Hi, Besties! It's finally the moment we've all been waiting for, where Kourtney stops being naive and grows a backbone đđ I can't wait for y'all to see more of this side from her and I'm excited for the coming chapters đ„° By the way, please donât forget to drop nice reviews on the bookâs main page and vote with your extra coins. It will mean a lot to me. Thank you đ
âFire every officer on duty today. The ones who mistreated and manhandled my wife,â 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. âB-but sir, IâââNo excuses,â Sebastian cut him off, his gaze piercing. âYouâll do as I say, or youâll regret it.â 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. âYes, sir! It will be done, immediately.âKourtney watched as Sebastianâs anger simmered beneath the surface.âYou didnât have to do that. I mean, firing them? Isnât that a bit extreme?âThose 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 Kourtneyâs rockâthe 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 sheâs been through in that toxic and shitty family of hers made her heart so glad.âAt least sheâs safe now,â she murmured to herself, a small smile breaking through her worried expression. âLetâs go. Iâll drop you off,â Edwinâs 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 couldnât shake the feeling that the man was âtrouble.âFor all she knew, this man could be dangerous. And he seemed l
âUhh?â Lilian frowned, her curiosity piqued. âI donât know, what?ââAn impasta!â His laughter filled the car, and it was so infectious that she couldnât help but burst into giggles, the tension between them evaporating like morning mist.âOh my God, that was terrible!â she exclaimed, holding her stomach as the laughter bubbled up uncontrollably. âYou should be ashamed of yourself!âShe couldnât 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?âAre you alright?â Edwin asked, glancing at her with a teasing smile. âYou look l
âI owe you an apology,â 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. âIâve never been good at this,â he admitted, his gaze dropping to the floor. âBut I need you to know that Iâm sorry for all of it.âKourtney 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.âHoney⊠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.â 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. âIâŠââIt's okay i
The next morning, as the world awoke, the tabloids and social media buzzed with the news of the previous dayâs drama. Headlines screamed, âThe Allen Family Drama Continues!â âWretched family!â âShameless!âJamie, ever the clever investigator, had acted so quickly. Using the influence of Sebastian, he had managed to obtain the CCTV footage and different camera angles of the confrontation between Kourtney and her sister, Kathlyn. Kourtney never pushed Kathlyn.It was all a clear and precise setup!The moment the video hit the internet, it sent shockwaves through the general public. Kourtneyâs reputation, tarnished by lies, was restored once again while Kathlyn and the entire Allen clan were being dragged through the mud.But despite the shocking and dramatic twist of it all, the Allen family news wasn't even the most talked about at the moment.Rather, photos of the billionaire CEO, Sebastian Woods, carrying an unidentified woman in his arms stole the spotlight.Newspapers, blogs, TV, a
âGet away from me!â Kathlyn screamed, her voice raw with pain and humiliation.The scared nurses scrambled out of the room with speed. It looked like the patient was going crazy.The video had turned Kathlynâs life into a circus, dragging her name through the mud and exposing her dirty lies. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she thought about all the degrading remarks about her online, her heart heavy with shame.But that wasn't even the reason for her current state of madness.Just half an hour earlier, the door to her hospital room swung open, and in walked her familyâher mother, father, grandmother, and several other members of the Allen clan, their faces drawn with disappointment.They looked like a jury ready to condemn her for her sins.Grandma Florence, the ever-formidable woman with a reputation that preceded her, had stepped forward, her lips pursed in disapproval.âYou wretched girl,â she yelled as she slapped Kathlyn so hard across the face.The sound of the slap echoed in
The admission cut deeply, even as she spoke it.Kathlynâs real plan from the start was indeed to get pregnant with Brandonâs baby, but after months of their secret affair, she still couldn't conceive. She became desperate and more impatient as his wedding to Kourtney drew closer.She knew she had to act fast!The numerous hospital visits and examinations with Brandon and her family were preplanned after she paid and arranged with the doctors.The sonograms, the blood when she fell down the stairsâeverything was fake!Kathlyn had deceived Brandon, her parents, Kourtney, and her entire family. She fooled everyone.There was never a child!Brandonâs eyes narrowed as he took a step closer, the tension in the room thickening. âWhat are you saying?â he demanded, his voice burning with rage.With a wild laugh, Kathlyn leaned back on the white, sterile wall, her eyes glinting with madness. âYouâŠYou still donât get it, do you? I was never pregnant with your child. It was all a sham to make you
Sebastian was seated behind his massive mahogany desk, his eyes glued to the glowing screen of his laptop.But, the moment Kourtney stepped into the room, the world around him faded away, and his focus honed in on her.His gaze roamed over her, taking in every detail, and suddenly, his breath caught in his throat.Quickly, his eyes darkened with desire.He had not expected to see her like this.The soft sky-blue material of her nightie danced around her thighs, hinting at what lay beneath.The fabric clung to her curves, shimmering like a second skin. As she walked towards the desk, the sway of her hips did a number on him. He couldnât help but let his gaze travel from her perfect, pretty face and tousled brown hair down to her feet and then back up.It was as if the night had woven its magic around her, making her look ethereal and utterly captivating.âDid the servants see you like this?â Sebastian asked, his voice coming out harsher than he intended.It made Kourtney freeze in her
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