Chapter 6
Back at the reception, the remaining guests fled the venue in droves, whispering gossip that would dominate Wall Street by Monday morning.
Ethan stood alone on the stone patio where the ruined cupcake still lay smeared against the stone, a pathetic symbol of his ruined life.
His phone buzzed incessantly in his pocket with alert notifications from his bank, his broker, and his corporate board of directors.
"Mr. Sterling, all corporate credit lines have been suspended pending federal investigation into asset laundering," an automated voice stated.
Ethan dropped his phone onto the stone patio, watching the screen shatter into spiderweb cracks just like the cupcake frosting.
Eleanor walked up behind him, her navy blue evening gown sweeping the floor with chilling, aristocratic coldness.
"Your father built this empire with forty years of discipline, and you destroyed it for a frivolous romance and a clumsy cover-up," Eleanor said.
"I didn't mean for any of this to happen... Clara was never supposed to find out about the offshore accounts," Ethan groaned in defeat.
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"Ignorance is not a legal defense in a federal court, Ethan; pack your bags because our lawyers are already drafting your disownment," she stated.
She walked away without offering a single word of comfort, leaving her son standing completely alone in the gathering darkness.
