Chapter 7 - THE WILL DANIEL HID
Khloe’s father had died when she was nineteen, leaving behind a modest trust and a sealed letter she had never opened.
Or so she believed.
Gabriel retrieved the letter from a private family vault at Khloe’s request. Inside was a copy of a will signed by Daniel Thorne—Marcus’s late grandfather.
The will named the first legitimate child born to Marcus as controlling beneficiary of thirty-one percent of Thorne Global.
Not Marcus.
His child.
Khloe read the page twice. “Why was this hidden from us?”
Gabriel’s jaw tightened. “Because Daniel believed the company would become dangerous in the wrong hands.”
Marcus stared at the signature. “My mother has controlled those shares for twenty years.”
“Temporarily,” Gabriel said. “The control transfers when your child is born.”
Everything became clear at once.
Victoria did not merely dislike Khloe.
She feared the baby.
If the pregnancy ended, Victoria kept control of the voting block. If Khloe left Marcus before the birth, the legitimacy clause could be challenged. If the marriage collapsed publicly, Victoria could claim instability and delay the transfer in court.
Khloe felt sick. “Isabella was not trying to steal my husband.”
Marcus looked toward the door.
“She was trying to protect my mother’s power.”
A nurse entered with a sealed envelope found in Isabella’s suite.
Inside was a contract offering Isabella five million dollars and a seat on the foundation board.
The final payment condition read:
May you like
Upon permanent termination of the Thorne marriage before the birth of the heir.
Khloe read the contract without speaking. Then she handed it to Marcus. "She put a price on our marriage," she said. Marcus shook his head. "No. My mother did. Isabella only agreed to collect it." For the first time, he understood that wealth had not protected his family. It had hidden its cruelty.
