Chapter 62: Fresh Wounds
Skyline Events
Kourtney couldn’t help but notice the curious glances from her colleagues.
“Are you okay, Kourt? I swear, your walking steps are kinda different today!” Kourtney’s workplace Bestie, Irina, said after clearing her throat awkwardly.
Kourtney gulped a mouthful of saliva as she felt the weight of Irina’s gaze on her, waiting for a response. Her walking step was indeed different, yes! But not from any physical injury, but from the lingering soreness that resonated deep within her body from the relentless actions of #that man the night before, and the night before that.
Her body still hurts from the man’s merciless thrusting all night long. The second night in a row!
‘So people are noticing? Oh God! I’m screwed!’ she cringed to herself, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.
The urge to disappear, to fade into the background and become invisible, tugged at her. But despite feeling awkward and exposed, Kourtney knew she had to maintain a facade of normalcy.
With a forced smile, she replied to Irina, “Oh, just a bit tired from prepping for the Silverstone gala, you know how it is,” she replied, hoping Irina would buy her excuse.
She felt stupidly awkward and embarrassed but tried to play it cool.
Irina raised an eyebrow, looking unconvinced, but decided not to press further. “Alright, just take care of yourself, okay?” she said, giving Kourtney a knowing look before heading back to her desk.
Kourtney breathe a sigh of relief. Thankfully, Liam and the others also said nothing again.
Aside from the fear of others noticing her funny little walk, she’d been having a peaceful day at work, much to her surprise.
What really surprised her the most was the fact that her family still didn’t reveal she was married to Sebastian Woods as she had expected.
She had been on edge all through the way to work, fearing that the news would have finally been revealed to the entire world by now. After all, it seemed like almost everyone close to her was in the know. She remembered the tension in the air when her family and also some members of the Smith family who were present at the Allen villa found out.
But, turns out that no one has said anything to the media, revealing her new identity.
Why???
The fact that her relatives hadn’t spilled the beans about her marriage to Sebastian was quite suspicious, given the kind of people they were.
‘What are they planning?’ she pondered.
Just as she was lost in her thoughts, her phone rang, displaying her dad’s name on the screen. Kourtney’s heart raced.
She hesitated for a moment, wondering what new drama awaited her this time.
Her mind scrambled with possibilities. What could he want to discuss now? Was he going to apologize for his behavior now that she was the wife of a powerful billionaire, or was it something entirely different?
With a deep breath, she answered the call. “Hi, Dad, what’s up?”
“Kourtney, we need to talk,” her dad’s voice sounded serious, sending a shiver down her spine.
“What is it about?” Kourtney asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Lord knows she was still hella mad at the man, as well as her entire family. The least they owe her is an apology for the trashy way they had treated her at the brunch party last time.
“Let’s meet up for lunch at your favorite restaurant. Your mum and I want to see you,” Luke’s stern voice sounded through the phone again. It showed no sign of remorse or regret, rather it had a hint of contempt and disgust.
Kourtney’s mind raced with so many different emotions-apprehension, frustration, and a tinge of curiosity. She couldn’t help but feel nervous about meeting them again, especially after what went down two days ago when Sebastian showed up at the Allen villa.
She knew her parents’ sudden invitation was no ordinary gesture, neither was it going to be for a chitchat. She knew them all too well. And the way her dad’s voice sounded over the phone hinted at an impending storm.
Nevertheless, she decided to sneak out of work during lunch break.
As Kourtney stepped into the elegant restaurant, her eyes quickly found her parents seated at her favorite table with a breathtaking view of the city. Her mom’s forced smile and her dad’s stoic expression confirmed her suspicions; this lunch was no ordinary family gathering.
Kourtney approached the table, exchanging obligatory hugs. Her mum’s embrace felt distant, almost cold, as they exchanged greetings. While her father, Luke, silent but visibly displeased, added to the tension hanging in the air.
“Hey, Mom, Dad. You both didn’t have to order my favorite dishes already,” Kourtney said, trying to break the ice.
“We wanted to make sure you felt welcomed,” her mom replied, her tone masking underlying tension.
Sitting down, Kourtney studied her parents’ expressions, sensing the storm brewing beneath their composed facades.
“So, what’s this all about?” Kourtney finally asked, unable to bear the weight of the unspoken words any longer.
Her mother hesitated before speaking, “Kourtney, we need to address what happened at Kathlyn’s bridal brunch party on Saturday. Your behavior was unacceptable. You really hurt Kathlyn’s feelings by making her bridal dinner all about you by intentionally announcing your marriage and causing a ruckus. Our poor Kathlyn is depressed and hasn’t been her jovial self ever since….”
Kourtney blinked blankly at the woman she called “Mother.”
Her fragile heart, once again, sank beneath the ocean!C0pyright © 2024 Nôv)(elDrama.Org.
The mention of Kathlyn stung like a fresh wound, reopening the ache of years of feeling overshadowed and unloved.
Despite everything that’s happened over the past week and after everything she’s been through, her parents still saw her as the villain, the perpetual troublemaker, the black sheep of the family.
“I…I can’t believe this,” Kourtney’s voice quivered, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “Is that why you called me to this lovely family lunch? To scold me for something that wasn’t even my fault?”
“Kourtney dear, it’s not like that….” Margaret tried to soothe her.
“Noooo!!! You always do this, Mom and Dad. Kathlyn this, Kathlyn that. What about me? Am I just the afterthought in this family?” Kourtney shook with anger.
Her mother’s attempts to soothe her only fueled the fire of resentment burning within her.
“Kourtney, we love you both. But you need to understand. And you know Kathlyn is pregnant. She shouldn’t be upset like this,” Margaret’s eyes softened, a hint of regret flickering across her face, but she kept on grumbling her concerns about Kathlyn anyway.
The truth is, Kathlyn has been so depressed, and it caused a heavy cloud hanging over the entire Allen household. It seemed like even the walls were aware of her distress as they stood silent, witnesses to her seclusion.
For the past two days, Kathlyn had barricaded herself in her room, her tears staining the pillowcases, her sobs loud enough to be heard in the next room. She had refused to eat or even talk to anyone, including Brandon, her fiance. His gentle knocks on the door went unanswered, and his pleas for her to open up met with eerie silence. Margaret’s patience had worn thin, her maternal instincts overridden by frustration and fear for her beloved favorite daughter.
Turning to Kourtney, she lashed out in a moment of anger, the words sharp and cutting, “Do you even bother to know how your sister has been faring these past few days? She’s crushed, and you are part of the reason why.” The accusation hung in the air, heavy and accusatory.
Kourtney felt the weight of her mother’s words like a physical blow, her eyes narrowing in shock.
She wanted to cry at this point.
How could they still find a way to blame her for Kathlyn’s pain? The unfairness of it all was threatening to overwhelm her fragile composure.
It seems like her parents will always only SEE Kathlyn while tossing her aside. She couldn’t believe that with everything that happened, they still only cared for and talked about Kathlyn’s feelings.
The pain of being pushed aside once again by her own family was almost unbearable. These people would always prioritize Kathlyn over her, no matter what.
She came here hopeful, thinking they would start treating her well now that they knew she became the Woods’s young mistress, but how wrong she was. Despite her newly obtained status, she was still second best in their eyes.
The constant reminder that her malicious sister would always be the golden child, the one they cherished above all, cut deep.
It hurts so bad!!!
Anger and neglect bubbled inside her.
She stood up in irritation and pushed back her chair. She hadn’t touched her food, not even a single bite. She was having none of it as she made to storm off.
“Stop right there, young lady,” her father’s stern voice halted her in her tracks before she could take another step. “That isn’t the reason we wanted to see you.”
Kourtney hesitated, reluctantly returning to her seat. She sat down, her eyes stung with unshed tears, bracing herself for whatever bombshell they were about to drop.
Firstly, her parents exchanged a knowing glance, a silent conversation passing between them. Then Luke, her father, cleared his throat, his tone grave and heavy with significance. “We need to talk about the Allen Corporation,”
Kourtney’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What about it?”