Blake Stallion sat in his study, staring down on his phone that had been calling his granddaughter but she isn't answering; the ticking clock amplifying his growing impatience. Two days had passed, and Stella was still absent from home not that she had gone on a business trip. This was unlike her, and it unsettled him.
Leonard Stallion, Stella's father, entered the room and immediately noticed his father's pensive demeanor. "Why do you look so worried again?" Leonard asked, already suspecting the answer because if anything can make the old man restless it must be Stella or the company.
The old man sighed heavily, his fingers tapping the armrest. "It's Stella."
Leonard nodded "that's more like it
", he thought as he raised a brow. "Is the company facing any problems?"
"No, didn't you notice she has not been home for the past two days and this is unlike her", he stated.
Leonard needed not to be told but he had always believed she can make the right decision at all times besides it's impossible that he will keep her tied to the family when she is already in her twenties.
"You need not to worry, may be she is staying up at the hotel", he stated with conviction.
Blake nodded his head, he stood up from his chair and walked to the window. Leonard need not be told that the old man has something in his mind and he didn't mind waiting for him to spit it out.
"I know but the matter at hand concerns her and I have been calling her to return home so that we can talk", he muttered.
Leonard heart skipped a bit, as far as he know this matter must be tied to Stella's future. How he wished she can be allowed to make the decisions of her own future. "Dad, what matter is it and why so urgent that you are this worried?" He questioned.
"It's about the marriage," Old Man Stallion replied firmly. The response was like a thunderclap, Leonard couldn't believe his father is already making arrangements of Stella's marriage; a marriage of alliance.
Leonard wasn't surprised at the news but he thought Stella might still have a little time to prepare herself.
"Dad, I think her marriage should be her decision to make", he countered though weakly.
Blake Stallion shook his head in disapproval
"She needs to marry someone suitable, a man from a family that matches ours", the old man continued.
"But Dad...", Blake raised his hand making Leonard to pause "I've thought about it a d a marriage with the Dalton family is perfect. Alex Dalton is a good man, so I've arranged for both families to meet tomorrow to discuss the engagement date but the fact remains that Stella has not been anywhere within reach."
This is driving the old man mad, he couldn't help but wonder what she had been up to.
Leonard nodded, though he doubted Stella would take the news well.
Stella Stallion was his only daughter with his late wife Eunice. Because of the death of his wife Leonard Stallion, retreated from the intense demands of the Stallion family legacy. When Leonard showed no interest in the family business, the responsibility fell squarely on the shoulders of Old Stallion and when he recognized Stella's potential, Blake Stallion began grooming her from a young age, instilling in her the sharp wit, resilience, and strategic mind required to lead.
At just 18 years old, Stella officially took over the reins of the Stallion Empire. While the transition appeared seamless on paper, it came at a significant cost—her personal freedom.
It's no secret that wealthy families often cement their power through marriage alliances, and he had always known his father would follow the same path to arrange her marriage.
Though she proved herself a capable leader, her grandfather's condition for Stella to be officially recognized as the rightful heir to the Stallion family fortune weighed heavily that he couldn't help but regret his inability to protect her from such rules.
From an early age, Stella's life was paved with thorns. While others her age enjoyed carefree childhoods, she endured relentless training in business, diplomacy, and leadership. Her grandfather's unyielding expectations left no room for softness, molding her into the sharp, formidable woman she had become.
Leonard sighed deeply, his heart heavy as he watched Stella bear the weight of her struggles. He wished more than anything to lighten her burdens and give her the freedom she deserved. But even he knew that within the rigid confines of the Stallion family's expectations, such wishes were nothing more than futile dreams.
"Dad," Leonard began hesitantly, glancing at his father. "What if Stella marries someone else? Someone outside of the families you've selected?"
Old Man Stallion fixed his son with a stern gaze, his tone unwavering as he replied, "It depends on the young man's background. He must prove himself capable of upholding the Stallion Group, just as she has."
Leonard frowned but said nothing. He knew his father's standards were near impossible to meet. A man marrying Stella would not only need an impeccable lineage but also the strength, intelligence, and fortitude to carry the Stallion name forward. Anything less would never suffice in Old Man Stallion's eyes.
"Still," Leonard ventured cautiously, "shouldn't we consider what Stella wants? She has worked hard to keep the empire thriving. Perhaps it's time we let her choose her own path."
The old man's expression softened for a brief moment before hardening again. "Leonard, you've always been soft. This isn't just about Stella; it's about preserving the legacy. The Stallion name is more than just a business—it's a dynasty. Her choice must reflect that besides it's a means to surety her security in the face of the scorpion and vipers in Stallion family."
Leonard fell silent, his heart heavy. He knew Stella wouldn't accept this arrangement easily, and he feared the growing distance between father and daughter would only widen if she were forced into a marriage she didn't want. But under the shadow of Old Man Stallion's authority, Leonard felt powerless to intervene and he hated himself for it; he had been powerless causing the loss of his wife and now it seems to be the same case.
Thinking of the Old man's concern it's not unwarranted. Though the Stallion family thrived as one of the wealthiest and most powerful in the region, it wasn't immune to the undercurrents of drama that plagued many affluent families. Behind the scenes, uncles and cousins whispered and schemed, their ambitions quietly stoked by envy and resentment.
Some questioned why Stella—a woman—was chosen to lead the family when several "more qualified" heirs from their branches were available. It was a sentiment often exchanged in hushed conversations at family gatherings, over drinks in private lounges, or in letters meant to subtly undermine Stella's authority.
"Why should she be the one to inherit everything?" one uncle grumbled to his wife. "She's a woman. What happens if she marries an outsider? What if the family wealth ends up in the hands of strangers?"
Another cousin, younger and just as ambitious, muttered to his father, "I've spent years studying business, yet she's the one sitting on the throne. It's only because Grandpa favors her."
The discontent brewed silently, bubbling under the surface of family dinners and formal meetings. The older generation, bound by tradition, begrudgingly accepted Stella's role as leader due to her undeniable competence, for them as long as the company grows, the stocks doesn't plummet then it doesn't matter who sits on the throne. But the younger generation, eager for power and validation, saw her position as an affront to their entitlement.
Leonard was well aware of the plots and whispers surrounding Stella's leadership. He understood the precarious nature of her position, which many family members saw as an eyesore. Because of this, it seemed necessary for Stella to align with a family of equal status to secure both her safety and her position.
With a sigh, he nodded "I understand", he muttered weakly. With one last glance at his father he left the study.