Chapter 2 - THE HEARTBEAT

The fetal monitor found the heartbeat eleven minutes later.

Khloe had never heard a more beautiful sound.

Fast.

Steady.

Alive.

She closed her eyes as tears slipped into her hair.

The obstetrician moved the ultrasound wand slowly across her abdomen.

“There’s no indication of placental separation right now.”

Khloe gripped the sheet beneath her.

“Right now?”

“We need to monitor you.”

Dr. Hannah Cole spoke carefully.

“Blunt trauma during the third trimester can become serious even when the first scan looks reassuring.”

Marcus stood near the wall.

His tuxedo jacket was gone.

His bow tie hung loose around his neck.

He had tried to approach the bed twice.

Khloe had turned away both times.

Finally, he said, “Is the baby safe?”

Dr. Cole looked at him.

“At this moment, yes.”

The words should have relieved him.

They did not.

Because Khloe still would not look at him.

Julian entered ten minutes later.

He kissed Khloe’s forehead.

“You’re staying overnight.”

“I figured.”

“You may be staying longer.”

“Uncle Julian.”

“That wasn’t a suggestion.”

For the first time since the attack, Khloe almost smiled.

Then she saw the tablet under his arm.

Her smile disappeared.

“You have the footage.”

Marcus straightened.

Julian’s eyes moved toward him.

“Yes.”

The room became silent.

Khloe stared at the tablet.

“Did she attack me?”

Julian frowned.

“You know she did.”

“I want everyone else to know.”

“They will.”

“Does it show everything?”

Julian hesitated.

That hesitation mattered.

Khloe knew her uncle.

He had delivered terrible medical news to strangers for twenty years before moving into hospital administration.

He did not hesitate without reason.

“What else is on it?”

Marcus stepped forward.

“Khloe, maybe this can wait.”

She finally looked at him.

“Why?”

He said nothing.

The silence answered for him.

Khloe’s pulse began to rise.

The monitor beside her responded with faster beeps.

Dr. Cole looked up.

“Keep her calm.”

Khloe ignored her.

“What is on that video?”

Julian set the tablet on the bedside table.

“There’s audio.”

Khloe remembered Isabella’s words.

You were supposed to know your place.

Smile for the cameras.

Give him an heir.

Then disappear.

Her mouth went dry.

“Play it.”

Marcus shook his head.

“Khloe.”

“Play it.”

Julian looked at his niece.

Then at the monitor.

Then at Marcus.

“Maybe tomorrow.”

“No.”

Khloe’s voice sharpened.

“I almost hit the floor hard enough to lose my child.”

“I am not spending tonight protecting anyone else’s feelings.”

Marcus looked shattered.

But he remained silent.

Julian unlocked the tablet.

The security footage began.

There was Khloe entering the suite.

There was Isabella following minutes later.

There was the argument.

Every word was captured.

Every insult.

Every shove.

The first impact against the marble table.

The second.

Then the kick.

Marcus closed his eyes when Khloe hit the floor.

But Julian did not stop the recording.

Isabella stood over Khloe.

She leaned closer.

Her voice came clearly through the tablet speaker.

“You really think carrying his baby makes you special?”

Khloe whispered something too softly for the camera.

Isabella laughed.

Then she said the sentence that destroyed the room.

“He was in my bed three nights before your anniversary, Khloe.”

The monitor beside Khloe accelerated.

Marcus looked at her.

“Khloe.”

She raised one trembling hand.

“Don’t.”

The recording continued.

Isabella crouched beside her.

“He told me he only stayed because of the baby.”

Marcus stepped toward the tablet.

“Turn it off.”

Julian blocked him.

“Don’t touch it.”

Then Isabella’s final words played.

“He promised me once the trust papers were signed, you’d be gone.”

Khloe slowly turned toward her husband.

“What trust papers?”

Marcus’s face had lost all color.

That was the moment Khloe understood something worse than the affair was coming.

Because Marcus did not say Isabella was lying.

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He whispered, “I can explain.”

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