“I’ll take her home now. You take care,” Sebastian interjected.
There was a strength in his voice, a command that made it clear that this time, his desire to take her home was not to be trifled with. The intense look in his blue eyes said it all.
“Oh, of course, Mr Woods. Just please… look after her,” Lilian replied, her worry evident as she looked from Kourtney to Sebastian.
“I always do,” he replied, his body a solid wall of strength as he carried Kourtney, bridal style, toward the exit, away from the chaos of the precinct.
He needed to take care of his wife, as she had suffered so much in the past few days.
“Let’s go home, baby.”
Kourtney felt a rush of warmth at his words.
Home…..
The word felt different now, a promise of safety and protection wrapped in Sebastian’s embrace.
As his strong, muscular arms encircled her, Kourtney felt the tension in her shoulders melt away. She leaned into him, her body instinctively seeking comfort, her fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt as if it were a lifeline.
But, immediately they stepped outside the precinct, a blinding array of flashes erupted around them, momentarily stunning Kourtney.
The paparazzi close by had been alerted that a huge public figure like Sebastian Woods had been sighted at the station. And, of course, they wouldn’t pass off such a huge opportunity to make big bucks.
The bright lights from the waiting paparazzi felt like a storm of chaos, and Kourtney instinctively leaned closer to her husband’s body, seeking refuge from the onslaught.
She buried her face deeper into Sebastian’s chest, feeling a mix of embarrassment and exhilaration.
The world around her blurred into the darkness of his black shirt, and she could only hear the rapid clicks of cameras capturing every moment.
‘This is insane,’ she thought to herself, wishing they could just disappear into a private world where only they existed.
Quick to sense her discomfort, Sebastian hastily draped his coat over her head and shoulders.
In truth, he didn’t care if they took photos of them. After all, he wanted the whole world to see her…. to know of her existence that he indeed had a wife, a woman to call his own.
But with Kourtney’s current disheveled and messy state, he understood her decision to hide away from the cameras.
He frowned, his protective instincts kicking in as he glared at the mob of photographers.
‘These vultures!’
His grip tightened around her, and he could feel the tension radiating from her body.
“Calm down, Honey,” he murmured softly in her ear. “Don’t look at them. Just focus on me.”
Kourtney nodded against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Despite the blinding lights and the chaos, being in Sebastian’s arms felt like being wrapped in a web of safety and comfort-like a warm blanket.
She could hear the shouts from the paparazzi, their excitement so obvious.
“President Woods! Is it true you’re firing the officers? What happened inside?” one shouted, while another yelled, “Who’s the woman in your arms? Is she your new wife? Why is she hiding her face?”
The questions kept coming, and Kourtney’s heart raced with the sudden attention. She knew that what was shocking was the fact that Sebastian had a woman carried in his arms. A scene that hasn’t been seen or heard of in years.
No doubt those pictures would make it to the papers the next day.
She could only imagine the headlines that would splash across the tabloids tomorrow.
“Billionaire’s Fiery Rage: A Wife in Distress?”
“Dashing Billionaire Pictured With Wife For The First Time?”
“Sebastian Woods Truly Isn’t Queer After All: Here’s Why”
“Sebastian Woods: Love or Possession?”
Meanwhile, Sebastian paid them dust.
“I suggest you all back off,” he warned, his voice cold and dangerous.
As they reached his waiting car, he gently set her down, still keeping his arm around her waist and shielding her protectively from the paps.
“Drive,” he commanded Martins, his chauffeur, his tone leaving no room for argument. The car pulled away from the circus, and Kourtney let out a huge breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding…….
***********
As Sebastian carried Kourtney safely out of the precinct and away from the chaotic paparazzi, Lilian’s eyes followed them, her heart swelling with relief and concern. She felt a wave of happiness wash over her.
Lilian had always been Kourtney’s rock-the one who held her together whenever her family did her dirty. Memories of late-night talks about their dreams and fears flooded back, and now, seeing that her best friend had such a man to protect her after all that she’s been through in that toxic and shitty family of hers made her heart so glad.
“At least she’s safe now,” she murmured to herself, a small smile breaking through her worried expression.
“Let’s go. I’ll drop you off,” Edwin’s deep voice jolted her out of her thoughts.
She turned to face him, and her eyes met with the intensity of his piercing gaze.
There was an undeniable chemistry between them, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that the man was “trouble.”
For all she knew, this man could be dangerous. And he seemed like the type who had a million secrets. All her life, one thing Lilian had always trusted was her gut feeling, and right now, it was ringing alarm bells.
“Uhmmm… thanks, but I think I can manage on my own.”
Edwin chuckled, a low, inviting sound that made her heart skip a beat. “What now? Do I look scary?” he teased, his eyes dancing with amusement.
“Not scary, just… intense.”
“Intense is good,” he countered, stepping closer, his presence suddenly overwhelming. “It keeps things interesting. But I promise, I’m harmless… mostly.”
The way he said the last word, with a hint of mischief, made her pulse quicken.