Chapter 3 - Eleven Months
Khloe did not cry.
That frightened Marcus more than anger would have.
She simply looked at him.
“How long?”
“Khloe.”
“How long?”
Marcus lowered his head.
“Eleven months.”
The words landed harder than Isabella’s shoe ever could.
Khloe stared at him.
They had celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary eight months earlier.
Marcus had taken her to Paris.
He had filled their hotel suite with white roses.
He had kissed her forehead and told her he had never been happier.
Three weeks later, Khloe discovered she was pregnant.
Eleven months meant Isabella had already been there.
“Was she with you when we went to Paris?”
“No.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Marcus looked at the floor.
Khloe’s voice dropped.
“Were you sleeping with her then?”
“Yes.”
Gabriel turned away in disgust.
Khloe felt strangely detached.
“And you came home to me?”
Marcus stepped forward.
“I ended it.”
“When?”
“When you told me about the baby.”
Khloe laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
“So my pregnancy ended your affair.”
“No.”
“I realized what I was destroying.”
“You needed a positive pregnancy test to remember you had a wife?”
Marcus had no response.
Gabriel picked up the tablet again.
“There’s more.”
Marcus looked at him.
“She doesn’t need this tonight.”
Khloe’s eyes hardened.
“You don’t decide what I need anymore.”
Gabriel resumed the recording.
On-screen, Isabella paced around the suite.
“You think carrying his son makes you untouchable.”
Khloe’s recorded voice remained calm.
“You’re obsessed.”
“No.”
Isabella smiled.
“I’m informed.”
Then she reached into her handbag.
She removed a silver keycard.
Marcus’s face changed instantly.
Khloe noticed.
On the recording, Isabella held it up.
“Marcus gave me access to every private floor months ago.”
“That’s not true,” Marcus said immediately.
Gabriel paused the video.
“You recognize the card.”
Marcus nodded.
“It’s executive access.”
“Who has one?”
“Board members.”
“Hospital executives.”
“A few major donors.”
Gabriel looked at him.
“And you.”
“Yes.”
Khloe turned toward the screen again.
“Keep playing.”
The recording continued.
Isabella slipped the card back into her purse.
Then she said something Khloe had not understood during the confrontation.
“Once the baby is gone, everything resets.”
The room became still.
Khloe whispered.
“What does that mean?”
Marcus stared at the tablet.
“I don’t know.”
Gabriel looked unconvinced.
Khloe watched her uncle.
“You do.”
Gabriel remained silent.
“Tell me.”
His jaw tightened.
“Your father’s trust.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
Khloe looked between them.
“What about my father’s trust?”
Gabriel sat beside her again.
“There is a clause you were never told about.”
Khloe felt another cold wave move through her body.
“What clause?”
Gabriel’s answer came quietly.
“The day your first child is born, controlling ownership of the Thorne-Mercer family holdings transfers to you permanently.”
Khloe stared at him.
“And if my child never reaches birth?”
Gabriel said nothing.
May you like
He didn’t need to.
---
