CHAPTER 6: THE ALLIANCE BEHIND THE ATTACK
Marcus Thorne watched the security footage again.
Then again.
And again.
Each time, the same image appeared.
Isabella Rossi.
Standing in the hospital lobby.
Meeting a man Marcus thought he would never see again.
A man connected to the darkest chapter of his family’s history.
Marcus’s hands tightened around the tablet.
“No…”
His voice was filled with disbelief.
“This can’t be happening.”
The security director looked at him carefully.
“Mr. Thorne, do you know who that man is?”
Marcus didn’t answer immediately.
Because saying the name out loud would make it real.
Finally, he whispered:
“Daniel Cross.”
The room went quiet.
The security director looked confused.
“Should I know that name?”
Marcus stared at the screen.
“You should know it if you’ve studied the Thorne family.”
He paused.
“Daniel Cross was my father’s closest business partner.”
A silence followed.
“Until the night my father died.”
Fifteen years earlier, Daniel Cross had been considered family.
He was not just an employee.
Not just a partner.
He was the man Richard Thorne trusted more than anyone.
They built companies together.
They attended meetings together.
They celebrated victories together.
Everyone believed they were unstoppable.
Until one night changed everything.
After Richard Thorne’s death, Daniel disappeared.
No explanation.
No goodbye.
No trace.
The official story was that he left because of guilt and grief.
But Marcus always felt there was something missing.
Something nobody wanted to tell him.
And now…
He was back.
Standing inside the same hospital where Khloe had almost lost their child.
Marcus looked at the screen.
“Why would Isabella meet him?”
The security director shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
Marcus saved the footage.
“Find out.”
The man nodded.
“Yes, sir.”
Marcus turned away.
Then stopped.
“Actually…”
He looked back.
“Do it quietly.”
“Why?”
Because Marcus had learned something tonight.
People who moved in the shadows were dangerous.
And if Daniel Cross and Isabella Rossi were working together…
He needed to know how deep the plan went before they realized he was watching.
Meanwhile, Isabella sat across from Daniel Cross in a private restaurant far from downtown.
The expensive room was almost empty.
No cameras.
No reporters.
No witnesses.
Exactly how Isabella liked it.
“You said you had everything under control.”
Daniel looked at her coldly.
“I did.”
“No.”
Isabella leaned forward.
“You didn’t tell me about the cameras.”
Daniel’s expression didn’t change.
“You should have checked.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“I trusted you.”
“That was your mistake.”
The answer angered her.
“You need me.”
Daniel smiled.
“Do I?”
“Yes.”
Isabella lowered her voice.
“Without me, you don’t get access to Thorne Holdings.”
Daniel watched her.
“And without me, you don’t get the life you’ve been chasing for fifteen years.”
The words hit a nerve.
Isabella’s face hardened.
“You promised me Marcus would hate Khloe.”
“He will.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“Not anymore.”
Daniel leaned back.
“What changed?”
“Someone saw.”
“Who?”
Isabella looked away.
“The cameras.”
For the first time, Daniel’s expression changed.
A small sign of concern.
“You’re certain?”
“Yes.”
A pause.
“And Marcus’s uncle knows.”
Daniel became still.
“Victor?”
Isabella nodded.
“He’s involved now.”
Daniel’s eyes darkened.
“That complicates things.”
Isabella laughed bitterly.
“Complicates things?”
She leaned closer.
“My entire life is about to collapse.”
Daniel calmly picked up his glass.
“Then don’t let it.”
She stared at him.
“What?”
“You wanted Marcus Thorne’s empire.”
A pause.
“Now you have to fight for it.”
Back at the hospital, Khloe woke up again.
This time, Marcus was sitting beside her.
But something was different.
She noticed immediately.
His face.
His silence.
His eyes.
“Marcus?”
He looked at her.
“I found something.”
Khloe slowly sat up.
“What?”
Marcus hesitated.
He didn’t want to scare her.
But he also promised her the truth.
“Isabella knew my father.”
Khloe froze.
“What?”
“She wasn’t a stranger.”
Marcus showed her the photograph.
Khloe looked at Isabella’s younger face beside Marcus’s father.
“How?”
“I don’t know yet.”
She studied the picture.
“Why would she hide this?”
Marcus looked away.
“Because whatever happened…”
His voice became darker.
“She was involved.”
Khloe felt a chill.
Then her expression changed.
“Marcus.”
“What?”
“She didn’t come after me because she was jealous.”
Marcus looked at her.
“She came after me because I was in the way.”
“In the way of what?”
Khloe looked at the photograph.
“Whatever she and Daniel Cross are planning.”
The room went silent.
Marcus stared at her.
“You know about Daniel?”
Khloe shook her head.
“No.”
She pointed at the picture.
“But look at Isabella.”
Marcus looked closer.
Khloe continued.
“She isn’t looking at your father.”
A pause.
“She’s looking at the person holding the power.”
Marcus’s eyes narrowed.
Because she was right.
In the photograph, Isabella wasn’t smiling at Richard Thorne.
She was watching the business.
The empire.
The future.
Hours later, Marcus received another call.
Victor.
“Marcus.”
His voice sounded urgent.
“What happened?”
“I checked the old files.”
Marcus stood.
“And?”
Victor took a deep breath.
“Your father had evidence before he died.”
“Evidence of what?”
“Someone inside the company was stealing money.”
Marcus frowned.
“Who?”
A long pause.
Then Victor said:
“The person who benefited most after your father’s death.”
Marcus felt his blood run cold.
“Who?”
Victor lowered his voice.
“Your mother’s attorney.”
Marcus froze.
“What?”
“He transferred control of several accounts after your father died.”
“That makes no sense.”
“I know.”
Victor paused.
“But there’s more.”
Marcus waited.
“The attorney didn’t act alone.”
Marcus gripped the phone.
“Who was with him?”
Victor’s answer came quietly.
“Isabella Rossi.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
The pieces were connecting.
The hospital attack.
The lies.
The old photograph.
The stolen money.
Everything.
But then Victor said something that changed everything.
“Marcus…”
“What?”
“The security footage from the hospital has been deleted.”
Marcus went silent.
“What?”
“Someone accessed the system.”
“Can it be recovered?”
Victor hesitated.
“That’s not the worst part.”
Marcus felt a knot form in his stomach.
“What is?”
Victor’s voice became serious.
“The person who deleted it…”
A pause.
“Was someone using your security authorization.”
Marcus slowly looked at his own phone.
His face changed.
Because that meant one thing.
Someone inside his family had helped Isabella.
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And they had access to everything.
TO BE CONTINUED...
