Chapter 1 - The Camera That Never Blinked
The security room became so quiet that Marcus could hear the faint hum of the monitors.
Khloe had already been rushed upstairs to the maternity emergency wing.
Isabella sat several feet away beneath the watch of two hospital security officers.
Her mascara had begun to run, but her voice remained steady.
“She attacked me first.”
Marcus did not answer.
Khloe's uncle, Damian Hale, stood beside the head of hospital security with his arms folded across his chest.
“Play it.”
The security director pressed a key.
The recording began.
Khloe entered the private suite alone.
She looked tired as she lowered herself carefully into a chair and placed one hand over her stomach.
Thirty-seven seconds later, Isabella entered.
Nobody spoke in the security room.
They watched Isabella close the door.
They watched her smile disappear.
Then the audio began.
“You really think having his baby makes you permanent?”
Marcus's face lost its color.
Isabella suddenly stopped crying.
Onscreen, Khloe stood.
“Leave.”
Isabella moved closer.
“You were supposed to give him an heir and disappear.”
Damian slowly turned toward Marcus.
Marcus continued staring at the monitor.
Then came the first shove.
Khloe crashed against the marble table.
Elaine Parker covered her mouth.
The second shove was even worse.
Then came the kick.
Marcus flinched as if the heel had struck him instead.
Khloe collapsed.
Her terrified cry filled the security room.
Isabella jumped from her chair.
“Turn it off!”
Nobody moved.
“I said turn it off!”
Damian's expression hardened.
“You don't give orders in my hospital.”
Isabella looked toward Marcus.
“Marcus, tell them.”
Marcus finally looked at her.
Something changed in his face.
It was not confusion.
It was recognition.
Damian noticed immediately.
“You knew her.”
Marcus remained silent.
“You knew what she wanted.”
“I knew Isabella before tonight.”
Khloe's uncle stepped closer.
“How well?”
Marcus swallowed.
Isabella's panic returned.
“Don't.”
Marcus looked at her.
For the first time, she seemed genuinely afraid.
“Three years ago,” Marcus said quietly, “before Khloe and I were married, Isabella and I were together.”
Elaine stared at him.
Damian's jaw tightened.
Marcus continued.
“It lasted six months.”
Isabella whispered his name again.
Marcus ignored her.
“She wanted to marry me.”
“And you chose Khloe.”
“Yes.”
Damian pointed toward the frozen image of Khloe lying on the marble floor.
“So this was jealousy?”
Marcus shook his head.
“No.”
That single word changed everything.
Damian stared at him.
Marcus walked toward the screen.
“Rewind to when she mentions the heir.”
The footage played again.
“You were supposed to give him an heir and disappear.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
“I've heard those words before.”
“From whom?”
Marcus hesitated.
Then he answered.
“My mother.”
Isabella suddenly lunged toward the door.
Security grabbed her immediately.
“Get off me!”
Marcus stared at her.
“Did my mother send you?”
Isabella stopped struggling.
For one terrible second, nobody moved.
Then her lips slowly curled into a smile.
“You really don't know anything about your own family, do you?”
A phone rang.
Damian answered.
His expression changed instantly.
“What happened?”
Everyone watched him.
Damian ended the call and turned toward Marcus.
“Khloe's bleeding.”
Marcus ran.
But behind him, Isabella started laughing.
May you like
And before the security officers dragged her away, she whispered something only Marcus heard.
“Ask your mother what happens when the baby is born.”
