Chapter 11 Untamable
“We’ve already registered the marriage.”
Stella answered calmly while carefully placing her mother’s ceramics in their rightful spots.
James really was her “good” father.
Couldn’t wait another second to sell off his daughter.
Thankfully… she didn’t want to waste time either. Moses had treated her with respect.
For a marriage like theirs, skipping the formalities and going straight to the license made the most sense.
She hadn’t expected things to move so quickly.
James’s laugh rang out on the other end of the call.
Getting the answer he wanted, his urgency faded.
“You really are my daughter–efficient and reliable!”
“But Moses–registering the marriage just hours after meeting you? He must really care about you.”
“No matter what his condition is, he’s still a man. Star, just use a soft voice, coax him a little. The sooner he agrees to the Johnson Corp deal, the better.”
Three sentences in, and they were back to business.
So much for fatherly affection..
She brushed him off with a couple of half–hearted replies.
Then Luna’s voice cut in from the background.
“She probably got too caught up in getting that marriage certificate and didn’t even mention the project! She ran off from Capital City for years. Since when has she ever considered herself part of the Johnson family?”
James’s tone immediately dropped cold.
“Did you bring it up?”
“I did,” Stella replied evenly, then shifted the tone. “But I moved too fast. It annoyed him. I think I’ll need to ease into it if I want him to really sit down and talk business.”
Half–truth, half–lie.
But James believed enough of it..
“Fair enough. I’ve heard Moses can be unpredictable. If we need to wait a bit to lock this down, so be it.”
“I’ve done my part–now can my mother’s urn be buried in the family cemetery?”
Her mother had worked tirelessly to help James and the Johnsons rise again. Not just Johnson Corp but also the cemetery— her mother had a rightful place in all of it.
What her mother hadn’t received in life-
Stella would make sure she got in death.
“A matter like that involves the entire Johnson family. It’s not something that can be decided overnight.”
James was clearly trying to delay.
1/4
But Stella wouldn’t let up.
“Is it really so hard for you? Don’t forget, Father–when the Johnsons were on the brink of collapse, it was my mother’s craftsmanship that brought in business and raised funds. Without her, there wouldn’t even be a Johnson family tree.”
James fell silent.
Then Luna jumped in loudly.
“We’re all one family–why is Stella always dragging up old history?”
“She marries into the Landons and suddenly forgets everything about her own family!”
“Instead of fighting the Johnsons on everything, maybe she should think about how to use the Landons‘ money to help her real family. What’ll you do if that man dumps you? Without the Johnsons behind you, you’re nothing!”
Everyone knew about Stella and Shané.
And everyone could guess that her sudden return and marriage agreement had everything to do with a breakup.
Luna’s
Luna’s words were a direct jab at Stella’s most vulnerable spot.
Too bad Stella was done giving her heart away.
She might feel hurt for falling for the wrong man–but she wasn’t about to make love her whole world again.
She had bigger goals now: her career, and her mother’s rightful place.
She shot back without hesitation.
“Luna, maybe you should save that speech for yourself.”
“My mom helped Johnson Corp get back on its feet with nothing but ceramics. I helped Shane secure his place as an heir. Even without you people, I’ve carved out my own future. But if this Landon project doesn’t go through, who’s going to cover that hole in the company? You?”
The line went dead silent.
Johnson Corp might’ve recovered, but years of reckless spending by the family–along with James’s outdated management- had left it bleeding money.
Luna had been groomed as the heir, but she didn’t have the skills to restore the company’s former glory.
འ བ ལ
Hence, the marriage alliance with Moses.
Now, with Stella’s words exposing it all, Luna cracked.
She stamped her feet in rage.
“I don’t think Stella ever saw us as family! You’re not even trying to help! Dad raised me himself, and if I’m no good, then are you saying Dad’s a failure too!?”
By the end, Luna’s voice broke into sobs, as if she’d collapsed into James’s arms in tears.
James exploded.
“I’m your father! How dare you insult your elders like that! You’ve been gone a few years and forgotten all sense of respect and tradition?”
What did your sister say that was wrong? You’re a Johnson–what hurts one of us, hurts all of us. If you use Landon money to cover our losses, we’re still the ones who’ll benefit in the end!”
Everyone says it–you’ve been living wild. Untamable. I’ll have to find time to knock some manners back into you!”
Family?
2/4
She had never considered these people her family.
Faced with James’s fury, Stella smiled faintly.
“Actually, Moses already agreed to the Johnson Corp deal.”
James fell silent.
Stella tilted her head.
“Oh, right. You were saying something about teaching me a lesson?”
“That… your father could never bear to scold you. I just hope you’ll mind your manners and live a proper life with the
Landons.”
He fumbled through the rest of the call, then finally switched to flattery. “Star, if this deal goes through, you’ll be the Johnson family’s greatest asset.”
Greatest asset?
Just a meaningless title.
مر
Stella sank lazily into the couch, her gaze sweeping over the delicate ceramics. Her eyes turned cold.
“I’d rather see my mother’s name in the cemetery than be anyone’s ‘greatest asset.”
“That’ll have to wait until the project is finalized.”
James wasn’t stupid. There was no proof yet. It was just Stella’s word.
This girl…
She’d left the Johnsons and thrived alongside a bastard like Shane. Clearly, she had skills.
If he gave her what she wanted now, how would he control her later?
James already had it figured out. He gave her a few empty words, then hung up on his own.
Beep–beep-
Stella lowered the phone and looked around at the ceramics once more.
She couldn’t stop remembering the way her mother smiled while working on them.
She gripped the phone again.
She would take it all back for her mother.
Without lingering, she left and headed downtown.
The other property Moses gave her was in the upscale complex, Celestial Bay–just ten minutes from Johnson Corp.
Two units per floor, and the top floor had a sweeping view of most of Capital City.
Compared to the secluded villa, this was where she’d actually live.
She called in a moving company and an interior design team, purchased essential furniture and daily necessities.
Not much–just what was practical.
The workers moved smoothly and efficiently.
As she waited at the door, the elevator opened.
374
Another moving crew rolled past her–into the unit next door.
Celestial Bay wasn’t a new development.
Two people moving in at the same time? Incredibly rare.
Stella couldn’t help commenting aloud.
“What a coincidence.”
Back then, Shane had lived next door. Their two villas had been renovated at the same time.
Now, the neighbor was a stranger. But again, two homes were being set up simultaneously.
And this time, she didn’t feel so anxious.
Just curious.
With such timing, maybe they’d bump into each other. If they became friends, that might not be so bad.
Stella smiled faintly.
A future without Shane…Looked a lot brighter.
