Chapter 6 - KHLOE’S DECISION
By sunrise, Khloe had made three decisions.
She would protect her child.
She would protect her mother’s estate.
And she would never again confuse love with trust.
Julian entered her room carrying coffee.
“You should be asleep.”
“I tried.”
“That monitor says otherwise.”
Khloe looked toward the fetal monitor.
The baby’s heartbeat continued its steady rhythm.
Every few minutes, she stared at the screen just to make sure.
“Get me a lawyer.”
Julian stopped.
“You already have attorneys.”
“Marcus has attorneys.”
“The Thorne family has attorneys.”
“I want mine.”
Julian nodded.
“I know someone.”
“Not someone who wants to save my marriage.”
“Someone who wants to protect me.”
“I understand.”
“And Uncle Julian?”
“Yes?”
“I want a forensic accountant.”
His eyebrows rose.
“You’re serious.”
“I have no idea what Marcus or Richard moved under my name.”
“I want to know before they have time to clean it up.”
Julian pulled out his phone.
“I’ll make two calls.”
Marcus arrived outside the room thirty minutes later.
A security officer refused him entry.
He did not argue.
He simply sat in a chair across the hallway.
For three hours.
Khloe knew he was there.
She did not invite him in.
At ten seventeen, Detective Brooks arrived.
“We arrested Isabella.”
Khloe looked at her.
“For what?”
“Assault.”
“Possibly aggravated assault depending on the medical findings.”
“Her attorney is already talking about self-defense.”
Khloe almost smiled.
“You saw the footage.”
“I did.”
“So did the district attorney.”
Brooks sat down.
“There’s something else.”
“What?”
“Your husband’s affair matters because it gives Ms. Rossi a possible motive.”
“But her attorney is going to argue she was emotionally manipulated.”
Khloe looked toward the door.
“I’m sure Marcus will enjoy hearing that.”
Brooks studied her.
“Mrs. Thorne, I need to ask you something uncomfortable.”
“Tonight has been full of those.”
“Did your husband ever threaten you?”
“No.”
“Control your access to money?”
“No.”
“Pressure you to sign financial documents?”
Khloe thought.
Then she remembered.
Two months earlier, Marcus had placed a folder beside her breakfast plate.
Routine estate planning.
That was what he called it.
Khloe had been late for a prenatal appointment.
She told him she would read everything later.
He had seemed annoyed.
She had never opened the folder.
“Yes.”
Brooks leaned forward.
“What did he ask you to sign?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you still have it?”
“It should be in my home office.”
Brooks nodded slowly.
“Don’t touch it.”
“Why?”
“Because if this involves forged documents, it may become evidence.”
Khloe looked out the window.
Her marriage had been broken overnight.
Now her home might become a crime scene.
A nurse entered.
“Mrs. Thorne?”
“Yes?”
“There’s a delivery for you.”
She carried a white envelope.
“No sender.”
Julian immediately took it.
“Who brought this?”
“Courier.”
Julian opened the envelope carefully.
Inside was a single photograph.
Marcus.
Isabella.
A private table at a restaurant.
The timestamp was eleven days earlier.
Not five months.
Eleven days.
On the back, someone had written four words.
HE NEVER ENDED IT.
Khloe stared at the photograph.
Then she slowly looked toward the hallway.
Marcus was still sitting outside her door.
For the first time, she wanted to see him.
Not because she missed him.
May you like
Because she wanted to watch his face when she showed him the date.
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