CHAPTER 13: THE WOMAN WHO WAS TAKEN
Marcus Thorne had faced impossible situations before.
Business wars.
Legal battles.
Threats from powerful enemies.
But nothing had ever made his heart stop the way it did when Khloe didn’t answer her phone.
Not once.
Not twice.
Not ten times.
Silence.
That was the thing that terrified him most.
Because Marcus knew Khloe.
She would never ignore him.
Not after everything they had been through.
Something was wrong.
“Find her.”
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
The security team immediately moved.
Richard watched his son.
He saw the same determination he once had.
The same fire.
The same refusal to lose.
But this time…
Marcus wasn’t fighting for a company.
He was fighting for his wife.
And his unborn child.
The hospital security director rushed into the room.
“Mr. Thorne.”
Marcus turned.
“Tell me.”
The man looked nervous.
“We checked every camera.”
“And?”
“Mrs. Thorne left the maternity floor twelve minutes ago.”
Marcus’s expression changed.
“Why?”
“She received a message.”
“From who?”
The director hesitated.
“We don’t know.”
Marcus stepped closer.
“What do you mean you don’t know?”
“The message was deleted from her phone.”
Richard looked at him.
“Someone planned this.”
Marcus nodded.
“I know.”
Then he saw something on the security footage.
A woman walking beside Khloe.
Marcus froze.
“Stop.”
The footage paused.
Everyone looked at the screen.
Standing beside Khloe was a woman wearing a nurse’s uniform.
But Marcus noticed something immediately.
The way she walked.
The way she held herself.
The confidence.
“She’s not a nurse.”
The security director zoomed in.
Marcus stared.
Then his face turned cold.
“Isabella.”
At that exact moment, Khloe opened her eyes.
The first thing she felt was dizziness.
The second thing was fear.
She was not in the hospital anymore.
She was lying on a couch inside an unfamiliar room.
Dark.
Quiet.
Cold.
Her hands immediately moved to her stomach.
“My baby…”
A voice answered from the corner.
“Your baby is fine.”
Khloe looked up.
And her blood ran cold.
Isabella Rossi stepped out of the shadows.
No red gown.
No perfect smile.
No fake elegance.
Just anger.
“You.”
Khloe tried to move.
Pain shot through her body.
Isabella immediately stepped forward.
“Don’t.”
Her voice was calm.
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
Khloe stared at her.
“You already tried.”
For a moment, Isabella looked away.
A flash of guilt appeared.
Then it disappeared.
“You don’t understand.”
Khloe laughed weakly.
“Understand what?”
“That everything was taken from me.”
Khloe stared.
“You kidnapped a pregnant woman because you were jealous?”
“No.”
Isabella’s voice became louder.
“Because I was betrayed.”
Khloe remained silent.
And Isabella continued.
“Everyone thinks I’m the villain.”
She walked closer.
“They don’t know what happened.”
Khloe looked at her.
“Then tell me.”
A pause.
Isabella stopped.
Because she didn’t expect that answer.
“You want the truth?”
“Yes.”
Khloe’s voice was steady.
“Because I’m tired of everyone hiding behind lies.”
For a moment, Isabella looked almost human.
Then she whispered:
“Your husband’s family destroyed mine.”
Back at the hospital, Marcus watched every second of the footage.
The fake nurse.
The disguise.
The moment Khloe was taken.
His anger grew with every frame.
Victor looked over his shoulder.
“She did this.”
Marcus turned.
“You knew.”
Victor didn’t answer.
Marcus stepped closer.
“You knew Isabella was capable of this.”
Victor remained silent.
And that silence was enough.
Marcus’s eyes filled with rage.
“You knew my wife was in danger.”
“I knew she was desperate.”
“Desperate?”
Marcus grabbed the table.
“She took my pregnant wife!”
Richard stepped between them.
“Marcus.”
“No.”
He looked at Victor.
“I trusted you.”
Victor looked away.
That was the first time Marcus saw something.
Not guilt.
Fear.
Victor was afraid.
But not of Marcus.
Of someone else.
“Who are you afraid of?”
Victor said nothing.
Marcus lowered his voice.
“Who is controlling this?”
A long silence.
Then Victor whispered:
“You don’t understand.”
“Then explain.”
Victor looked at Richard.
Then Marcus.
“Isabella thinks she’s fighting for revenge.”
A pause.
“But she’s actually protecting the person who ruined everything.”
Marcus frowned.
“Who?”
Victor closed his eyes.
“The person who gave her orders.”
Inside the abandoned building, Isabella continued talking.
Khloe listened carefully.
“Your father found out.”
Khloe frowned.
“Found out what?”
“The truth about the Thorne empire.”
Isabella walked around the room.
“Your husband’s family wasn’t as perfect as everyone believed.”
Khloe looked at her.
“So you decided to destroy Marcus?”
“No.”
Isabella shook her head.
“I wanted him to lose everything.”
“Why?”
“Because I lost everything.”
Her voice cracked.
“My father was blamed for crimes he didn’t commit.”
Khloe stared.
“What?”
“Richard Thorne destroyed him.”
“No.”
Khloe shook her head.
“That’s not true.”
Isabella laughed bitterly.
“You still defend him.”
“I defend the truth.”
Those words made Isabella angry.
“The truth?”
She stepped closer.
“You want the truth?”
She pulled out a folder.
Then threw it onto the table.
Khloe looked down.
Inside were old documents.
Photos.
Reports.
And one name repeated everywhere.
Richard Thorne.
Khloe’s expression changed.
But before she could read more…
The door opened.
Both women turned.
Isabella froze.
Because the person standing there was not someone she expected.
Not Daniel.
Not Victor.
Someone much more dangerous.
Marcus Thorne.
His face was filled with anger.
But his eyes were focused only on Khloe.
“Khloe.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Marcus…”
For one second, Isabella looked terrified.
Because she realized something.
Marcus had found them.
And he had not come alone.
Behind him stood Richard Thorne.
Alive.
The man Isabella believed was gone forever.
Her entire plan collapsed in that moment.
Richard looked directly at her.
And said:
“Isabella Rossi.”
A pause.
“You still haven’t told him the real reason you wanted Khloe gone.”
Isabella’s face went pale.
Marcus looked between them.
“What reason?”
Nobody answered.
Then Richard spoke.
“The baby Khloe is carrying…”
Silence.
“Is the reason Isabella was willing to destroy an entire family.”
Marcus’s expression changed.
“What are you talking about?”
Richard looked at Isabella.
“Tell him.”
Isabella stepped backward.
Because the secret she had hidden for months…
May you like
Was finally about to be exposed.
TO BE CONTINUED...
