3. The Stallions 1!

"Congratulations, Sophie. I'm so proud of you," Oliver Stallion said warmly as he and his wife, Katherine, sat with Sophie for dinner that evening.

Sophie, Meghan's younger sister, had recently become engaged to Harry Styles, one of the youngest self-made millionaires in the region of Domingo. Additionally, she had just been promoted to the position of the new human resource manager of the family's company, a testament to her meritocracy, dedication, and above all, her loyalty to her parents.

"Thank you, Dad," Sophie replied, her smile radiating with happiness.

"What about Harry? Isn't he joining us for dinner anymore?" Katherine inquired.

"Harry called to say he'd be arriving a bit late. He's with a friend, and they're probably coming together for dinner," Sophie explained.

"Is that so?" Oliver mused, nodding in understanding.

"Yes, Father. But I know he'll be here soon," Sophie reassured them.

They heard the doorbell ring. "That must be Harry and his friend." Sophie said getting up to open the door only to be met with the surprise of meeting Meghan at the door.

"Who's there?" Katherine asked, seeing that Sophie wasn't saying anything to welcome whoever it was that was at the door.

"It's Meghan," Sophie replied.

"Meghan? What's she doing here?" Oliver asked angrily. 

He had made it known to Meghan that he doesn't want to see her come to the house as long as she is still married to Gavin. He had warned against the marriage from the very beginning but Meghan went ahead and disobeyed him. The only reason Meghan was still working in the family's company was because Katherine begged for her.

"What are you doing here?" Sophie asked with an irritating expression on her face.

"Is that how you welcome your sister?" Meghan said brushing past her as she made way to the dining room.

"What are you doing here? I thought we had an agreement that you'll never set foot in this house again as long as you're still married to that good for nothing Gavin." Oliver spat angrily. 

Sophie returned to join them at the dining table, her expression grave as she observed Meghan from head to toe. Without anyone telling her, she could sense that Meghan was going through a tough time, but she didn't feel sorry for her. After all, it was Meghan's choice. Everyone had warned her not to marry Gavin, but she was so blinded by love that she went against everyone's advice.

"Meghan, what are you doing here? You're supposed to be with your husband," Katherine stated coldly.

"Mom, Dad, I'm really sorry, but I really need your help right now," Meghan began, her voice tinged with desperation.

"What do you need our help for? I thought you were already married?" Oliver mocked, his voice filled with sarcasm.

"It's about Gavin. People from the bank came this evening with some police officers, and they threatened to seize the ancestral mansion that belonged to Gavin's father," Meghan explained.

"And why would they do that?" Katherine demanded, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"What else? Of course, Gavin took a loan from them and couldn't meet the payments. Am I lying?" Oliver interjected facing Meghan with his accusatory expression.

"It's actually more complicated than that, Dad. Yes, Gavin borrowed money to start a business, but he was swindled, and he lost all the money," Meghan clarified, her eyes pleading for understanding.

"So, what do we have to do with it? I thought you said the mansion was his ancestral home. If he truly valued it, he wouldn't have used it as collateral," Oliver remarked cryptically.

The conversation was still ongoing when the doorbell rang again. Excitedly, Sophie gets up to open the door only to meet Gavin there.

"What are you doing here?" Sophie asked angrily.

"Sorry Sophie, I followed Megan down." Gavin replied sheepishly.

"Who's there?” Katherine asked, her voice echoing from the dining room.

"It's Gavin," Sophie replied, her tone sounding in utter disdain for Gavin.

"Did you just say Gavin? What on Earth is he doing here?" Katherine's voice rose with annoyance.

"Tell him to come in," Oliver replied, causing an expression of shock on Katherine's face.

"What are you doing?" Katherine asked.

"Don't worry. Let him come in," Oliver repeated, a sly smile playing across his lips.