Chapter 11 - The Family Khloe Trusted
Khloe had not spoken to her mother in six weeks.
That was not unusual.
Lillian Hale traveled constantly.
She served on foundation boards across Europe and spent more time in luxury hotels than at home.
But she loved Khloe.
At least Khloe had always believed she did.
Damian immediately ordered security to locate his sister.
They found her downstairs.
She was sitting in Damian's office.
Alone.
When security entered, Lillian did not resist.
She simply looked at her brother.
“I wondered how long it would take.”
Khloe insisted on seeing her.
Damian objected.
Marcus objected.
Khloe refused to change her mind.
Thirty minutes later, Lillian entered the secured maternity suite.
She was elegant even under guard.
Khloe stared at her mother.
“Did you let that woman into Uncle Damian's office?”
“Yes.”
Marcus stepped forward.
Khloe lifted her hand.
She wanted the answer herself.
“Why?”
Lillian looked at her daughter's stomach.
“Because Warren told me you were destroying your life.”
Khloe stared.
“With Marcus?”
“With the Thornes.”
Lillian sat.
“When you married him, I warned you.”
“You told me his family was difficult.”
“I told you they consume people.”
“That's not an answer.”
Lillian closed her eyes.
“Warren came to me nine months ago.”
“What did he say?”
“That Marcus had been moving money into hidden accounts.”
Marcus stared at her.
“He showed you fabricated records.”
“I know that now.”
Khloe's voice trembled.
“What else?”
“He told me Marcus planned to use the baby to consolidate control of both families.”
Damian laughed in disbelief.
“And you believed him?”
“He had documents.”
“You didn't call me?”
“You would have told Khloe.”
“Yes.”
“Exactly.”
Khloe felt something inside her break.
“You helped a stranger spy on me because you didn't want me to know?”
Lillian's eyes filled with tears.
“I thought I was protecting you.”
“You gave Natalie access.”
“I thought she was Warren's investigator.”
“She tried to inject me with something that could have killed me.”
Lillian's face collapsed.
“What?”
Khloe studied her mother's reaction.
It looked real.
Damian did not soften.
“What did Warren ask you to do?”
“Access my office?”
Lillian nodded.
“He said he needed evidence of illegal hospital donations connected to Thorne Global.”
“There aren't any.”
“I know.”
“Now.”
Lillian whispered the word.
Damian turned away in disgust.
Khloe looked at Marcus.
Their families had both been manipulated through the same weakness.
Secrets disguised as protection.
Fear disguised as loyalty.
Warren had not created every fracture.
He had simply discovered where they already existed.
Lillian suddenly looked at Khloe.
“There is something else.”
Damian turned.
“What?”
“The first time Warren contacted me, he wasn't alone.”
Khloe's stomach tightened.
“Who was with him?”
Lillian looked toward Victoria.
Marcus's mother had just entered the room.
Lillian pointed.
“Her.”
Victoria went completely still.
Marcus stared at his mother.
“You said Isabella was how you discovered the conspiracy.”
Victoria did not answer.
Khloe's voice became cold.
“Apparently, you knew much earlier.”
Victoria slowly closed the door.
“Yes.”
Marcus looked devastated.
“How much earlier?”
Victoria met his eyes.
“Almost a year.”
The room exploded with accusations.
But Victoria did not defend herself.
Instead, she reached into her purse and placed one old letter on Khloe's bed.
The handwriting belonged to Marcus's late father.
On the envelope were five words.
FOR KHLOE THORNE ONLY.
Khloe looked at Victoria.
“Why do you have this?”
May you like
Victoria's answer stunned everyone.
“Because your father-in-law knew this war would happen before he died.”
