Watching Stella walk away with the mysterious man, Morris Bruce retrieved his phone from his pocket and dialed his assistant. His voice was cold and clipped, carrying the weight of his frustration.
"Investigate every detail about Stella Stallion and the Stallion family. I want to know everything happening, especially about that man with her."
As far he knows Stella had been single all the while and had never had a boyfriend aside partners why will she introduce him as husband. He refuse to accept that.
His assistant didn't need further instructions; the urgency in Morris's tone was clear. Morris ended the call, his mind swirling with questions. Why was Stella at the marriage registration center? Who was that man, and why did she call him her husband?
While lost in thought, a soft, nervous voice interrupted him.
"Morris, aren't we going in to get our certificate?"
He turned to face the speaker—Dora, his fiancée. Her hopeful eyes searched his face, but his expression was unreadable.
"Dora," he began, his tone irritable, "I'm sorry, but something urgent has come up. I need to handle this. Let's get the certificate some other time."
Dora froze, disbelief washing over her. She had overheard bits of his conversation and didn't need anyone to spell out the reason for his sudden change. It was because of Stella. The realization struck her like a blow.
"But Morris," she protested, her voice trembling, "she's already married. Why are you doing this? Why are you still holding on to her?"
His gaze turned cold, his patience wearing thin. "Dora, it's not your place to question me. I'm not answerable to you but to the Bruce family. Don't worry—I'll compensate you and make sure your family doesn't pressure you anymore."
Before he could finish, Dora spun on her heels and ran, her tears trailing behind her. This can't be happening. She wasn't ready to accept such a truth. She had always known Morris harbored feelings for someone else, but she had never imagined that woman would appear and shatter her engagement.
Morris stood in silence, watching her retreating figure. He clenched his fists, frustration simmering beneath his composed exterior. After a moment, he turned to his driver.
"Ensure she gets home safely," he ordered.
The driver nodded and hurried off to follow Dora. Moments later, another sleek car pulled up in front of Morris. Without hesitation, he stepped in and barked out an order to the driver.
"To the company."
The car roared to life, speeding away as Morris stared out the window, his thoughts consumed by the image of Stella and the questions he needed answers to. This isn't over, Stella.
Jackson drove the car in silence, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly, the tension in his knuckles palpable. The encounter with Morris lingered in his mind, and the uneasy quiet from Stella beside him only amplified his concern. The happiness that had briefly lit up her face earlier was gone, replaced by a distant, brooding expression. It's obvious Morris has unsettled her.
He didn't need her to explain; he could sense it. Morris Bruce isn't the type to let go easily, and he's bound to escalate things. The thought weighed on Jackson, but his bigger worry was Stella. Is she regretting her decision?
Lost in thought, he hadn't realized how long the silence stretched. Breaking it, he glanced at her briefly and repeated his earlier question, this time more firmly. "Stella, where are we going?"
Pulled from her reverie, she straightened slightly and composed herself. "Take me to the company first," she said evenly. Then, after a pause, she added, "The engagement meeting is tonight, and I'll be attending. You don't need to wait for me."
Jackson frowned slightly but kept his voice calm. "Are you sure you can handle this?"
She nodded, her tone resolute. "I'm not that weak, Jackson. Besides…" She took a breath and lifted her chin slightly. "I'm a married woman now. Marrying me off to someone else would be bigamy, and the Stallion family wouldn't risk such a scandal."
Hearing her affirm her married status eased a tension in Jackson he hadn't realized he was holding. his grip on the steering wheel finally relaxing as Stella's words began to sink in. He exhaled slowly, a sense of relief settling over him. At least she hasn't second-guessed her decision. Not yet.
But the silence that followed felt heavy. He couldn't help but glance at her again, catching her composed yet distant expression. She's holding it together, but for how long?
"Alright," he said after a moment, his voice calm but firm. "I'll drop you at the company, but if anything comes up, you call me. No matter what."
Stella turned her head slightly, offering a faint smile. "I'll be fine, Jackson. Thank you."
He wasn't entirely convinced, but he chose not to press further. He respected her strength and knew better than to push her when she was already dealing with so much. The rest of the ride passed in silence, punctuated only by the hum of the engine and the occasional sound of passing cars.
As they approached the Stallion Corporation building, Jackson pulled the car to a smooth stop in front of the entrance. Stella gathered her belongings, her movements precise and deliberate, as if each action was part of a carefully constructed plan.
Before she stepped out, Jackson reached out and gently touched her arm. "Stella," he said, his tone softer, "just remember, you don't have to face everything alone. Not anymore."
Her eyes met his, and for a brief moment, her guarded facade wavered. "Thank you, Jackson," she said quietly, before stepping out of the car and heading inside without looking back.
Jackson watched her disappear through the glass doors, his jaw tightening. Morris Bruce may not be letting go, but neither am I..
Inside the building, Stella walked briskly toward the elevator, her heels clicking against the marble floor. Her mind raced with preparations for the engagement meeting that night. She had already booked the venue as instructed by her grandfather but the outcome of the meeting isn't for her to decide. The Stallion family might think they still control her, but they were wrong.
Reaching her office, she shut the door behind her and leaned against it for a moment, exhaling deeply. Pulling out her phone, she sent a quick message to her assistant to ensure everything was ready for the meeting. She couldn't afford any mistakes.
As she sat down at her desk, her phone buzzed with a notification. It was a message from an unknown number. The words sent a chill down her spine:
"Married or not, you're still mine. This isn't over. – M."
Stella clenched her phone tightly, her determination hardening. You're wrong, Morris. It is over.