CHAPTER 12: THE NIGHT THE HUNTER RETURNED
The alarm continued screaming through the building.
Red lights flashed across the hallway.
Employees ran.
Security teams moved quickly.
But inside the private office, nobody moved.
Because everyone understood one thing.
This was not an accident.
Someone had found them.
Richard Thorne looked toward the door.
His face was different now.
Not like a businessman.
Not like a father.
Like a man who had spent fifteen years knowing someone would eventually come to finish the job.
“He found me.”
Marcus stared at him.
“Who?”
Richard didn’t answer.
He didn’t need to.
Marcus already knew.
“Victor.”
Richard nodded.
“He knows.”
Marcus’s jaw tightened.
“He knew you were alive all this time?”
“Yes.”
The answer was painful.
“He knew where I was hiding.”
“Then why didn’t he kill you before?”
Richard looked at his son.
“Because he needed me alive.”
Marcus frowned.
“For what?”
Richard took a slow breath.
“To take the blame.”
The office door suddenly shook.
Someone tried to force it open.
Marcus immediately moved in front of his father.
Richard looked at him.
“Marcus, no.”
But Marcus didn’t move.
Fifteen years ago, he lost his father.
Tonight, he wasn’t losing him again.
“Stay behind me.”
Richard looked at his son.
For a moment, he saw the little boy he left behind.
Then he saw the man he had become.
Strong.
Protective.
Unbreakable.
“I’m sorry.”
Marcus glanced back.
“For what?”
“For missing your entire life.”
The words hit harder than Marcus expected.
But before he could answer—
The door burst open.
Two security officers rushed inside.
“Mr. Thorne!”
Marcus turned.
“What happened?”
One of them looked nervous.
“The main security system has been compromised.”
Marcus’s expression changed.
“By who?”
The officer hesitated.
Then answered:
“Someone with executive-level access.”
Everyone became silent.
Richard looked at Marcus.
“Victor.”
Across the city, Victor Thorne sat calmly inside his private office.
Unlike everyone else, he wasn’t panicking.
He wasn’t running.
He wasn’t afraid.
Because Victor had spent fifteen years preparing for this exact moment.
His phone rang.
He answered.
“Report.”
A voice responded.
“They found Richard.”
Victor leaned back.
A small smile appeared.
“Good.”
“And Marcus is with him.”
The smile disappeared.
“That was not supposed to happen.”
“What do we do?”
Victor looked at the city lights outside his window.
“Change the plan.”
“Should we eliminate Richard?”
Victor was silent.
Then he said:
“No.”
A pause.
“Not yet.”
The person on the phone hesitated.
“Why?”
Victor’s eyes became cold.
“Because Richard is not the biggest threat anymore.”
“Who is?”
Victor looked at a photograph on his desk.
A photograph of Marcus as a child.
Standing beside Richard.
Beside Evelyn.
Beside Victor.
“The son.”
At the hospital, Khloe received an urgent call.
It was Marcus.
She answered immediately.
“Marcus?”
His voice was rushed.
“Khloe, listen carefully.”
Her heart started racing.
“What happened?”
“I need you to leave the hospital.”
She froze.
“What?”
“Take security and leave now.”
“Why?”
Marcus looked around the office.
Because he knew.
If Victor could access one place…
He could access another.
“Because you and the baby are still the target.”
Khloe’s hand moved protectively over her stomach.
“Where are you?”
“I’m handling it.”
“No.”
Her voice became firm.
“Marcus.”
A pause.
“You promised me we wouldn’t hide things from each other.”
He closed his eyes.
She was right.
“I found my father.”
Silence.
For several seconds, Khloe said nothing.
Then:
“What?”
“He’s alive.”
Khloe sat down slowly.
“Marcus…”
“I know.”
His voice broke slightly.
“I know how crazy it sounds.”
She shook her head even though he couldn’t see.
“Are you safe?”
Marcus looked at Richard.
Then at the damaged door.
“Not yet.”
Khloe’s fear grew.
“Then don’t leave me out of this.”
Marcus smiled sadly.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“Good.”
A small pause.
“Because I’m your wife.”
Those words gave him strength.
Thirty minutes later, Marcus, Richard, and Victor’s former security records were being analyzed.
And then they found something.
A hidden file.
Created fifteen years ago.
The name:
Project Legacy.
Marcus opened it.
The first page shocked him.
It was not about money.
It was not about the company.
It was about inheritance.
Specifically:
Marcus.
Richard stared at the screen.
“No.”
Marcus looked at him.
“What?”
Richard’s face became pale.
“Victor wasn’t trying to steal the company.”
Marcus frowned.
“Then what?”
Richard pointed at the document.
“He was trying to control you.”
The room went quiet.
Marcus read the file.
A legal plan.
A hidden agreement.
A manipulation strategy.
Victor had planned everything.
The company.
The money.
The family.
Everything.
But one line made Marcus stop.
A handwritten note at the bottom.
When Marcus reaches the age of control, remove all obstacles.
Marcus felt a chill.
“Obstacles?”
Richard nodded.
“Anyone who could influence your decisions.”
Marcus looked at the names.
His mother.
His father.
Khloe.
His child.
The realization hit him.
Victor wasn’t trying to destroy his family.
He was trying to replace it.
Then Marcus’s phone received a message.
Unknown number.
A photo appeared.
Khloe.
Standing outside the hospital.
Being followed.
His blood ran cold.
The message underneath said:
You’re looking in the wrong direction.
Another message appeared.
While you chase the past…
Another.
The future is already in danger.
Marcus immediately called Khloe.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
His expression changed.
“Khloe.”
Richard stood.
“What happened?”
Marcus looked at him.
“She’s gone.”
The room froze.
A final message arrived.
This time, only four words.
Ask Isabella where she is.
Marcus stared at the screen.
Because he finally understood.
The attack in the hospital was never the main plan.
It was only a distraction.
And while everyone was searching for the person who attacked Khloe…
May you like
Someone else had already taken her.
TO BE CONTINUED...
