My Stone-Hearted Billionaire Husband

Kourtney glanced at her ringing phone and sighed. She reached for it, taking a quick look at the caller ID. It was an unknown number, and immediately, she assumed it was one of her ex-fiance’s family members calling again. She shook her head and silenced the call, her expression twisting slightly to frustration.

Liam raised an eyebrow, noticing her reaction. “Everything okay?”

Kourtney shrugged, offering a half-hearted smile. “Just another call I’d rather not deal with.”

“Ok then. But I’m being serious here. I’m not leaving without you. Let’s go grab something quick before work hours resume,” Liam continued to insist.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Kourtney stretched her arms lazily overhead. “I promise I’ll take a break soon. Just let me finish this one last section of the draft, please.”

“Liam is right, Kourt. We’ve seen how hard you’ve been working since yesterday, and we have no doubt the Silverstone Gala will be a massive success. But you need to take a break, okay? It’s still one month away anyway,” Kourtney’s closest female workmate, Irina Evans, added in support of Liam.

The three of them were known as an unstoppable team within the company, and their camaraderie had grown stronger over the years.

Kourtney sighed, finally giving in to their persistence. “Alright, fine. But only because you guys are being so insistent.”

Liam grinned triumphantly. “That’s the spirit! Now, let’s go before they run out of those amazing Parmesan Garlic French Fries you love.”

As they strolled towards the company cafeteria, Kourtney couldn’t help but feel grateful for her friends’ intervention, especially Liam. He was one of the few people who could always coax her into taking a break, and she was thankful for that.

She tended to get lost in her work, often forgetting to take breaks or care for herself. Liam and Irina’s presence was like a reminder that she wasn’t alone in this demanding job.

Reaching the bustling cafeteria, the aroma of various foods filled the air. Kourtney scanned the options before settling on a salad, trying to maintain some semblance of a healthy diet amidst the Silverstone Gala event-planning chaos.

They joined the line and chatted about upcoming events, office gossip, and anything that helped take Kourtney’s mind off work for a while. As they grabbed their food and found a table, the trio continued their banter and laughter before deviating to work topics.

“So, Kourt, how’s the gala’s theme coming along?” Irina asked, taking a bite of her sandwich.

Kourtney leaned back in her chair, sipping her water. “It’s shaping up nicely. I’m thinking of a starry night theme with a touch of elegance and mystery. I want the guests to feel like they’re stepping into a magical world on arrival at the venue.”

Liam nodded approvingly. “Sounds enchanting. And knowing you, it’s going to be executed perfectly. You have an incredible talent for turning ideas into reality. I’ve seen you work tirelessly, paying attention to every detail and making everything come together seamlessly.”

“I know! Right? Her dedication and creativity never cease to amaze us. It’s truly awe-inspiring,” Irina chipped in.

Kourtney smiled warmly, appreciating their encouragement. “Thanks, guys. I couldn’t do it without you both.”

“But seriously, Kourt,” Liam continued, his voice softening with a sincerity that caught her off guard, “you’re not just incredible at everything. You’re the most amazing person I’ve ever known.”

Kourtney felt her cheeks warm, and her heart flutters at Liam’s words. His praise held a sweetness that went beyond their usual banter. She exchanged a glance with him, her curiosity piqued by his genuine sentiment. His eyes even held a tenderness that she hadn’t noticed before.

Liam smiled brightly, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer before he fixed his gaze on his plate. Underneath the table, he tapped his foot softly on Irina’s. He’d been crushing on Kourtney for the longest time now. And he thought, ‘Now is my chance.’

Just as Kourtney was about to respond to his praises, Irina cleared her throat noticeably. “Excuse me, guys. I just remembered I need to use the bathroom. I’ll be back in a bit.”

Kourtney watched as Irina rose from her seat, her expression holding an almost bustling laughter. Kourtney raised an eyebrow, noticing a mischievous glint in Irina’s eyes. She exchanged curious glances with both Liam and Irina, wondering if they were plotting something behind her back. Probably a new prank!

As Irina left, Kourtney turned her attention back to Liam, who seemed oddly serious now. His usually playful demeanor had transformed into something she wasn’t used to seeing.

He shifted in his seat and cleared his throat as if he was about to give a presentation.

“So Kourt. How’ve you been holding up since… you know,” Liam started a new conversation.

“I’ve been holding up just fine,” Kourtney replied briefly with a smile.

She knew where this might be going, and hell no! She was not in the mood to talk about it with anyone. Thankfully, no one at work had brought it up before now. All she wanted to do right now is to focus on the upcoming event.

“Great. Because the last thing I want is to see you unhappy. I mean… You deserve better, Kourt. And that bastard is going to regret losing a rare gem like you. Sooner or later,” Liam said with all seriousness.

“Gee. Thanks. You’re always my biggest supporter.”

“And I’ll always be. It’s like I was made to be your cheerleader in life.”

Kourtney blushed awkwardly and ate a mouthful of salad. She couldn’t shake off the feeling that something significant was about to unfold, especially with the way he touched her cheeks earlier.

Liam cleared his throat again and focused his gaze on the table for a short instant before he looked up at Kourtney. His emerald eyes held a mixture of vulnerability and determination, locking onto hers with intensity.

“KKourt,” he began, his voice a tad shaky.

“There’s uhh… something I’ve wanted to tell you for a while now.”

Kourtney’s pulse immediately quickened as she met his gaze, her curiosity and anticipation growing. She wondered if he was about to reveal something she had sensed for a while.

“What is it, Liam? Is everything okay?”

Liam nodded, running his fingers through his thick blonde hair, an uncharacteristic sign of nervousness. His lips curved into a shy smile. He seemed so nervous, which was so unlike him. He even started fidgeting with his fork, staring down at his plate.

Kourtney held her breath, her eyes locked on him, waiting for the words she had always suspected but hoped wasn’t true. She prayed silently, that he wouldn’t say what she thought he was about to say.

“Kourt… I’ve known you for the past two years, and I’ve admired your strength, your kindness, and your unwavering dedication. I’ll keep saying it You’re an incredible person, Kourt. Like an Angel sent from Heaven! And I… I want you to know that I’ve”

“Well, I’ve realized that you mean a lot more to me than just a friend and colleague. Kourtney Lily Allen, I… I really… really like you. I like you so much…”

“My feelings for you… they’ve grown stronger than just friendship. A-And now that you’re single again. I Uhmm… was hoping you’d give me a chance…”

A flurry of emotions rushed through Kourtney’s mind as she absorbed his confession. Her heart raced, and she struggled to find the right words to respond. She had always suspected he had romantic feelings for her, just like everyone else assumes, but hearing him say it out loud was a different matter altogether.

Just as she was about to speak, her phone began to ring, breaking the charged moment between them.

Startled by the interruption, Kourtney reached for her phone, her fingers trembling slightly. She saw the unknown number from earlier flashing on the screen once again, and her heart sank at the timing of the call. She looked back at Liam, offering an apologetic smile.

“I’m so sorry, Liam. These calls are getting really persistent lately.”

Liam’s gaze softened, his initial nervousness returning to his eyes. “No need to apologize, Kourtney. Timing can be tricky, huh?”

Kourtney nodded, her mind a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts. She busied the call, dropped the phone, and turned her attention back to Liam, offering a faint smile to cover her unsettled emotions.

“Yeah, sorry about that. It’s probably just another random call.”

And then, the phone started ringing once again.

Liam’s lips curved into a reassuring smile. “It’s okay! But, hey, at least answer it just in case it’s something important, especially since the caller seems incessant.”

As Kourtney contemplated what to do, Liam leaned in a bit closer. “Or, you could just answer it and give them a piece of your mind if it’s bothering you so much.”

She chuckled, appreciating his attempt to lighten the mood. “Thanks, Liam. I think I’m going to do just that.”

He winked playfully. “Anytime, Kourt.”

“Please excuse me. One sec.”

“Sure.”

Picking up her phone, Kourtney took a deep breath and answered the call.

“Hello?”

There was a moment of silence on the other end, and Kourtney had to repeat herself.

“Hello???”

“Hmmm.” This time a reply came through.

“Who is this?” Kourtney asked impatiently, but there was no tangible reply again, except for another long drag of “Hmmm…”

She was getting annoyed now as she had no time for a humming competition over the phone. Her patience was wearing thin for the persistent caller. Her annoyance grew, and she was just about to end the call when a voice finally came through.

“Is that how you greet your husband?” the stern voice replied with annoyance evident.

“H-Hu… Husband?” Kourtney’s eyes widened in realization.

Sebastian frowned deeply at her startled response.

‘Did this woman forget she had a husband?’ he thought.