“Where are you taking me?” he demanded, trying to sound assertive, but his voice wavered.
“Just sit tight,” one of the men replied, a smirk playing on his lips as if he found amusement in Brandon’s discomfort.
Brandon’s mind raced.
It’s true, Kourtney was no longer just a girl he could get involved with; she was now his idol, Sebastian Woods’s wife. But he had meant every word he said to her.
He missed her!
He loved her!
He had realized his mistake!
He had been a fool!
As they drove through the city, the glimmering lights outside seemed to mock him, each flicker reminding him of what he had lost. He thought about Kourtney, her laughter, the way her eyes sparkled when she was excited.
But now, she belonged to someone else-a man who wouldn’t think twice about putting him in his place.
The way Sebastian had walked into the Allen villa that day, the way He had claimed Kourtney with a possessive air that made it clear she was not just a woman to him; she was his.
The memory of that moment haunted Brandon so much to make him go crazy!
Crazy to the extent that he went to Skyline Events to see her.
Yes! It’s probably too late now, but Brandon was stubborn.
He had always been the golden child of the Smith family, the one who could do no wrong in his parents’ or grandparents’ eyes.
Little did he know that this time, he was stepping into a world far beyond his reach.
The SUV pulled up to a grand building, its glass facade reflecting the moonlight like a diamond. It was one of the plenty of Sebastian Woods’ mansions around the City, a place that exuded his multitude of wealth and power.
But this one was more like his fortress.
Villa Santorini.
The one Sebastian used to carry out most of his foul-play activities. For example, dealing with little rats like Brandon Smith.
The men dragged Brandon out, their grips firm and unyielding. He stumbled slightly but quickly regained his composure, trying to project an image of defiance despite the growing dread in his stomach.
He shamelessly tried to stand tall, but he still felt small!
Finally, they reached a large door, and one of the men knocked. “Mr. Woods, we have Brandon Smith here.”
“Bring him in,” came a deep voice from inside, rich and commanding. The door swung open, and Brandon was pushed inside.
Sebastian was seated behind an enormous desk with a cigar in hand, his posture relaxed yet imposing.
He looked up, his piercing blue eyes locking onto Brandon with an intensity that made him feel even more small and exposed.
“Make him kneel!” Sebastian commanded.
His tone was filled with ruthless precision as if belittling others brought him genuine satisfaction.
Before Brandon could process what was happening, one of Sebastian’s men advanced, a hulking figure who brushed him to the ground with an effortless shove. The impact knocked the wind out of him, and he felt the cold, hard floor beneath him as he tumbled.
“Get on your knees,” the man growled, manhandling Brandon into submission.
And then, Sebastian’s voice cut through the air with the sharpness of a knife, his dark eyes narrowing as he leaned forward. “A mere rodent! What have you got the guts to touch what’s mine?”
Brandon swallowed hard, trying to maintain his boldness despite his ongoing humiliation. “I don’t care what you think, Woods. Kourtney is my-”
Before he could finish his sentence, one of Sebastian’s men delivered a mighty blow directly to his head. Pain exploded in his skull, and he spiraled to the ground, blood gushing from his nose.
“You don’t speak like that to President Woods,” the man sneered, looking down at him like he was nothing more than an insect to be crushed.
Brandon’s heart raced, anger boiling inside him at the total humiliation.
He winced in pain, both physically and emotionally.
The shame was unbearable.
He was a Smith!
A young master of the elite and respectable Smith family!
How dare they treat him like this?
Brandon pushed himself up, wiping the blood from his nose, trying to regain some show of dignity.
Gritting his teeth against the pain, he forced himself to speak, trying hard not to show any form of weakness.
“You think you can just do this to me?” he spat, his voice shaky but defiant. “You can’t just kidnap me. I’m a Smith! My family has connections-”
Boom!
Sebastian’s men wasted no time as another landed a hefty blow to his stomach. Brandon landed on his back with a thud, the air knocked out of him.
Meanwhile, Sebastian’s lips curled into a smirk, and he took a slow drag from his cigar, letting the smoke curl around him like a serpent.
“Kidnap? Hardly. This is just a friendly visit to discuss your little stunt with my wife.”
He stood up from his desk, towering over like a dark shadow as he moved with an air of elegance toward his target.
Family?
Connections?
What a joker!
Brandon and his family were no match for him in any way or anything!
The thought of him feeling untouchable because of his family’s connections made Sebastian’s blood boil even more.
Even though they were among the top five families in Melbourne, the Smiths were still very much like low-lives to him. They were nothing but a bunch of low-lives pretending to play in the big leagues. He could as well amputate his two legs right now, and they wouldn’t do shit!
He said five simple words.
“You’re nothing compared to me.”
Brandon’s fists clenched, his pride stinging more than the pain in his head and stomach.
“Yes! You may have all the money and power, but you’ll never be the man Kourtney loves,” he scoffed, forcing a smirk.
The room fell silent, and for a brief moment, Brandon thought he saw a flicker of hurt in Sebastian’s darkened eyes, so he decided to press even further amidst his bloodied mouthful.
“You’re sick! And she’ll never love you the way she loved me. And to think I even rated you as an icon. You’re just pained because you know she still has feelings for m-“