Chapter 8 - THE WOMAN WHO WANTED CONTROL
Eleanor Hawthorne did not accept being excluded quietly.
She called my office, contacted two members of my board, and sent a letter to Rebecca demanding that the girls undergo a private paternity test before Declan could be listed as their father.
I refused the private test.
Not because I doubted the truth, but because I would not allow Eleanor to control the process.
Rebecca arranged a court-approved test with independent collection and documented handling. Declan agreed without argument.
The results arrived ten days later.
The probability of paternity was greater than 99.99 percent.
Declan sent one message through Rebecca.
I received the results. Thank you for allowing the process to happen properly. I will not share them with anyone without your consent.
Eleanor was less restrained.
She appeared at my company's annual reception in a silver gown and approached me in front of several clients.
“Cassidy,” she said, smiling as though we were old friends. “You look well.”
“Eleanor.”
“I hear you've been keeping my grandchildren from the family.”
I set down my glass.
“They aren't a family possession.”
“Don't be dramatic. They deserve to know where they come from.”
“They deserve to grow up without being used as leverage.”
Her smile tightened.
“You've always been difficult.”
“And you've always mistaken control for love.”
A few people nearby turned.
Eleanor lowered her voice.
“You have no idea what you're doing to Declan.”
“I know exactly what I am doing for my daughters.”
She leaned closer.
“Be careful. The Hawthorne family can make business very uncomfortable.”
I met her eyes.
“Threatening a businesswoman at her own company event is a poor strategy.”
Before she could answer, Declan appeared beside us.
“Mother. Leave.”
Eleanor turned.
“You're embarrassing me.”
“You did that yourself.”
“Declan—”
“Go.”
She stared at him, then walked away.
He turned to me.
“I'm sorry.”
“You don't have to apologize for her.”
“I do when I spent years allowing her to behave that way.”
I studied him.
“Are you going to keep choosing the right thing when it costs you?”
“Yes.”
“Even when she threatens your company?”
May you like
“Especially then.”
For the first time, I believed he might mean it.
