Chapter 6 - The Exit of the Hastings
The chaos that ensued was magnificent in its swiftness.
Senator Hastings gripped his daughter by the arm and motioned to his security detail. Within seconds, the Hastings entourage was turning back toward the main mansion, leaving behind a wake of shocked whispers among the elite guests.
"Senator! Please! Let us explain!" Eleanor yelled, taking two hurried steps after them, forgetting all about her legendary poise. She tripped slightly over the hem of her ice-blue dress, catching herself on the edge of a chair. "It can be managed! We can perform a DNA test!"
"It doesn't matter if they share his DNA, Eleanor!" Senator Hastings shouted back over his shoulder without stopping. "The fact that Vanguard Holdings owns your debt and this woman holds your leash makes you a political hazard! We are done!"
Ethan looked utterly devastated. He reached out to stop Caroline, but she slapped his hand away with a fierce glare before marching inside the house to gather her things.
The three hundred guests began rising from their seats. The awkwardness was palpable. Wealthy socialites began making quiet, urgent calls to their drivers, while politicians quickly slipped out through the side gates to avoid being associated with the falling Montgomery empire.
Within twenty minutes, the grand lawn of Eldenwood, once filled with Chicago’s most powerful figures, was practically deserted. Only the catering staff, the confused orchestra members packing up their instruments, and the core Montgomery family remained.
Eleanor stood in the center of the vast lawn, staring at the empty chairs. The white rose arches suddenly looked like funeral arrangements.
I remained seated at Table 27, calmly watching my three boys finish their light afternoon snack.
"Mama," Caleb whispered, leaning in. "Is the party over?"
"Not yet, darling," I replied softly, smoothing his bow tie. "The party is just getting started."
Ethan walked slowly back toward our table. He looked like a shell of a man. The pristine silk of his tuxedo was rumpled, his hair unkempt from running his hands through it repeatedly. He stopped right in front of me and dropped to one knee—not to propose, but because his legs seemed unable to support his weight any longer.
He looked directly at the three boys, his eyes welling with genuine tears.
"Liam... Noah... Caleb..." Ethan whispered, his voice trembling violently. "I... I'm your father."
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Liam looked down at Ethan with the steady, calm gaze of a boy who knew exactly who he was and who had raised him.
"No, you're not," Liam said simply. "You're just the man in the tux."
