was the head planner.Rushing through the entrance, her heart raced in her chest. “Kourt, are you insane? Where the hell have you been?” Irina was the first to spot her. Her tone was filled with disbelief and urgency.“I...I’m sorry. I…I lost track of time!” Kourtney stammered, trying to catch her breath.“Lost track of time? On your biggest day ever?!” Irina’s voice rose, and Kourtney winced.She knew Irina didn’t mean to be harsh, but the pressure was boiling over.A pit of anxiety settled in her stomach.Inside her head, she could hear herself cursing Sebastian with the most aggressive curse words she knew. If it hadn’t been for the man, she wouldn’t be in this mess, scrambl
The next morning, the insistent buzz of the alarm jolted Kourtney awake. It was 6 am, and the sound felt like a personal attack.She groaned, reaching out to hit the snooze button, but then she remembered.The Silverstone Gala! She had to be there early to oversee the final preparations. Everything depended on her. She needed to be on time.After a night like the one they had just had, she wanted nothing more than to stay in bed, but duty called. The thought of the gala gave her a fresh surge of energy.With a sigh, she sat up, ready to start the day. She knew she'd be exhausted as usual after a long night of lovemaking, so she had set the alarm to wake her.However, as she made a move to get out of bed, a strong arm snaked around her waist, stopping her in her tracks.“Where are you going?” Sebastian’s voice was a low growl, still thick with sleep.“Uhh… I need to go to the venue…” She paused, trying to formulate the sentence.“The Silverstone gala, it's today!” she finished.Sebast
Kourtney’s cheeks burned hot as realization dawned upon her. She knew him so well already. It wasn't hard to connect the dots.His words werea subtle reminder that what he really desired right now had nothing to do with dinner; it was her.This man!He was always in the mood.Oh, how he could twist her inside out with just one teasing phrase!“I—I’ll go take a shower!” she stammered.It was amusing how easily he could unbalance her. It didn’t take much for Sebastian to evoke these feelings in her. She didn’t even turn to look back as she hurried toward the stairs with a red face.Sebastian chuckled softly, watching with amusement as Kourtney ran up the stairs like a scared little kitten. She was always adorable when flustered,but it only fueled his craving.It made him want her even more!And right now, the more pressing concern for him was the growing hardness of his
“I know. Right? But I have learned that you need to defend yourself if you want to survive in this wicked world.”“You’re lucky you have your husband to teach you,” Lilian said with a small smile. It was obvious Kourtney changed only after marrying Sebastian. She had to give the man his credit.“Yes, I am. He always says that I have to stand up for myself. That’s what I did.”“I love the two of you! I'm glad you have him to teach you. Finally, you’re no longer the pushover Kourtney I used to know. And I can’t believe he’s so generous giving you a card like that! That’s fuucking insane! He’s so Daddddyyy.”“Yes! He’s the best,” Kourtney blushed, daydreaming about the man.‘What should I cook for him when I get home?’ She pondered to herself.Or perhaps she could give him a neck and shoulder massage!Or maybe.......Suddenly, the waiter brought their ice cream. Kourtney snapped out of her thoughts and got the vanilla while Lilian got the strawberry. They dug in and didn’t speak for a w
Scarlet took a deep breath and straightened her spine, knowing she was losing this battle but unwilling to surrender gracefully.“I dare you to tell me who you are and where you got that card!”Kourtney smiled, the victory sweet on her lips as she glanced around the store; everyone looked at her with so much surprise, admiration, and newfound respect, which gave her so much confidence.Turned out Sebastian knew what he was doing when he gave her this black card that day!It commanded so much authority.Today, she might have walked in as a humble shopper, but she would leave wearing a crown, and that was a win in her book.“I don’t think I have to answer you. It is none of your business.” She turned her head, dismissing Scarlet with a wave of her hand.Scarlet’s face boiled with rage. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with.”Right now, she was trembling at the edge of sanity.Kourtney remained unyielding, snapping her fingers as she said mockingly. “Oh, please. Are you that desperat
“She is the—”Kourtney hastily placed a hand over Lilian’s big mouth, desperate to prevent the truth from emerging.“Don’t, Lil,” she pleaded, her eyes wide.Scarlet watched their little display with irritation.Holding onto her self-importance, she said mockingly. “Yeah! I thought as much! She’s a nobody. Take it off!”The condescension dripped from her words.Kourtney felt annoyance ripple through her, but she remained composed. She was the Woods family's young mistress. She was not going to let this woman intimidate her.Deep down, she recognized Scarlet's magnificent beauty; it was undeniable.But beauty without grace?That was something Kourtney could hardly respect. She bit her lip, trying to contain herself, as her mind raced with thoughts of how she could salvage the situation without revealing her connection to Sebastian here like this.Feeling the tension rising, Kourtney decided it was time to play her hand. “Since she wants to make this into an auction, let’s see! I would
The other shoppers began to circle around them like vultures, curious about the unfolding drama. Whispers fluttered through the air like restless butterflies. Kourtney wasn’t one to back down easily as well, especially not when she was already feeling so confident in her new dress. “With all due respect, Ma’am. I’m already paying for this dress!” she said flatly, not wanting to take part in any BS.The manager, a well-dressed middle-aged lady with a no-nonsense attitude who appeared from behind the counter, nodded in support. “That dress has already been chosen by this customer so I suggest you find something else that suits your unique taste.”Just like in typical fashion houses, there was only one of such dress available. It was custom-made for just one customer!There wasn’t even a replica of it that could be given to another person. And by the way, she can't just waltz in here and demand for something that was already picked by another lady who intended to make the purchase.Who
As planned, the two friends headed out to a trendy district in Melbourne filled with the most classy high-end boutiques.“Are you ready for this?” Lilian asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement as they entered a mildly populated Dior department store.“More than ever!” Kourtney replied, clutching the treasured black card that Sebastian had given her like a lifeline.It was the first time she would take the initiative to use the extravagant 300-million-dollar black card from her billionaire husband for shopping expenses.She remembered when he had given it to her after their first night together at Serenity Villa. She recalled how the man had behaved like such an insane amount of money was no big deal.He nonchalantly handed it over, claiming it was just a tool for her to use as she pleased. “Go on, spoil yourself,” he had said with a grin, totally unfazed by the fact that it was worth three hundred million fucking dollars.He was such a Big Casanova spender!“Okay, let’s find someth
Meanwhile, across town, Sebastian was sitting in another urgent board meeting at Woods Corporation to plan the launch of their new company branch in the UK. While everyone present was droning on about numbers and projections, his mind was elsewhere. That’s when his phone beeped, echoing a sound that cut through the tension and serious atmosphere in the boardroom. Sebastian hurriedly picked up his phone from the table to view the text. He hadn't expected a reply from Kourtney to come so fast.All eyes turned to him, surprised. The big boss himself was now smiling like a kid on Christmas morning.They all exchanged baffled looks. “Since when does he smile like that during these boring meetings?”Their usually stoic and focused boss who had previously forbidden everyone, including himself, from using their phones during meetings, had his fingers dancing across the screen like an obsessed gamer who'd just received the latest gaming console.Since when did he text so much?These past fe