Chapter 3: Thirty Marble Steps
Eight months into her pregnancy, Khloe appeared at the Montgomery County Courthouse for a hearing involving temporary financial protections.
Harrison walked beside her.
Security surrounded them.
Reporters crowded outside.
Richard arrived twenty minutes later.
Vanessa insisted on accompanying him despite Harrison's warning that she stay away from his sister.
The hearing itself lasted less than an hour.
The judge ordered temporary freezes on multiple Harrington assets.
Richard walked out pale.
Vanessa was furious.
"You let her humiliate us!"
Richard whispered sharply,
"Not here."
But Vanessa had already lost control.
She spotted Khloe standing near the top of the courthouse staircase waiting for Harrison to retrieve the car.
Vanessa marched toward her.
"You ruined everything!"
Khloe stepped backward carefully.
"I'm not fighting you."
"Liar!"
Vanessa shoved her with both hands.
The world slowed.
Khloe reached instinctively for her stomach.
Her foot missed the first step.
Then gravity took over.
She fell once.
Twice.
Again.
Again.
Thirty marble steps.
Until her body struck the landing below.
Blood spread across the white stone.
People screamed.
Phones flew into trembling hands.
Richard stood frozen.
Unable to move.
Unable to speak.
Then Harrison turned.
He saw his sister lying motionless.
His briefcase hit the ground.
He sprinted toward her.
Dropping to his knees.
Ignoring the blood soaking through his expensive suit.
"Khloe!"
She opened her eyes only once.
"Harry..."
"The baby..."
"Please..."
Then darkness swallowed her voice.
An ambulance rushed both mother and child to surgery.
Outside the operating room...
Harrison stood perfectly still.
Richard approached him.
"I never wanted—"
Harrison raised one hand.
May you like
Richard fell silent.
"When those operating room doors open," Harrison said coldly, "your life as you know it ends."
