Chapter 15 - The Lowest Point
Khloe listened to the recording again.
Do whatever you need to do.
Marcus’s voice.
No ambiguity.
No static.
No mistaken identity.
Rebecca looked sick.
“I’m sorry.”
Khloe felt strangely calm.
She had reached the point beyond shock.
There was only emptiness.
Marcus had lied again.
Everything from the previous night suddenly looked different.
His supposed attempt to stop Damian.
His promise to protect her shares.
His resignation.
The divorce papers.
Maybe all of it was another strategy.
Khloe asked one question.
“When was this recorded?”
“Seven months ago.”
Before Marcus began his affair with Isabella.
Before the trust letter.
Before the hospital attack.
The incapacity plan had started much earlier than he admitted.
Khloe instructed Rebecca to cancel all private contact with Marcus.
“Everything goes through attorneys now.”
Rebecca nodded.
Khloe’s phone rang.
Marcus.
She declined it.
Again.
Declined.
A message appeared.
PLEASE LISTEN TO THE FULL RECORDING.
Khloe stared at it.
Then another message.
THE CLIP IS CUT.
Rebecca looked at her.
Khloe did not respond.
Minutes later, security delivered an envelope Marcus had left downstairs.
Inside was a flash drive.
Khloe almost threw it away.
Instead, she inserted it into Rebecca’s laptop.
The recording began.
Damian’s voice.
Make the report strong enough to activate incapacity.
Marcus answered.
Do whatever you need to do.
Then came the words Isabella’s copy had removed.
Marcus continued.
Do whatever you need to do to prove Khloe is healthy and destroy this ridiculous plan.
The room went silent.
Rebecca looked at Khloe.
The clip had been edited.
Marcus had not agreed with Damian.
He had challenged him.
The full conversation continued.
Marcus accused his father of trying to weaponize Khloe’s mental health.
Damian warned Marcus not to interfere.
Marcus threatened to expose the scheme.
Damian laughed.
“You won’t.”
“You’re too much like me.”
The recording ended.
Khloe closed her eyes.
Marcus was guilty of many things.
But not this.
Isabella had manipulated the evidence.
Again.
Yet the realization did not repair the marriage.
It only clarified one piece.
Rebecca’s phone rang.
She answered.
Then her face changed.
“The court denied our request for delay.”
Khloe looked at the clock.
“Tomorrow at nine?”
“Yes.”
“And there’s something else.”
Damian had submitted the edited recording as evidence.
He was knowingly relying on a manipulated clip.
Khloe’s anger returned.
Good.
Anger was easier than grief.
She stood slowly.
Rebecca reached toward her.
“You should sit.”
“No.”
Khloe steadied herself.
“For nine years, everyone in this family built their plans around the belief that I would stay confused.”
“That ends tomorrow.”
Rebecca watched her.
“What do you want to do?”
Khloe looked toward the hospital windows.
“Get me every document my mother ever left.”
“Every trust file.”
“Every Northstar payment.”
“Every board record.”
“And the complete security footage.”
Rebecca nodded.
Khloe added one more instruction.
“Call Marcus.”
Rebecca looked surprised.
“You said no contact.”
“I changed my mind.”
“What should I tell him?”
May you like
Khloe’s expression hardened.
“Tell him tomorrow is his last chance to tell the truth before someone else tells it for him.”
