Chapter 18 - The False Victory
Conrad realized what he had said.
Too late.
Three federal investigators entered the boardroom.
Nobody moved.
Vance’s attorney immediately began speaking.
“My client will answer no questions.”
Conrad looked toward Marcus.
For the first time, there was fear in his eyes.
Not embarrassment.
Not anger.
Fear.
Marcus stared back without emotion.
The investigators presented preservation orders for financial records connected to Atlas, Northstar, Vesper, Meridian, and several additional companies.
The board suspended the acquisition unanimously.
Khloe’s voting rights remained hers.
The medical petition was withdrawn.
Dr. Pierce was located at a private hotel outside Boston and agreed to cooperate.
Rachel Morrow was detained at Newark Airport.
Silas Reed remained missing.
For several hours, it felt finished.
News outlets corrected their coverage after Gabriel authorized release of the unedited portion of the hospital footage showing Isabella’s attack.
Public opinion reversed almost instantly.
Khloe hated how quickly the same strangers who had doubted her now praised her.
She turned off every television.
At midnight, Marcus found her alone on the hospital rooftop garden.
“You won.”
Khloe looked at him.
“No.”
“Conrad lost.”
“That isn’t the same thing.”
Marcus stood beside her.
The city stretched beneath them.
“My father is probably going to be indicted.”
Khloe said nothing.
“I should feel something.”
“You do.”
“I don’t know what it is.”
Khloe looked at him.
“You lost the version of him you believed existed.”
Marcus nodded.
Then he took the wedding ring from his pocket.
He did not put it on.
“I meant what I said.”
Khloe waited.
“If you want out, I won’t fight you.”
She looked away.
“I don’t want to make that decision tonight.”
“Then don’t.”
For the first time in days, they stood together without demanding anything from each other.
It almost felt peaceful.
Then Gabriel appeared.
Khloe immediately knew something was wrong.
“What happened?”
“Isabella’s mother’s recording was authenticated.”
Marcus turned.
“What does it contain?”
Gabriel handed Khloe headphones.
She pressed play.
A frightened woman’s voice filled her ears.
Lorenzo is arguing with Conrad downstairs.
Another voice appeared.
Not Conrad.
Edward Vance.
Then Margaret.
Then Lorenzo.
The argument escalated.
Lorenzo threatened federal exposure.
Vance threatened him.
Conrad tried to calm them.
Then another person entered.
A woman.
Khloe listened.
Her entire body went cold.
She knew that voice.
Gabriel stared at her.
“You recognize it.”
Khloe removed the headphones.
“No.”
But Marcus saw her face.
“Khloe.”
She looked toward Gabriel.
“Play it again.”
The woman on the recording spoke only seven words.
Take the documents before Gabriel finds them.
Khloe stared at her uncle.
The voice belonged to someone who had supposedly been dead for twelve years.
May you like
Her mother.
Evelyn Ashford.
