Chapter 15 - NINE HUNDRED MILLION

The account had existed for six years.

Long before the recent restructuring.

Long before Isabella.

Long before Khloe became pregnant.

Money had been diverted from dividends connected to Khloe’s inherited shares.

Small percentages at first.

Then larger transfers.

Reinvested.

Moved through partnerships.

Hidden inside offshore funds.

By the time the forensic accountants found the full trail, the total value approached nine hundred million dollars.

Khloe stared at the report.

“How did I not notice?”

Rebecca answered gently.

“Because the statements you received were manipulated.”

“By whom?”

“Someone inside the Thorne family office.”

Marcus sat across the conference table.

His face was gray.

“My father controlled the family office until four years ago.”

“And after that?”

Khloe asked.

“I did.”

The room went silent.

Marcus understood immediately.

“If it continued under me, I’m responsible.”

Rebecca nodded.

“Legally, that question is complicated.”

“Morally, it isn’t.”

Marcus looked at Khloe.

“I should have found it.”

Khloe shook her head.

“I am tired of hearing what you should have done.”

Marcus lowered his eyes.

The accountants continued tracing access logs.

One employee appeared repeatedly.

Thomas Greer.

Richard’s personal financial controller.

He had worked for the Thorne family for twenty-seven years.

Marcus looked stunned.

“Tom practically raised me.”

Rebecca looked unimpressed.

“So did your father.”

“That isn’t currently a reassuring credential.”

By afternoon, investigators searched Greer’s office.

They found shredded records.

Encrypted drives.

And a letter.

The letter was addressed to Marcus.

Richard had written it three years earlier.

If Khloe ever challenges the family structure, remind her that belonging to this family came with benefits.

If necessary, use the marriage agreement.

Marcus read the sentence aloud.

Khloe frowned.

“What marriage agreement?”

Marcus looked confused.

“Our prenup?”

“We don’t have a prenup.”

“Yes, we do.”

Khloe stared at him.

“No.”

Marcus went completely still.

“I signed one.”

“I didn’t.”

Rebecca sat straighter.

“Where is it?”

Marcus called the family office.

A copy arrived twenty minutes later.

Khloe’s signature appeared on the final page.

Another forgery.

Her face went white.

Rebecca read the document.

Then she looked up.

“This agreement says that if Khloe initiates divorce under certain circumstances, she relinquishes claims to multiple family-controlled assets.”

Marcus looked sick.

“I never enforced this.”

“She never knew it existed.”

Khloe whispered.

Richard had built a cage around her marriage before she even walked down the aisle.

Marcus stood.

“I want every document my father ever filed using Khloe’s name reviewed.”

Rebecca nodded.

“Already happening.”

Khloe looked at Marcus.

“When did you sign?”

“Three days before our wedding.”

“Did you think I had signed too?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you ask me?”

Marcus had no answer.

Khloe nodded.

“That is our entire marriage.”

“You saw what you wanted to see.”

Then her phone rang.

Detective Brooks.

Khloe answered.

Brooks spoke quickly.

“We have Richard.”

“You already had him.”

“Not anymore.”

Khloe’s blood went cold.

“What happened?”

“He made bail on the conspiracy count.”

“And?”

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