Chapter 10 - IF KHLOE DIED

Marcus stared at the trust document until the words blurred.

“This is fake.”

Rebecca Sloan sat across from him.

“That is possible.”

“But?”

“But the formatting matches the other trust instruments.”

Khloe stood beside the fireplace in Julian’s living room.

She had been told repeatedly to sit.

She refused.

“Why would Isabella be my beneficiary?”

Marcus shook his head.

“She wouldn’t.”

“Apparently she was.”

“I never approved that.”

Rebecca opened another file.

“You approved the master restructuring.”

Marcus looked sick.

“Which apparently allowed amendments without direct beneficiary consent.”

Khloe stared at him.

“You gave them the ability to change my trust without asking me.”

“I didn’t understand that clause.”

“Stop saying that.”

Marcus fell silent.

Khloe’s voice shook.

“You are not allowed to hide behind stupidity.”

“You’re not stupid.”

“You made choices.”

“Own them.”

Marcus nodded.

“You’re right.”

Rebecca looked between them.

“The important question is whether this clause was ever legally effective.”

“And?”

Khloe asked.

“It may not have been.”

“The forged signature can invalidate the entire instrument.”

“But somebody wanted Isabella positioned to benefit if you died before the restructuring was challenged.”

The room went quiet.

Julian’s expression hardened.

“Are we talking about attempted murder?”

Rebecca immediately shook her head.

“Not based on this document alone.”

“We are talking about motive.”

Marcus stood.

“Isabella attacked Khloe while she was pregnant.”

“She could have killed her.”

Khloe looked at him.

“And if I died?”

Rebecca answered carefully.

“Assuming the trust stood, Isabella could have acquired a substantial economic interest.”

“How substantial?”

“Potentially several billion dollars.”

Marcus walked toward the window.

He pressed both hands against the glass.

“My God.”

Khloe watched him.

“Did she ever ask you about my will?”

Marcus turned.

“No.”

“Think.”

He did.

Then his expression changed.

“What?”

Khloe asked.

“Last year.”

“What happened?”

“She asked what would happen to my shares if something happened to me.”

“That isn’t my will.”

“I know.”

“But we were talking about estate planning.”

“Why were you discussing estate planning with Isabella?”

Marcus looked ashamed.

“It was after the affair started.”

Khloe shut her eyes briefly.

Of course it was.

Rebecca interrupted before anger could consume the room.

“Did she ask specifically about Khloe?”

Marcus searched his memory.

“Yes.”

“What did she say?”

“She asked whether marriage automatically gave Khloe control of my voting interest.”

“And what did you tell her?”

“That our trusts were separate.”

Khloe’s stomach tightened.

“She was studying us.”

Marcus nodded slowly.

“She was studying everything.”

Julian’s phone rang.

He answered.

His face changed almost immediately.

“What?”

Everyone looked at him.

“When?”

He listened.

Then he ended the call.

“Detective Brooks found Elaine.”

Khloe stepped forward.

“Where?”

“Pennsylvania.”

“Is she alive?”

“Yes.”

“Did she run?”

Julian looked at Marcus.

Then at Khloe.

“No.”

“She says Richard Thorne paid her to disappear.”

Marcus’s face went blank.

“And she says she has recordings.”

“Of who?”

Julian answered.

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