Chapter 13 - THE PRICE OF LOVE

Three days later, Khloe returned to the penthouse.

Marcus was not there.

He had moved into a hotel without being asked.

His clothes remained in the closet.

His watch sat beside the bed.

His shoes were lined neatly beneath the dresser.

The ordinary details hurt most.

Khloe stood in the nursery doorway.

The room was half finished.

Marcus had painted one wall himself.

Poorly.

She had laughed at him for two straight days.

Now she touched the dried streak of paint near the baseboard and cried.

Not because she wanted him back.

Because she missed the man she thought he was.

There was a difference.

Julian found her sitting on the nursery floor.

“You should not be sitting on the floor.”

“I knew you would say that.”

He helped her stand.

“The baby okay?”

“Apparently she enjoys kicking my ribs at three in the morning.”

Julian smiled.

“She’s a Vale.”

“Your sister would disagree.”

Mentioning Khloe’s mother changed the room.

Julian looked at the crib.

“She would be furious.”

“At Marcus?”

“At everyone.”

Khloe wiped her face.

“Was my marriage always a setup?”

“No.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I watched him look at you.”

She glanced at him.

“That doesn’t excuse anything.”

“I didn’t say it did.”

“Love can be real and still be selfish.”

Khloe thought about that.

Marcus had loved her.

She believed that now.

He had also cheated on her.

Lied to her.

Hidden financial decisions.

Protected his family’s image at her expense.

Both truths could exist at once.

That was the hardest part.

Rebecca arrived that afternoon.

She carried a thick folder.

“Good news first.”

“The court froze the disputed trust.”

“Your shares cannot be transferred.”

Khloe exhaled.

“And the bad news?”

“Thorne Global stock dropped seventeen percent.”

“Richard’s arrest is public.”

“Several lenders are nervous.”

“Marcus?”

“He voluntarily stepped aside as CEO pending the investigation.”

Khloe looked surprised.

“He did?”

“Yes.”

“He also gave regulators full access to his personal records.”

“That may help him criminally.”

“Or hurt him.”

“He did it anyway.”

Khloe walked toward the window.

“What about Isabella?”

Rebecca’s expression sharpened.

“Prosecutors upgraded the charges.”

“Assault plus conspiracy-related financial counts are being considered.”

“Elaine?”

“Cooperating.”

Khloe nodded.

Rebecca hesitated.

“There is one more thing.”

“What?”

“Marcus signed a document this morning.”

Rebecca handed it to her.

It was an irrevocable waiver.

Marcus had surrendered any marital claim to Khloe’s inherited voting shares.

No conditions.

No bargaining.

No request that she remain married to him.

Khloe read it twice.

“Why?”

Rebecca answered.

“He said they should never have been touched.”

Khloe felt tears rise again.

She hated that he could still make her cry.

“He thinks this fixes things?”

“No.”

Rebecca looked at her carefully.

“He specifically told me it doesn’t.”

That evening, Marcus sent one message.

I loved you badly.

I won’t insult you by calling that enough.

Khloe stared at the screen for a long time.

Then she deleted the message.

But she did not block his number.

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