Chapter 1: The Footage No One Could Escape
The first sound Marcus heard was not Isabella's trembling voice.
It was Khloe's.
A weak, broken gasp as she struggled to breathe while protecting their unborn daughter with both arms.
Marcus dropped to his knees beside his wife.
"Khloe... look at me."
Her eyelids fluttered.
"I... I didn't fall..."
His heart stopped.
Blood stained the side of her white maternity gown.
Not much.
But enough.
Enough to turn every instinct inside him into cold, controlled fury.
"Call the trauma team!" Marcus shouted.
Elaine Parker was already reaching for her radio when another man rushed through the doorway.
Dr. Nathan Brooks.
Chief of Maternal Emergency Medicine.
Khloe's uncle.
The moment he saw his niece lying on the marble floor, every ounce of professional composure disappeared.
"Move!"
The medical team immediately surrounded Khloe.
Nathan examined her abdomen with practiced hands.
His expression darkened.
"Possible placental injury."
Marcus felt the world tilt.
"Save them."
Nathan met his eyes.
"I'll do everything I can."
As they wheeled Khloe toward the emergency operating suite, Isabella reached for Marcus's arm.
"Marcus... please listen. She attacked me first."
He slowly looked down at her hand.
Then removed it.
"I saw enough."
"No—you don't understand—"
"I understand exactly what I saw."
Hospital security director Daniel Cruz entered moments later holding a tablet.
"Mr. Thorne..."
"There are security recordings."
Isabella's confident smile disappeared.
"There... there aren't cameras inside private suites."
Daniel calmly answered.
"Not inside."
"But three cameras cover the hallway, entrance, and sitting room."
"They recorded every second before and after the assault."
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For the first time that night...
Isabella looked afraid.
