Kourtney paid the driver hastily with trembling hands and made her way towards Lilian’s charming brick house, nestled among the flowering trees.
Because of a misunderstanding a few months ago, Lilian had moved out of the Powell family villa. A decision Kourtney had supported wholeheartedly.
She didn’t even need to ring the doorbell; she knew the password. Lilian had always been her safe haven, and she desperately needed that comfort now.
With a deep breath, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The large living room was dimly lit, the soft glow of the television illuminating the space. Kourtney’s brows furrowed when she saw Lilian sprawled out lazily on the couch, popcorn bucket in hand, utterly engrossed in a K-drama.
Melodramatic music played in the background as a handsome male lead confessed his undying love to the female lead, his eyes glistening with unshed tears, while Lilian’s eyes sparkled with joy.
She didn’t even notice Kourtney had entered until she cleared her throat, the sound echoing in the cozy room.
“Kourtney!” Lilian exclaimed, spilling popcorn everywhere as she shot up from the couch.
She rushed over, pulling her friend into a tight embrace, almost squeezing the breath out of Kourtney.
“What happened? Are you okay? I sent you like a hundred text messages. I called you like a thousand times but couldn’t reach you. What happened to your damn phone? Did you see the news online? Why are you in a hospital gown? Are you hurt? My God, I’ve been so worried! I was about to go out to look for you!” Lilian said all in one breath.
“Yeah, right! I don’t believe you for a second,” Kourtney sneered, her eyes darting between Lilian and the TV. “You were glued to that screen this whole time!”
Lilian’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she motioned to pause the show, still not wanting to miss any scene.
“I swear! I already planned on going out to look for you, if only I could just finish this last episode! See? I’m already dressed to go out and look for you,” she assured Kourtney with a bright smile, gesturing to her cozy yet stylish outfit, a cute oversized sweater paired with leggings.
“Okay, okay, you caught me. Maybe I was a little distracted,” Lilian admitted, “But I’ve been truly worried about you.”
Kourtney sighed, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly into a smile.
Lilian’s first love would always be K-dramas, and the girl could get lost in them for tens of hours. But as Kourtney took a seat on the couch, her mood faltered. The weight of her day settled heavily on her shoulders, and she felt the urge to confide in her friend.
“I need to talk to someone,” she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lilian’s expression changed immediately, her playful demeanor replaced with concern. “What happened, Kourt? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Kourtney took a deep breath, her heart racing as she narrated her entire ordeal from start to finish.
She told Lilian EVERYTHING amidst sobs, leaving no details out.
“Girl! You’ve been through hell! I can’t believe he’s crazy enough to abandon you at Coolaroo, of all places! And I can’t believe that shit almost happened to you!” Lilian gasped, her eyes wide with shock.
“He left me there on purpose so I could get hurt because he thought I betrayed him. And after everything, he… he just wouldn’t let me go. His men are already outside your apartment,” Kourtney said with a shaky voice as she rubbed her temples while Lilian’s expression turned serious.
“Are you for real?” she sprang up, looking through the glass windows in shock as she sighted the two bodyguards. “He should give you a break, my God!”
“I… I thought I could get away. I really did. But it’s like he’s everywhere, Lil. I can’t escape him! It’s just… he’s so possessive. I feel trapped. Like I’m in a cage, and he holds the key,” Kourtney confessed, her voice trembling. “He thinks he can control everything-who I am, where I go, even who I talk to.”
Lilian’s expression hardened. All these were starting to remind her of someone from her past. She hugged Kourtney close, trying hard not to think about it.
After consoling her for a while, she offered for Kourtney to freshen up and feel at home, removing her hospital gown and giving her some of her clothes to wear.
************
“Sir, we’re almost there,” Jamie said, breaking the dead silence.
Sebastian nodded, trying to compose himself.
As they pulled into the driveway of Kourtney’s best friend’s house, he felt a surge of determination. This time, he wouldn’t let her see him as a heartless man.
No, he would show her he was serious about making things right. He stepped out of the car, his heart pounding in his chest like a war drum. He took a moment to straighten his Armani suit jacket and then ran a hand through his hair once more.
This was it!
He needed to face Kourtney and somehow convince her to pardon him for what he did and go back home with him.
He strode up to the front door, pausing for a moment to collect his thoughts before ringing the doorbell.
The door swung open, revealing a pretty young woman around Kourtney’s age, looking at him with wide brown eyes.
“Sebastian Woods? Omg! You really came!” Lilian screeched hysterically, clearly taken aback by his arrival. Kourtney had told her he would come, but seeing is believing.
According to the plan, she was supposed to be angry with this man and chase him away but…..
Meanwhile, Sebastian almost covered his ears due to her screaming. He shifted backward as his skin began to crawl due to the close proximity to a different female. The last thing he wanted now was for his allergy to be triggered.
“I need to talk to my Wife,” he said with an underlying urgency.