Chapter 6 - The Arrival of the Patriarch
The heavy oak doors at the back of the conservatory swung wide open.
Stepping into the sunlight was a man who commanded the room without saying a word. Edward Montgomery Sr.—Ethan’s grandfather, the patriarch who had founded the family empire and remained largely retired in seclusion—walked down the aisle with the aid of a polished silver cane.
Eighty-five years old, with sharp silver hair and eyes that missed nothing, the old man looked at Eleanor, then at Ethan, and finally, his gaze settled on the three little boys sitting in the front row.
"Grandfather," Ethan gasped, stepping forward. "Grandfather, listen to me, I didn't know—"
"Shut up, Ethan," the old man rumbled, his voice carrying the deep, gravelly authority of a man who had built cities. He walked past the altar, past the weeping bride, and stopped right in front of our pew.
He looked down at Leo, Liam, and Lucas.
The triplets stared back up at him, entirely unfazed. Lucas even reached out and poked the silver handle of the old man's cane. "Cool stick," Lucas observed.
A slow, booming laugh rumbled in Edward Montgomery’s chest. He tapped his cane against the floor twice, looking up at me with an expression of profound, stunning realization.
"My God," the old man whispered. "They have Edward's jawline. They're Montgomerys, through and through."
"Father, have you lost your mind?!" Eleanor shrieked, rushing toward him. "She’s a gold-digger! She crawled out of the woodwork to ruin Ethan’s wedding day!"
"She didn't crawl out of anywhere, Eleanor," the patriarch snapped, turning his sharp gaze onto his daughter-in-law with blistering fury. "You drove her away! You and your petty, small-minded cruelty! You thought you could buy and sell everyone in this family like corporate assets!"
He turned back to me, his expression softening into something resembling genuine warmth. "Clara, my dear. Why didn't you come to me?"
"Because, Edward," I said calmly, meeting his gaze, "your family was toxic. I wanted my boys to grow up away from the sharks."
"And you were right," the old man admitted honestly. Then he looked at Ethan, who was standing beside the altar, utterly defeated, and at Victoria, who was now sobbing hysterically into her tulle veil.
"Well," Edward announced, tapping his cane one final time against the marble floor. "It looks like the wedding is canceled."
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"Canceled?!" Victoria screamed, tearing the veil from her hair and throwing it across the altar. "I spent two million dollars on this wedding! My father is going to sue you into the Stone Age!"
"Sue all you want," the patriarch replied coldly. "The ceremony is over. My great-grandsons are here."
