Kourtney's eyes widened in a mixture of guilt and shame as she tried to turn away, hiding the evidence of her pain."It's... itâs nothing, just a little accident," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.Sebastian's heart clenched at her obvious distress, a surge of protectiveness and worry flooding through him. To think he was rushing home to see the pretty face of his wife, not knowing it had already been messed up and bruised.The raw agony etched on her features hit him like a punch to the gut. Even her swollen eyes meant she had been crying for long, and the sight pierced through his heart like a knife, seeing his vibrant wife reduced to a shell of herself.Her cheeks were inflamed and discolored - a stark contrast to her usual radiance.âWho did it?â he rasped.âUh??âI said, who did it?ââUhmmmâŠ. It's no one. No one did it, okay? I... I said it was an accident!â Kourtney stammered a lie through her teeth.She had assumed the man would be back home late and probably woul
The next morning dawned with the harsh light of consequences and a storm of chaos for the Allen family. The entire household, along with staff, sat in their lavish living room, watching in horror as their stocks plummeted in real-time on the screen, a visual representation of their downfall.The atmosphere was tense and suffocating!News of their cooperation crumbling, investors fleeing, bankruptcy looming, and debts piling up like a mountain spread like wildfire across every TV station. Reporters didn't hold back, their words sharp as knives."The once-mighty Allen family is now on its knees, a warning tale of greed and mismanagement,â one business reporter on TV barked."The Allens are no longer among the titans of the industry they once were. It seems the golden facade of the Allen empire is finally cracking. Is it finally over?" one anchor declared openly.Another reporter ridiculed, "Investors are in a frenzy, trying to salvage what's left of their investments. The Allens are in
Kourtney Allen typed in the password of her fiancé's luxury penthouse excitedly. It was an automated door, and her birthdate was the code to unlock it. She couldn't wait to see the surprised look on Brandon's face when he sees her, especially because she dressed so well for him. Kourtney was eager to spend quality time with him, having returned two days earlier from the women's empowerment conference she attended in another state. Besides, they would be getting married in three weeks. She kept daydreaming about the joyous wedding, the warm embrace, and the loving words they would exchange at the altar. However, she was blissfully unaware of the heart-wrenching scene that awaited her. Her happy footsteps came to a standstill when she heard faint sounds emanating from the bedroom. A sinking feeling instantly settled in the pit of her stomach. It was the voice of a man and a woman in the heat of passion. Pain and anger rose within her depths as she pushed open the door with a bang, r
âHow long have you two known about their affair?â Kourtney asked again furiously.âCalm down, Honey! They started seeing each other about five months ago. We didn't want to believe it either but we had to face the truth. We're so sorry, Kourtney,â her mother, Margaret, replied casually.Kourtneyâs eyes widened in shock as she screamed. âFive months?âIt was around the same time she and Brandon started making preparations for their dream wedding that was supposed to happen in three weeks. âNo wonder he was always too busy to give me time and attention these days. I was such a fool,â she thought bitterly.âWhy... How could you keep something like that from me? From your own daughter?""We wanted to protect you, darling. We thought it would be better for you to find out when you were ready,â Margaret explained softly.Kourtney's heart sank further, feeling a pang of betrayal from her parents. Her voice trembled with a mix of anger and hurt. "Ready? How could I ever be ready for this?âHe
âGet the fuck down and check the damage, Martins.â Sebastian Woods commanded his chauffeur while he straightened his slightly rumbled Armani suit. His baritone voice was icy and cold, as usual.âYes, Boss,â the short man in his early fifties who almost peed in his pants rushed out of the car in a panic. Just now, he nearly met a fatal end, but his wicked boss didn't seem to care.Sebastianâs special assistant Jamie also excused himself and followed the driver to inspect the damage caused by the accident. His two tall and sturdy bodyguards scurried out as well, while Sebastian was left alone in the backseat of the car. He was fuming with anger at the moment, and no one wanted to face his wrath.His extremely handsome face was like a âmasterpieceâ even as it twisted with anger, his eyes displaying a noticeable reddish shade.âI bought this car less than a week ago for sixty million dollars, and now this?âLosing money, no matter how âlittleâ was one of the things he hated the most.He s
Sebastian Woods forgot himself for a brief moment as the faint scent of the woman's floral perfume wafted through his nose.He was surprised by the rush of emotions surging through him. He hadn't felt this way in years, ever since the onset of his unusual allergy. The woman appeared slightly taken aback by his sudden presence, but she quickly composed herself.Her lips curved into a sweet smile as she replied politely. "Well, sir. It seems our cars had an unfortunate collision because I was distracted earlier. Thankfully, no one appears to be injured. I'm really sorry for any inconvenience I may have caused you.âSebastian nodded, his gaze still fixed on her. "Hmph! I see.âMeanwhile, Kourtney was stupefied as she stared up at the man big, tall man. She was a full 5ft10, which was more than average for a lady's height. But standing in front of him still made her feel tiny, like a dwarf.What's worse? The manâs appearance was more than breathtaking. It was simply out of this world. She
âYou heard me! That car your reckless driving just damaged is worth 60 million dollars. Would your âsorryâ get me a new one?âKourtneyâs heart pounded in her chest as she heard his snooty words. She took a glance at the car, and the logo was a type that was rare and looked exquisite.âWell? Did you really think this is the type of car a silly insurance could cover?â Sebastian added with a hint of mockery in his tone.âI... I.â Kourtney was lost for words, not knowing what to reply.When she had boosted earlier about paying for the damages, she hadn't considered the kind of car it was. She didn't even look at it that much to realize it was a custom-made Rolls-Royce. Only a few people in Melbourne could afford this kind of machine and get a government-issued pass to drive it around.Was this man implying she should pay him back such a whooping amount? Where would she get such kind of money?The man glanced at his wristwatch impatiently. âSo, Miss, how do you intend to pay me back for th
âI'm sorry, what?â Kourtney asked, staring blankly at him. She'd like to believe her ears misheard what he just said, even though she heard it quite clearly. âYou heard me, Miss. And I hate repeating myself,â she heard him reply with an air of superiority. Kourtney's eyes widened while her jaw dropped in disbelief. She had expected him to ask for something unsavory and inappropriate, like going off to sleep with him somewhere in exchange for the payment. But this? This one caught her completely off guard. Honestly, she didn't know which was worse. âIs this some sort of sick joke?â âDo I look like a clown to you?â Sebastian snapped with an intimidating aura, his impatience evident in his voice. âWell, I guess you must be out of your mind to make such a ridiculous condition. Who do you think you are?â âYou can simply G****e me to find out, Miss Allen,â Sebastian said with a sneer. His arrogance was palpable. Kourtney was already seething with anger. âLook Mr. Whatever! I understa