Chapter 20 - Mrs. Thorne Takes the Chair
Six weeks later, Khloe entered the Thorne Holdings boardroom without Marcus beside her.
She did not need him.
Her pregnancy had reached thirty-seven weeks.
Her son was healthy.
Her doctors were satisfied.
The bruising from Isabella’s attack had faded.
The rest would take longer.
Richard remained in custody awaiting trial.
Voss had been charged with conspiracy, unlawful medical access, evidence tampering, and financial crimes.
Daniel’s cooperation exposed more than four hundred million dollars in hidden transactions.
Isabella accepted a plea agreement that still carried prison time.
She had asked Khloe for forgiveness.
Khloe had not given it.
Forgiveness, she had learned, was not something people were entitled to because they finally told the truth.
Marcus moved out of their Manhattan home.
He attended every prenatal appointment Khloe allowed.
He never arrived uninvited.
He never asked about reconciliation.
Some days, that hurt.
Some days, it helped.
Their divorce papers were nearly complete.
At nine exactly, Khloe entered the boardroom.
Twelve directors stood.
Gabriel sat at her right.
Marcus sat three seats away.
Khloe reached the head of the table.
Richard’s old chair.
She remained standing.
“My father built half of what became this company.”
“Richard Thorne nearly destroyed it trying to keep control.”
“Today we stop confusing control with leadership.”
Nobody moved.
Khloe placed the forensic report on the table.
“Every hidden account will be disclosed.”
“Every stolen dollar will be pursued.”
“Every executive who participated will be removed.”
“And no person in this company will ever again be protected because their last name is Thorne, Mercer, or anything else.”
Marcus looked at her.
There was pride in his face.
And grief.
Khloe could live with both.
The vote was unanimous.
Khloe Mercer Thorne became permanent chairwoman and chief executive of Thorne Holdings.
That evening, she stood alone in the nursery.
A wooden sign above the crib read JONATHAN.
Marcus appeared quietly in the doorway.
“I won’t come in.”
Khloe turned.
“You can.”
He stepped inside.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Marcus placed a small box on the dresser.
“What is it?”
“Your father’s watch.”
“My father gave it to Richard years ago.”
“I found it among his things.”
Khloe opened the box.
The old silver watch caught the light.
Her eyes filled.
“Thank you.”
Marcus nodded.
He began to leave.
“Marcus.”
He stopped.
Khloe looked at him.
“I don’t hate you.”
His eyes closed briefly.
“I’m glad.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m coming back.”
“I know.”
“Maybe someday we’ll learn how to be something other than what we were.”
Marcus nodded.
“I’d like that.”
Khloe touched her stomach as Jonathan moved.
A moment later, pain tightened sharply across her abdomen.
She froze.
Marcus immediately noticed.
“Khloe?”
Another contraction followed.
Stronger.
Her eyes widened.
“I think he’s coming.”
Three hours later, beneath bright hospital lights, Jonathan Gabriel Thorne entered the world screaming.
Seven pounds, one ounce.
Healthy.
Perfect.
Khloe cried when the nurse placed him against her chest.
Marcus stood beside the bed with tears running freely down his face.
He did not touch Khloe.
He only touched his son’s tiny hand.
“Hi, Jonathan.”
The baby wrapped his fingers around Marcus’s thumb.
For one brief moment, the room contained no corporations.
No affairs.
No secrets.
Only three people who had survived the consequences of them.
Khloe looked down at her son.
“You changed everything before you even got here.”
Two days later, Khloe prepared to leave the hospital.
Gabriel arrived carrying flowers.
Marcus carried the baby seat.
Security Chief Aaron Blake entered behind them.
He looked uncomfortable.
“Mrs. Thorne?”
Khloe turned.
“What is it?”
Blake held a sealed envelope.
“This was recovered during the final audit of the private security server.”
Khloe frowned.
“What server?”
“The one connected to Suite 1704.”
Gabriel looked confused.
“I thought we reviewed everything.”
“We reviewed the night of the attack.”
Blake placed the envelope in Khloe’s hand.
“We didn’t review what was recorded before the gala.”
Khloe opened it.
Inside was a still photograph taken from Suite 1704.
The date was six months before Isabella attacked her.
Khloe stared at the image.
Richard stood inside the room.
Dr. Voss stood beside him.
And facing them was a third person.
Khloe’s breath disappeared.
“No.”
Marcus stepped closer.
“What?”
Khloe handed him the photograph.
His face changed instantly.
Because the third person was someone who was supposed to have died eight years earlier.
Someone whose funeral Khloe had attended.
Someone whose name she had just given her newborn son.
Jonathan Mercer.
Khloe looked at Gabriel.
Her uncle had gone completely pale.
“That’s impossible,” he whispered.
Security Chief Blake shook his head.
“There’s more.”
He handed Khloe a transcript from the recording.
Only one sentence had been clear enough to recover.
Jonathan Mercer had looked directly toward the camera and said:
“If Khloe ever sees this, then Richard knows I’m alive.”
Khloe slowly lifted her eyes.
Across the room, her newborn son began to cry.
And for the first time since Isabella’s attack, Khloe realized the greatest secret in her family had not been exposed.
May you like
It had only just opened its eyes.
TOBE CONTINUED
