“They wanted control.”
“They wanted access.”
“And Sofia was their way inside.”
Marcus looked at Isabella.
“Your family used Sofia?”
Isabella shook her head.
“No.”
Her voice became emotional.
“You’re lying.”
Richard leaned back.
“Am I?”
He looked at Marcus.
“Ask yourself why Isabella appeared years later.”
“Why she suddenly became close to your company.”
“Why she knew about your marriage.”
“Why she knew about the child.”
Marcus looked at Isabella.
And for the first time…
Doubt appeared.
Khloe noticed.
And it hurt.
Because now there were too many lies.
Too many secrets.
Too many people manipulating the truth.
Isabella looked at Marcus.
“You believe him?”
Marcus didn’t answer.
That silence hurt her.
But before she could speak…
Richard’s phone rang.
Everyone looked at him.
He answered.
Listened.
Then smiled.
“What?”
Marcus demanded.
Richard ended the call.
“The problem is solved.”
“What problem?”
Richard looked at Khloe.
“The reason I came here.”
A pause.
“The reason Isabella attacked you.”
Khloe felt cold.
Richard continued.
“It was never about jealousy.”
“It was never about replacing you.”
“It was about stopping something from being born.”
Marcus stepped forward.
“What are you talking about?”
Richard looked at Khloe’s stomach.
“The child you are carrying…”
His voice became softer.
“Is the key to everything.”
Khloe’s face changed.
“No.”
Richard smiled.
“Yes.”
“The child carries information Sofia left behind.”
Marcus froze.
“That’s impossible.”
Richard looked at him.
“You really thought Sofia disappeared without protecting herself?”
A long silence.
“She knew someone would come after her.”
“She knew someone would try to erase the truth.”
“And before she vanished…”
“She placed the evidence somewhere nobody could find it.”
Marcus stared.
“Where?”
Richard smiled.
Then looked at Khloe.
“Inside the one person nobody would ever suspect.”
Khloe felt her heartbeat increase.
“No…”
Richard stood.
“The truth about the Thorne empire…”
“The reason Sofia disappeared…”
“The reason Isabella tried to stop you…”
“All of it is connected to your unborn child.”
Nobody spoke.
Then Richard walked toward the door.
Marcus followed.
“Where are you going?”
Richard stopped.
Without turning around, he said:
“To give you a chance.”
Marcus frowned.
“A chance for what?”
Richard smiled.
“To decide whether you want to protect your wife…”
“Or protect your empire.”
The door closed.
And for the first time…
Marcus Thorne realized the worst secret was not what his father had done.
It was what his father had planned next.
Because somewhere outside that hospital…
Someone was already coming for Khloe.
And this time…
They were not planning to destroy her reputation.
They were planning to take everything she had.
CHAPTER 5-ISABELLA’S REAL PLAN
The moment Richard Thorne disappeared behind the hospital doors, the entire room felt different.
Not safer.
Not calmer.
Different.
Like the air itself had changed.
Because everyone understood one thing.
Richard had not returned because he missed his son.
He had not returned because he regretted his actions.
He had returned because something bigger was happening.
Something that involved Marcus.
Something that involved Khloe.
Something that involved the child she was carrying.
Khloe stood beside the hospital bed, staring at the empty doorway.
For years, people had told her that wealth created comfort.
Security.
Protection.
A perfect life.
But standing there…
After being attacked inside a private hospital suite…
After discovering her husband had hidden a six-year-old secret…
After meeting a man who had faked his own death…
She finally understood.
Money did not remove danger.
Sometimes…
It attracted it.
“Khloe.”
Marcus’s voice was quiet.
She didn’t turn around.
Because she was afraid of what she would see.
The husband she loved.
Or the stranger who had kept secrets from her.
“Don’t.”
Marcus stopped.
“I know you’re angry.”
She slowly turned.
“Angry?”
Her eyes were filled with disbelief.
“Marcus, I was pushed to the ground while carrying your child.”
“You watched another woman lie about attacking me.”
“Then I found out you have been hiding an entire part of your life.”
She took a breath.
“And you think I’m just angry?”
Marcus looked down.
“You’re right.”
That answer surprised her.
Because she expected an explanation.
An excuse.
A defense.
But he didn’t give one.
He accepted it.
“I should have told you.”
“Yes.”
Khloe’s voice softened slightly.
“You should have.”
A painful silence followed.
Then Marcus looked at Isabella.
The woman who had started everything.
“Now it’s your turn.”
Isabella looked at him.
“Mine?”
“Yes.”
He stepped closer.
“Why did you attack my wife?”
For the first time since entering the room…
Isabella looked tired.
Not weak.
Not defeated.
Just tired.
“I didn’t attack her because I wanted your life.”
Khloe watched her carefully.
“Then why?”
Isabella looked at the floor.
“Because I knew Richard was coming back.”
Everyone froze.
Marcus stared.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Isabella laughed softly.
A bitter laugh.
