Chapter 14 - The Doctor’s Report
Marcus arrived within an hour.
Khloe threw the report onto the table.
“Explain.”
He picked it up.
His expression shifted from confusion to anger.
“I’ve never seen this.”
“You referred me to him.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you were having panic attacks.”
“And because your father needed a doctor to call me unstable?”
“No.”
Marcus opened the report.
“This isn’t what Pierce told me.”
Khloe laughed bitterly.
“Apparently everyone tells you different things.”
Marcus removed his phone.
He called Dr. Pierce.
No answer.
Rebecca had already attempted to reach him.
His office was closed.
His assistant claimed he had left the city that morning.
Marcus looked toward Rebecca.
“Find him.”
Khloe stared at him.
“You don’t get to give orders here.”
Marcus stopped.
“You’re right.”
He handed the report back.
“Then please find him.”
Rebecca left.
Khloe looked at Marcus.
“Did you tell your father I was seeing Pierce?”
Marcus hesitated.
“Yes.”
Khloe closed her eyes.
“Of course.”
“He asked if you were okay.”
“And you answered.”
“I didn’t know what he was planning then.”
“You never know until after you give him exactly what he needs.”
Marcus looked devastated.
Khloe continued.
“You handed Isabella access.”
“You told Damian about my therapy.”
“You hid my trust letter.”
“You discussed using my board appointments.”
“At what point do your intentions stop mattering?”
Marcus had no answer.
He removed his wedding ring.
Khloe looked at it.
He placed it on the table beside hers.
“I signed divorce papers this morning.”
Khloe’s chest tightened despite herself.
Marcus continued.
“They give you everything you brought into the marriage.”
“I’m waiving claims against the Laurent trust.”
“I’m transferring half of our jointly acquired property to a trust for the baby.”
“And I’m resigning as CEO after the court hearing.”
Khloe stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because I finally understand something.”
“What?”
“I spent my whole life becoming my father.”
“And every time I told myself I was different, I found a more sophisticated way to do exactly what he did.”
Khloe said nothing.
Marcus looked at her.
“I don’t expect forgiveness.”
“I don’t even know if I deserve to ask for it.”
“But I’m done using power as an excuse to hurt people.”
He left the divorce papers on the table.
Then he walked out.
Khloe remained alone for nearly twenty minutes.
When Rebecca returned, she carried surprising news.
“We found Pierce.”
“Where?”
“At the airport.”
“He was boarding a flight to Switzerland.”
Khloe frowned.
“Why?”
Rebecca placed a bank record on the table.
Three days after Pierce wrote the psychiatric report, Northstar Advisory paid him $400,000.
Isabella’s company.
Khloe’s stomach tightened.
“Can he prove who instructed him?”
Rebecca nodded.
“He wants immunity too.”
Khloe almost laughed.
Apparently the entire empire was built from people exchanging secrets for protection.
“What does he have?”
“A recording.”
“Of whom?”
Rebecca pressed play.
Damian’s voice filled the room.
Make the report strong enough to activate incapacity.
Then another voice answered.
Khloe recognized it.
Marcus.
She stopped breathing.
The recording continued.
May you like
Marcus said clearly.
Do whatever you need to do.
