Chapter 9 - Marcus Chooses Too Late
Khloe looked at Marcus.
“When?”
“Three weeks ago.”
That was when he ended things with Isabella.
That was when he discovered Damian’s plan.
Marcus explained that he had quietly amended several proxy instructions.
If Khloe’s trust temporarily transferred authority to him, he could not independently vote those shares without written confirmation from Khloe or Vincent.
Damian’s plan had already been weakened.
“You did this without telling me,” Khloe said.
Marcus looked ashamed.
“Yes.”
“Again.”
“I thought I could fix everything before you found out.”
Khloe looked at him for a long time.
“That sentence may be the reason our marriage is over.”
Marcus lowered his eyes.
Damian scoffed.
“You think paperwork saves her?”
Marcus turned.
“No.”
“But it stops you.”
Damian walked toward the door.
Vincent blocked him.
“We aren’t finished.”
Damian looked at him.
“You have no legal authority to hold me.”
A police detective entered behind him.
“Actually, I’d like to ask you several questions.”
Damian’s expression barely shifted.
“Am I under arrest?”
“No.”
“Then call my attorney.”
He walked out with the detective.
Khloe remained silent.
Marcus approached her bed.
“I know none of this repairs what I did.”
“No.”
“I know ending things with Isabella doesn’t erase starting them.”
“No.”
“I know protecting your shares secretly doesn’t erase hiding them.”
“No.”
Marcus swallowed.
Khloe looked at him.
“You want credit for finally choosing me when the alternative became unbearable.”
He did not defend himself.
“That isn’t love, Marcus.”
His eyes filled.
“I know.”
Khloe looked away.
For the first time since they married, Marcus seemed smaller than the name he carried.
Not billionaire Marcus Thorne.
Not CEO.
Not Damian Thorne’s son.
Just a man who had damaged the person who trusted him most.
He reached toward her hand.
Khloe pulled it away.
“Don’t.”
Marcus stopped.
“I’ll cooperate with everything.”
“Police.”
“The board.”
“The trust.”
“All of it.”
Khloe nodded.
“That’s what you should do.”
“Not for me.”
“For the truth.”
Marcus walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he turned.
“Khloe.”
She looked at him.
“I did love you.”
Her eyes burned.
“I know.”
“That’s what makes it worse.”
He left.
Vincent sat beside her.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Then Khloe asked about the trust.
“What happens tomorrow?”
Vincent explained that two independent physicians would evaluate her.
After that, the trust administrator would review her capacity.
If she passed, Monday’s succession would continue.
If she failed, temporary authority provisions could activate.
Khloe looked down at her stomach.
“I’ve spent years pretending I didn’t care about the business.”
Vincent smiled sadly.
“Your mother did the same thing when she was young.”
Khloe looked at him.
“You don’t get to make her mysterious anymore.”
“I know.”
“Tomorrow, you tell me everything.”
“I will.”
A nurse entered.
“There’s someone asking to see Mrs. Thorne.”
Vincent frowned.
“Who?”
The nurse handed Khloe a business card.
Khloe read the name.
Rebecca Sloan.
Senior Counsel.
Laurent Family Trust.
Khloe looked at Vincent.
“Do you know her?”
“Yes.”
His expression became uneasy.
“She worked directly for your mother.”
Rebecca entered moments later carrying a locked leather case.
She placed it on the table.
“Your mother instructed me to give you this only if someone attempted to trigger the incapacity clause.”
Khloe stared at the case.
“What is inside?”
Rebecca entered a six-digit code.
The lock opened.
May you like
Inside was a video recording labeled with a date.
The date was the night Celeste Laurent died.
