Hi Besties, I took a full-month break but now, WE ARE SO BACK âșïž
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
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 sheâd 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 somethingâ 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.âIf only he would come for me,â 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,
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
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
Kourtneyâs steps were light as she approached the ornate double doors to Sebastianâs study on the uppermost floor of the Woods villa. He had left immediately after lunch, saying he had some important work to handle.She hissed, still a little hurt just thinking about it.It was Sunday, and she wondered what was so important that couldnât wait till a work day.And how long would it take for him to handle the sudden emergency?She needed a breather from all the drama unfolding after the news of Scarletâs arrival. Since her husband had left her all alone to her fate in the hands of his wicked aunts and other relatives who hated her guts, Kourtney knew it would be wise to just stay in her lane and not go back downstairs till when necessary.She pushed the doors open gently, not wanting to disturb the sanctity of his space. It was built and designed just like the one they had at Serenity Villa.Seems like the man took his bland and boring style so seriously. There was not even a single bri
âSo you had no idea she was coming?â Edwin pestered.âI donât!âSebastian, who had been sipping his glass of whiskey, answered in his usual stoic tone.But beneath his composed exterior was a man in complete disarray.The name Scarlet Thompson sent a jolt through him, memories flooding back from a time when he was young and infatuated. She was his first love, the one woman who had held his heart captive all those years ago.He felt a pang of somethingânostalgia, perhaps?Or was it something deeper?But why now?What could bring her back after all this time?***********Later that day, at the grand dining room of the Woods estate, the smell of fresh savory dishes filled the air as the family gathered for their traditional Sunday afternoon brunch.Kourtney could feel the buzzing tension around the table.The familyâs whispers were like daggers.She could hear tiny bits of their discussions.It was still all about the Scarlet Lady.She felt like she couldnât breathe properly.And Sebasti
Back in her bedroom, Dana Woods and her daughters, Sheila and Sophie, had also seen the news about Scarlet. They became wrapped up in their own discussion.âLook at all these comments online,â Sophie said, happily scrolling through her phone. âPeople are going wild! âScarletâs back and itâs about time!ââThis is great news for us. Turns out that Kourtney wouldnât be staying long as the Woods's young mistress, after all,â Dana sneered with spite. âScarlet is an interesting girl. She is definitely back to claim her rightful place beside Sebastian.ââAre you sure about that, Mother?â Sheilaâs bitter voice echoed through the bedroom. âDo you think heâd leave Kourtney just like that? You canât deny sheâs a force of nature!ââOh, honey. Iâm one hundred percent sure he has never been able to get over Scarlet. He never remained the same after she left. And now, we just need to make her our ally. Kourtney doesnât even stand a chance!âDana was very certain of this.She had a sleepless night pl
The next day began with a shocking twist.The atmosphere in the Woods household had been buzzing with the sound of clinking cups and soft chatter in the living room as numerous members of the family enjoyed their usual Sunday morning tea and pastries.But the moment the local news channel flickered to life on the television, everything changed.âBreaking news, everybody. After five long years, supermodel Scarlet Thompson has just returned to the city.âThe room immediately fell silent, every eye glued to the screen.The news anchor continued with a bright smile that barely masked the excitement in her voice, âThe blonde-haired beauty, known for her stunning figure and ethereal charm, has made a name for herself as a successful international model and one of the highest-paid in the worldwide industry. Her reappearance in Melbourne is already sending ripples through the entire city with thousands of fans gathered at the airport to give her a befitting welcome this morning.ââWow! Sheâs
The shift in conversation was immediate. The women around the table erupted into excited chatter.âOh, I found the most stunning dress at Marissaâs Boutique!â Sheilaâs sister, Sophie, exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. âItâs this deep emerald green, and I think it will look fabulous with my new earrings.âEmerald? How clichĂ©!â Another one scoffed. âIâm going with a daring crimson red. Itâs bold, just like me.â Meanwhile, Kourtney tried to maintain her composure, but was finding it difficult.Sebastian, ever the observant husband, noticed the sudden change in her mood.He leaned closer to her. âWhatâs wrong?âKourtney took a deep breath, feeling a rush of nerves as she spoke. âI...Iâm actually the one in charge of planning that event.âSebastianâs mood instantly lit up with pride radiating from him. âOh yeah! You did mention it before!âHe couldnât contain his excitement and announced it loudly across the table, âEveryone, my wife is the main event planner for the Silverstone Gala! She wo
Edwin raised his hands in mock surrender.âWoah! I bet no one so that coming,â he was amazed.At first, he had been super worried for Kourtney but, seemed like he wouldnât need to be.She could certainly take care of herself.He loved that she was a fighter who couldnât be bullied by those lots.He liked his new sister-in-law a lot!âMind doing us the Honour of an introduction?ââI wonât.ââCome on, donât be such a buzzkill. Iâm really eager to meet her,â Edwin stressed.The corners of Sebastianâs mouth betrayed a smile as he still stood up anyway.He had pretended to be nonchalant to Edwinâs request, but deep down, he was silently glad he could finally introduce Kourtney to the one person he rolled with the most among the Woods clan.As they walked into the kitchen, the air was filled with the delicious aroma of spices. Kourtney was in her element, wearing an apron, surrounded by some female members of the family and a few staff, all busily preparing dinner. She was slicing vegetable
Kourtney stood, perplexed. âDonât you want to know what happened?â âI donât care what happened. But I know you are right to slap whoever,â Sebastian chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners.He grinned like he just heard the best news all year round.Her eyes met his, and for a moment, they just stared at each other.Before she could gather her thoughts to speak, the ladies who had been at the tea party walked up to them, their faces pinched with disapproval. "Sebastian, you won't believe what your wife just did," one of the older ladies said with malice.Sebastian turned his piercing gaze toward them. His expression was cold and menacing, with eyes flashing with warning. "I think I can guess. But let me make one thing clear: my wife is off-limits. Anyone who dares to cross her will have to answer to me."âButâbut she slapped my daughter, Sheila!â Sheilaâs mother protested, her voice trembling.âI don't care. What I care about is that my wife was disrespected, and thus, she reacte