Chapter 4 - THE PRICE OF AN HEIR
Khloe remained in the hospital for six days.
The baby stabilized, but Dr. Park ordered strict bed rest. When Khloe was discharged, she refused to return to the Thorne estate.
Naomi arranged a secured residence outside the city under a private trust Marcus could not access.
Marcus did not object.
He paid for the medical staff and security without asking for the address.
Every evening, he sent one message.
How are you and the baby?
Khloe never answered.
Meanwhile, Daniel’s investigation uncovered a chain of payments connecting Isabella, Dr. Lang and a private consultancy controlled by Celeste.
The payments were disguised as medical research fees.
The total exceeded three million dollars.
Marcus summoned his mother to the Thorne Group’s headquarters.
For the first time in forty years, Celeste was denied access to the executive elevator.
She entered the boardroom furious.
“You embarrassed me in front of the staff.”
Marcus sat at the far end of the table.
“You paid Dr. Lang.”
Celeste stopped.
Beside Marcus sat two independent investigators and Naomi Grant, representing Khloe.
Celeste’s eyes narrowed.
“This is a family matter.”
Naomi opened a folder.
“Forgery, conspiracy and attempted custodial fraud are not family matters.”
Celeste took a seat.
“I never ordered anyone to hurt Khloe.”
Marcus placed copies of the forged documents before her.
“Did you order these?”
“I was protecting the company.”
“Answer the question.”
Celeste looked at Naomi.
“I want my attorney.”
“You’ll need one,” Naomi said.
Celeste’s composure slipped.
She turned toward Marcus.
“Your father spent his entire life building the Thorne empire. He understood that succession had to be controlled.”
“My son is not a corporate asset.”
“He will inherit voting rights worth billions.”
“He is a child.”
“He is both.”
Marcus stood so quickly his chair struck the wall.
“No. That is how you saw me. It is not how anyone will see my son.”
Celeste stared at him.
“When your father died, you were twenty-nine and unprepared. I kept the board from tearing this family apart.”
“You also kept information from me.”
“What information?”
“Daniel found amendments to my father’s trust.”
Celeste’s face went still.
Marcus slid another document across the table.
“The original terms gave no control to the mother of my first child. That provision was added three weeks before my father died.”
Naomi leaned forward.
“And the amendment was witnessed by Dr. Lang.”
Celeste said nothing.
Marcus finally saw the answer in her silence.
“You changed the trust.”
“I corrected it.”
“You forged my dying father’s instructions.”
“I protected what he built.”
“You built a cage and called it protection.”
Celeste’s eyes flashed.
“Everything you have exists because I made difficult decisions.”
“Khloe nearly lost our baby because of your decisions.”
“I did not tell Isabella to attack her.”
“No. You only told Isabella that Khloe was an obstacle. You gave her access. You paid the doctor. You forged the papers. Then you expected everyone else to do the ugly work.”
Celeste rose.
“You will regret turning against me.”
Marcus reached into his jacket and placed a final document on the table.
It removed Celeste from the family holding company, suspended her voting privileges and barred her from all Thorne properties pending investigation.
Her hand trembled as she read it.
“You cannot do this.”
“I already did.”
“I am your mother.”
“And Khloe is my wife.”
Celeste laughed without humor.
“A wife who is divorcing you.”
The words struck their target.
Marcus looked away.
Celeste gathered her purse.
“When this company collapses, remember that you chose a woman who no longer wants you over the family that made you.”
Marcus faced her.
“No. I chose the truth over the family that taught me to lie.”
Celeste left without another word.
That night, Marcus sat alone in the penthouse he had once shared with Khloe.
The nursery was nearly finished.
A wooden crib stood beneath a painted night sky. Khloe had chosen every star herself. Marcus had promised to help, but he had missed the installation because Isabella had invited him to a private dinner.
On the rocking chair rested a tiny blue sweater.
Marcus picked it up and pressed it between his hands.
His phone rang.
It was Naomi.
“Khloe has agreed to answer one question,” she said.
Marcus sat upright.
“What question?”
“She wants to know whether you told Isabella you planned to take the baby away from her.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
“No.”
“Did you ever discuss Khloe leaving after the birth?”
“No.”
“Did you promise Isabella marriage?”
He hesitated.
Naomi’s tone sharpened.
“Marcus.”
“I told Isabella my marriage was over.”
“Was it?”
“No.”
“Did Khloe know that?”
“No.”
A long silence followed.
Then another voice came through the phone.
Khloe.
“You let Isabella build a future out of lies.”
Marcus’s throat tightened.
“Yes.”
“And now those lies have become dangerous.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know whether I will ever forgive you.”
“I understand.”
“No, you don’t.”
“You’re right. I don’t.”
Her breathing shook.
“The baby kicked today.”
Marcus covered his mouth.
Khloe continued softly.
“For six days, he barely moved. Today he kicked.”
A tear slipped down Marcus’s face.
“I’m glad.”
“I wanted you to know.”
“Thank you.”
The call ended.
For the first time since the attack, Marcus allowed himself to cry.
But the moment did not last.
Daniel called seconds later.
“We found Dr. Lang.”
“In Switzerland?”
“No. He never arrived.”
Marcus stood.
“Then where is he?”
“His passport was used, but facial-recognition footage shows another man boarding the plane.”
“Lang sent a decoy.”
“Yes.”
“Where is he now?”
Daniel hesitated.
“We traced a burner phone connected to him.”
“To what location?”
“A house less than two miles from Khloe’s secured residence.”
Marcus’s blood turned to ice.
“Call the police. Now.”
But before Daniel could respond, Marcus heard something through the phone.
A sharp electronic alarm.
May you like
Then Naomi’s frightened voice in the background.
“Someone has cut the power.”
