CHAPTER 14: THE SECRET OF THE UNBORN HEIR
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Not Marcus.
Not Khloe.
Not even Isabella.
The room was frozen in the kind of silence that came before a storm.
Marcus stared at his father.
“The baby?”
His voice was filled with confusion.
“What does my child have to do with Isabella?”
Richard looked at Isabella.
“Tell him.”
But Isabella didn’t move.
For the first time since Marcus had known her…
She looked powerless.
Not because she was caught.
Because the truth was finally bigger than her lies.
“Isabella.”
Marcus’s voice became colder.
“I asked you a question.”
She slowly looked at him.
“You want to know why?”
A bitter smile appeared on her face.
“Because your family has been protecting a secret for years.”
Khloe tightened her grip on Marcus’s hand.
“Don’t listen to her.”
Isabella looked at her.
“You still think everything is simple.”
She laughed quietly.
“Good people. Bad people. Victims. Villains.”
She shook her head.
“That’s not how the world works.”
Marcus stepped closer.
“Stop talking in circles.”
His eyes hardened.
“Why did you target my wife?”
Isabella looked at Khloe.
Then at Marcus.
“Because your child changes everything.”
Marcus frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Richard answered.
“The child gives Marcus something Victor has always wanted.”
The room became silent.
Marcus turned.
“What?”
Richard’s expression was heavy.
“Control.”
Fifteen years ago, before Richard Thorne disappeared, he discovered something hidden inside the family trust.
A clause.
A protection.
A decision he made when Marcus was still young.
Richard had transferred the majority of his personal fortune into a protected family trust.
Not for himself.
Not for the company.
For Marcus.
And one day…
For Marcus’s children.
The heir of the Thorne family.
But Victor discovered it.
He realized that as long as Marcus had a child of his own, Victor could never fully control the empire.
The next generation would always have a claim.
A reason to fight.
A reason to expose the truth.
Marcus looked at Richard.
“So Isabella attacked Khloe because of the inheritance?”
Richard shook his head.
“No.”
He looked at Isabella.
“Because of what the child represents.”
Marcus’s expression changed.
“What?”
Richard lowered his voice.
“Proof.”
Isabella finally spoke.
“You think I wanted your money?”
Marcus stared at her.
“Didn’t you?”
“No.”
Her eyes filled with anger.
“I wanted justice.”
Khloe looked at her carefully.
“Then why hurt me?”
Isabella looked away.
Because that question was harder to answer.
“I was told there was no other way.”
“By who?”
Silence.
Marcus immediately noticed.
“Who gave you orders?”
Isabella didn’t answer.
Marcus stepped closer.
“You were never in control.”
Her expression changed.
Because he was right.
She had spent years believing she was the mastermind.
But she had always been someone else’s weapon.
“Who?”
Marcus demanded.
Finally, Isabella whispered:
“Victor.”
The room went silent.
Even though Marcus already suspected it…
Hearing the name still felt like a betrayal.
Richard closed his eyes.
“I knew it.”
Marcus looked at him.
“You knew?”
Richard nodded.
“Victor has always known how to manipulate people.”
Isabella laughed bitterly.
“Manipulate?”
She looked at Marcus.
“He promised me everything.”
A pause.
“He promised he would destroy the people who ruined my family.”
Khloe frowned.
“What did your family have to do with the Thornes?”
Isabella’s face changed.
Pain replaced anger.
“My father worked for Richard.”
Richard looked shocked.
“Your father?”
“Yes.”
She looked at him.
“And you ruined him.”
Richard shook his head.
“No.”
“You exposed him.”
“He was guilty.”
The words shocked everyone.
Isabella’s eyes filled with tears.
“My father died believing everyone hated him.”
A pause.
“And Victor was the only person who told me the truth.”
Marcus stared at her.
“Victor lied to you.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
Marcus looked at Richard.
“Did he?”
Richard didn’t answer immediately.
And that hesitation created another crack.
Khloe noticed.
“Richard.”
The older man sighed.
“Your father did make mistakes.”
Marcus looked at him.
“What mistakes?”
Richard lowered his eyes.
“He protected the wrong people.”
Suddenly, Isabella’s phone rang.
Everyone turned.
She looked at the screen.
Her face changed.
Fear.
Real fear.
Marcus noticed.
“Who is it?”
She didn’t answer.
The phone kept ringing.
Richard stepped forward.
“Answer it.”
Isabella hesitated.
Then pressed the button.
A voice came through.
“Isabella.”
Victor.
Marcus immediately reached for the phone.
But Isabella held it tightly.
Victor continued.
“You have caused enough damage.”
Her face went pale.
“What do you want?”
A cold laugh.
“I want you to finish what you started.”
“No.”
The word came out immediately.
“I’m done.”
Silence.
Then Victor said:
“Be careful.”
A pause.
“You forget who saved you.”
Isabella’s eyes filled with anger.
“You ruined my life.”
Victor laughed.
“No.”
His voice became colder.
“You ruined your own life the moment you believed you were powerful enough to betray me.”
Marcus stepped closer.
“Victor!”
The line went silent.
Then Victor spoke again.
“Marcus.”
Everyone froze.
“I know you’re there.”
Marcus grabbed the phone.
“You’re finished.”
Victor laughed softly.
“No.”
A pause.
“I’m just getting started.”
Then the call ended.
Minutes later, police arrived.
Isabella was taken into custody.
But before she was led away, she stopped beside Khloe.
For a moment, neither woman spoke.
Then Isabella whispered:
“I really thought I was saving myself.”
Khloe looked at her.
“You were hurting innocent people.”
Isabella nodded.
“I know.”
For the first time, there was no anger in her voice.
Only regret.
“I’m sorry.”
Then she was gone.
Outside the building, Marcus stood beside Khloe.
Richard watched them from a distance.
For the first time in fifteen years, the Thorne family was together.
But Marcus knew it wasn’t over.
Victor was still out there.
The man who had planned everything.
The man who had controlled everyone.
The man who believed he could take the empire without consequences.
Marcus looked at his father.
“We end this.”
Richard nodded.
“Yes.”
Khloe held Marcus’s hand.
“What now?”
Marcus looked toward the city.
“Now we stop running.”
At that exact moment, every screen inside Thorne Holdings went black.
A message appeared across the company network.
Everyone in the building saw it.
Employees.
Executives.
The board.
Everyone.
Three words.
THE REAL HEIR.
Then another message appeared.
A photograph.
Marcus’s newborn child’s medical file.
Someone had leaked private information.
Someone still had access.
Marcus stared at the screen.
His blood ran cold.
Because Victor wasn’t trying to destroy the Thorne family anymore.
He was making his final move.
And this time…
He was coming after the one thing Marcus would die to protect.
May you like
His child.
TO BE CONTINUED...
