"Thank you, Ted. Please inform my wife, Kourtney, that we have visitors," Sebastian instructed smoothly, his voice a mask of composure.The old butler bowed and swiftly made his way to deliver the message, leaving Sebastian to contemplate the chessboard of power and emotions that lay before him.He strode out of his study, each step purposeful, his footsteps echoing off the polished marble floors, and then he stopped at the top of the grand staircase. From there, he could oversee the entrance and observe the Allens' approach.The door creaked open, and they came, one by one, in a straight queue, like sacrificial lambs entering the lion's den.Sebastian smirked, enjoying the view.This was the Allens, his supposed in-lawsâa once proud and formidable family, now shadows of their former selves.His gaze lingered on them, calculating and detached. He observed the tension in their stance, the flicker of hope in their eyes as they shifted about, unsure of where to stand. Their steps were he
Kourtney's heart ached at her father's words, the pain evident in his voice. She could see the turmoil in his eyes, as she knew he was a proud man who barely ever admitted his mistakes. But nowâŠ. Now he was doing that in front of everyone.Taking a deep breath, she responded. âI forgive you, Dad. It's okay!âLuke visibly sagged with relief, his shoulders relaxing as he absorbed his daughter's words. He never thought it would actually be this EASY!So easy!!!He reached out quickly and enveloped Kourtney in a warm embrace, further proving their relationship was good again.Kourtney was taken aback at first. She couldn't remember the last time she hugged her dad. This man who had never truly cared enough to embrace her for as long as she could remember was doing so now in front of everyone.She felt bitter-sweet!Seeing Kourtneyâs compassionate response to Luke, the rest of the Allens present, except Kathlyn, started approaching, asking for forgiveness concerning the previous incident a
Kourtney's blood immediately ran cold on hearing Sebastian's brazen proposal.âUhh?â she asked, still in doubt of the extent of his demands.âYou heard me,â he replied proudly.His face was completely straight and unreadable now, which meant he was super-duper serious.Kourtney shrugged.âWhy does he always have to make everything so difficult⊠so complicated?â She thought to herself, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.This man⊠he always had to push boundaries!Naked in the shower⊠With him?How can he be so shameless?She had known Sebastian was a shameless fad, but this was a whole new level of absurdness.Ridiculously Unreasonable!!!She knew what he wanted, what he always seemed to want from her. Yet, she could never grow accustomed to his insane demands.âYou.. can't you just be reasonable and less vulgar for once?ââWellâŠWhereâs the fun in that?â Sebastian replied smugly, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her knees weak."He knows exactly what he's d
She glanced around the table, meeting the eyes of her family members as they all looked at her with eyes full of hope and expectancy.How could she secure this land and save her family's legacy?âHeck! It means going through that man again, isn't it?â she grimaced inwardly.She just never seems to escape Sebastian's clutches. The man appeared to hold the key to every door she needed to unlock.It was traumatizing at this point!With a deep breath, she turned her attention back to her grandmother. âI'll do it, Grandma. I'll find a way to get that land for us. I⊠Iâll talk to my husband about it.âA glimmer of hope danced in Grandma Florence's eyes as she reached out and squeezed Kourtney's hand. âOh, bless you, my dear. You are truly our ray of hope in these dark times.âKourtney could only force a fake smile as she took in everyoneâs praises and words of admiration throughout the rest of the brunch.******Later that evening, as the Allens prepared to depart from the Serenity Villa, M
Kathlyn hesitated for a moment, her eyes darting away for a fleeting moment before locking onto Kourtney's gaze.A bitter laugh escaped her lips, devoid of any humor. "Oh, you really don't know, do you? You have no clue about the pain you've caused me, the opportunities you've stolen from me. But one day, the world will see you for who you truly are, and then youâll understand why I canât stand the sight of you.âKourtney's brow furrowed in confusion. "What are you talking about, Kathlyn? What do you mean by that? What are you hiding?â Her voice quivered, betraying her inner turmoil as she tried to make sense of Kathlynâs remarks.Her mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle of her sister's cryptic words.But Kathlyn remained stoic, her resolve unyielding. âOh, not now, Sister! But youâll find out soon enough. But for now, just know that I have my reasons for despising you.âWith a final glare, she turned on her heel and strode towards the door, leaving Kourtney standing there,
âWHY??? Why am I so affected by him? It's just a shower, just a deal. But itâs... it's intoxicating," Kourtney pondered, her breath catching in her throat as heat coursed through her veins. But then she needed to stick to the plan and not get carried away by the manâs drop-dead gorgeous body and charms.Sebastian was a master of seduction, a man who knew how to play her like a finely tuned instrument, but she wasn't going to let herself fall under his spell this time.She knew she couldn't let him have her so easily tonight. Despite the overwhelming desire that pulsed through her veins, she needed to stay focused. FOCUS!Meanwhile, Sebastian licked his lips slowly as he let his sly gaze roam over her naked body, taking in every curve and contour with a hunger that bordered on obsession.The sight of her body before him, all wet, vulnerable, and alluring, sent a rush of blood straight to his member, causing it to twitch and throb with an urgency that demanded attention. **"Sh
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