Chapter 9 - What Marcus Started
Marcus asked to speak to Khloe alone.
She refused.
He asked again.
She refused again.
Finally, Gabriel said what Marcus apparently could not understand.
“She almost lost your child tonight.”
“She discovered an eleven-month affair.”
“She learned you secretly tested the baby’s paternity.”
“She learned you concealed threats against her.”
“You don’t get privacy because you suddenly want to explain yourself.”
Marcus looked like he had been struck.
Khloe felt no satisfaction.
Only exhaustion.
“I need to know one thing.”
Marcus looked at her.
“Anything.”
“Did you love Isabella?”
He hesitated.
That was enough.
Khloe looked away.
“Khloe.”
“Don’t.”
“It wasn’t love.”
“Then why did you hesitate?”
Marcus swallowed.
“Because for a while, I thought it was.”
The honesty hurt more than another lie might have.
Khloe nodded.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For finally saying something true.”
Marcus took one step closer.
“I ended it.”
“You hid it.”
“Yes.”
“You protected yourself.”
“Yes.”
“You let me invite Isabella to charity events because I thought she was your business associate.”
Marcus lowered his head.
“Yes.”
“You let her stand beside me while I was pregnant.”
“Yes.”
Khloe’s eyes filled.
“And when she threatened my baby, you stayed silent because you were afraid I would discover what you had done.”
Marcus could barely speak.
“Yes.”
Gabriel turned away.
Khloe wiped one tear from her cheek.
“That is what you started, Marcus.”
“Maybe you didn’t tell her to attack me.”
“Maybe you didn’t plan any of this.”
“But every lie you told created another place for someone dangerous to hide.”
Marcus did not defend himself.
For once.
Detective Price entered.
“We searched Voss’s office.”
Gabriel looked at him.
“And?”
“We found financial records.”
Voss had received four transfers totaling $3.2 million over eight months.
The money came through shell companies.
The final beneficiary was hidden.
But the payment schedule matched important dates in Khloe’s pregnancy.
First ultrasound.
Gender confirmation.
Viability milestone.
Each time Khloe’s pregnancy advanced, Voss received more money.
Khloe stared at the documents.
“Someone was paying him to monitor my pregnancy.”
Price nodded.
“And possibly prevent the trust from transferring.”
Gabriel’s expression became grim.
“Who loses most when Khloe gains control?”
Everyone slowly looked at Marcus.
Marcus shook his head.
“No.”
Khloe watched him.
Marcus currently controlled the voting block.
After the baby’s birth, he would lose it.
He had motive.
At least on paper.
Then Price placed another document on the table.
A transfer order.
The originating account belonged to Thorne Holdings.
Marcus stared at it.
“That’s impossible.”
Gabriel looked at him coldly.
May you like
“Apparently not.”
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