Chapter 11 The Patriarch's Decision
A heavy silence settled over the ballroom as everyone waited for Evelyn's answer. What would she demand as justice?
But before she could speak, her father Richard rushed forward and dropped to his knees before Alexander.
"Mr. Sinclair! Please forgive my foolish daughter! She doesn't know what she's saying!" he pleaded desperately.
Evelyn looked down at the man who had just slapped her and called her a liar. Whatever remained of her love for him died in that moment.
"Stand up, Father," she said coldly. "You're embarrassing yourself."
Richard stared at her, shocked by her tone and the coldness in her voice.
Evelyn turned back to Alexander. "Grandfather, my only wish is for the engagement to be officially and publicly canceled. I want nothing more to do with Nathan Sinclair ever again."
"Done," Alexander said immediately, his voice firm and final.
A wave of relief washed over Evelyn. It was finally over. She had won.
"However," Alexander continued, his sharp eyes moving between her and Roman, "this leaves us with another matter to address. My son has made a very public claim about you and your condition."
The crowd leaned in eagerly, hungry for the next chapter of this incredible drama.
Roman stepped forward with quiet authority. "Father, this isn't the place to discuss private family matters. Evelyn has endured enough humiliation for one night. I'll take her somewhere safe to rest."
Alexander nodded his approval, trusting his favorite son's judgment.
His eyes then fixed on Nathan, still kneeling on the marble floor. "As for you," his voice boomed with finality, "you are a complete disgrace to the Sinclair name. From this moment forward, you are cut off from this family entirely. Every share, every trust fund, every property—all of it is forfeit. You get nothing. You are no longer a Sinclair."
Nathan's face went completely white. "Grandfather, please!"
Isabella threw herself at Alexander's feet, sobbing hysterically. "Father, you cannot do this! He's your own flesh and blood! Show mercy!"
Marcus joined his wife, his voice shaking with desperation. "Please, have compassion. He made a terrible mistake, but he's still your grandson."
"Is he?" Alexander replied with ice-cold contempt. "A man who acts without honor, who betrays trust and destroys relationships? He is no grandson of mine."
Desperate and panicked, Isabella pointed a trembling finger at Roman. "What about him? He slept with his nephew's fiancée! Why isn't he being punished for his crimes?"
Alexander's eyes flashed with dangerous fury. "Do not presume to tell me how to handle my family! Marcus, control your wife and remove this disgrace from my sight immediately!"
The crowd watched in stunned fascination as one of the city's most powerful families tore itself apart.
But Evelyn wasn't finished. Her voice cut through the chaos like a blade.
"Grandfather, I have one more request," she said, her eyes locked on Maya, who was still cowering on the floor. "I want Maya to face public consequences for her actions. And I want your assurance that no one will interfere or help her escape justice."
Maya looked up in absolute horror. "No! You can't do this to me!"
Claire shrieked in outrage. "Evelyn! How can you be so cruel? She's your sister!”
Richard finally intervened, his face red with fury. "Evelyn, stop this madness right now! How can you humiliate your own family like this? Have you lost all sense of decency?"
The words hit Evelyn like physical blows, but she held her ground. She looked directly at her father, her voice quiet but filled with unmistakable pain.
"Was I ever truly your daughter, Father? You knew the truth about Maya and Nathan. You chose to protect her instead of me. You switched that USB drive to save her reputation while destroying mine." Her voice cracked slightly.
"Did you ever care about me at all?"
Angry whispers rippled through the crowd like wildfire.
"What kind of father chooses a stepdaughter over his own child?"
"He knew about the affair and covered it up?"
"How could he betray his own daughter like that?"
"Absolutely disgraceful behavior!"
Richard stood frozen, completely humiliated by the crowd's harsh judgment.
Alexander watched this family drama with growing disgust. "Richard," he said with obvious contempt, "your complete failure as a father reflects your incompetence as a business partner. I hereby terminate all contracts between Sinclair Industries and Hayes Corporation, effective immediately. Consider this your punishment for your gross negligence in managing your own household."
Richard stared in horror. "Mr. Sinclair, please reconsider! Think about the consequences! Think about your future great-grandchild!"
The crowd's disgust was audible. Someone muttered loudly, "He's still trying to use his daughters as business assets!"
Alexander scoffed. "I will never acknowledge that illegitimate child. Nathan is no longer my grandson, so his offspring mean nothing to me. The only reason I haven't completely severed all ties with you is out of respect for Evelyn, who is still your daughter despite your failures."
Utterly defeated and publicly shamed, Richard could bear no more humiliation. He grabbed the nearly fainting Maya and the furious Claire, practically dragging them from the ballroom under the scornful gazes of every guest present.
The evening's entertainment was clearly over. Alexander stood and addressed his remaining guests. "The celebration has concluded. Those with rooms here may retire. I may host breakfast tomorrow if I'm feeling generous."
As the crowd began to disperse, buzzing with excitement about the night's shocking revelations, Alexander turned to Roman, his expression stern but not unkind.
"Take Evelyn somewhere she can rest and recover from tonight's ordeal," he commanded. "Then come see me immediately. We have important matters to discuss."
Roman nodded, giving his father an unreadable look before turning to Evelyn.
Roman led Evelyn to an elegant suite upstairs. The moment the door closed behind them, she turned on him with renewed energy.
"What was that performance downstairs?" she demanded, her voice shaking with emotion. "Pregnant? You just announced to the entire city that I'm carrying your child! What's your game? What do you really want from me?"
Roman looked at her steadily, his expression unreadable. Instead of answering her questions, he walked toward the door.
"Get some rest," he said calmly. "We'll discuss everything when I return."
Before she could fire back another question or demand answers, he was gone, leaving her alone with her racing thoughts and a thousand unanswered questions.
—
In the presidential suite, Roman found his father waiting with a stern expression.
"Sit," Alexander commanded.
Roman sat without argument.
Alexander didn't look at him as he spoke. "You caused quite a spectacle tonight."
Then his piercing gaze fixed on his son. "You announced to everyone that you got that girl pregnant. Tell me the truth, was that just strategy in your power play, or is it real?"
Roman remained silent for a long moment before responding. "The outcome is what matters. The Hayes family's influence over us is broken. The company is safer now."
"Don't play games with me!" Alexander slammed his fist on the table. "I asked you a direct question! Did you get her pregnant or not?"
Roman met his father's intense stare without flinching.
"Yes," he said clearly, his voice showing no hesitation or doubt.
Alexander studied his son for a long, tense moment. Then he gave a single, sharp nod of approval.
"Good. Then you'll do what's necessary. You'll make an honest woman of her and legitimize this situation."
He stood slowly, using his walking stick for support.
"You know the terms of the will. To secure your position as primary heir, you must be married with a child and prove you can handle family responsibility. You'll marry Evelyn Hayes within the month. Once you're properly married and the child is born, full control of the business empire will transfer to you."
Roman nodded his understanding. "I accept those terms, Father."
Alexander's expression softened just slightly. "I had hoped you would find someone on your own, but perhaps fate has chosen for you. That girl has spirit and intelligence. She'll make a suitable wife for the head of this family."
As Roman left the suite, the weight of the deadline settled on his shoulders. He had one month to turn his public declaration into legal and permanent reality.
But as he thought about Evelyn, he realized, this might actually be exactly what he'd been waiting for his entire life.