Chapter 1 - The Stolen Truth
Khloe Thorne lay completely paralyzed on the cold marble floor of the exclusive hospital suite.
She wrapped her trembling arms desperately around her seven-month baby bump.
Isabella Rossi stood over her, wearing a flawless crimson gown and a perfectly rehearsed expression of absolute terror.
Marcus Thorne stepped fully into the room, his sharp eyes scanning the shattered crystal and the stains on the floor.
"She attacked me, Marcus," Isabella cried, letting highly convincing tears spill down her cheeks.
She pointed an accusing finger directly at Khloe's curled, defensive body.
Khloe gasped for air, the searing pain in her side making it entirely impossible to speak or defend herself.
She looked up at her husband, praying he would see through the wicked woman's obvious lies.
Marcus walked slowly across the room, his face a completely unreadable mask of cold stone.
Behind him, event coordinator Elaine Parker hovered nervously in the doorway, watching the intense drama unfold.
Marcus stopped right in front of Isabella and gently wiped a single tear from her cheek.
Khloe felt her heart shatter into a million pieces as she witnessed this tender gesture.
"Call security immediately, Elaine," Marcus ordered without ever looking down at his injured wife.
Elaine nodded quickly and pulled a heavy two-way radio from her tailored blazer.
"Have them escort Khloe to the restricted psychiatric ward in the basement," Marcus added coldly.
Khloe finally found her voice, letting out a desperate, agonizing scream of pure betrayal.
She realized in that horrifying moment that her husband was entirely on Isabella's side.
Two massive security guards burst into the suite, grabbing Khloe roughly by her arms.
They dragged her toward the door, entirely ignoring her desperate pleas for her unborn child.
Isabella smiled a wicked, highly satisfied smile as she leaned her head against Marcus's shoulder.
But as Khloe was dragged into the hallway, a tall man sprinted aggressively out of the elevator.
It was Arthur, Khloe's fiercely protective uncle and a highly trained former military operative.
He took one look at his bleeding niece and violently punched the first security guard square in the jaw.
The guard collapsed instantly, dropping Khloe onto the soft carpet of the corridor.
Arthur reached for his weapon, completely ready to tear the billionaire apart for hurting his family.
Before he could draw his gun, a dozen armed hospital mercenaries completely surrounded him.
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Marcus stepped out into the hallway, looking directly at the furious older man.
"Lock him in the server room and erase all the security tapes," Marcus commanded flawlessly.
