CHAPTER 4 – THE WOMAN IN SILVER
CHAPTER 4 – THE WOMAN IN SILVER
Eleanor Thorne stood alone in the private family lounge when Marcus found her.
She had removed her diamond earrings and placed them on the table beside an untouched cup of coffee.
Outside the windows, rain streaked across the city.
“Did you put a tracking device in Khloe’s purse?” Marcus asked.
Eleanor did not turn around.
“Lower your voice.”
“No.”
She faced him.
“Your wife is alive. The child is alive. Creating another scene helps no one.”
Marcus walked into the room and locked the door.
“You knew there was a camera inside the suite.”
Eleanor’s expression remained controlled.
“I know this hospital’s security procedures.”
“You tried to delete the footage.”
“I did no such thing.”
“The access came from your account.”
“My account is managed by several employees.”
“You gave Khloe the purse.”
Eleanor finally showed irritation.
“It was a gift.”
“There was a transmitter sewn inside it.”
“That is ridiculous.”
“The police have it.”
For the first time, her confidence weakened.
Marcus watched her carefully.
“Tell me the truth.”
“You wouldn’t understand.”
“Try me.”
Eleanor sat down.
“You have spent your life believing wealth protects people.”
“It often does.”
“No. Wealth attracts people who want to use you.”
“What does that have to do with Khloe?”
“Everything.”
Marcus’s jaw tightened.
Eleanor continued.
“When you married her, no one knew who she was.”
“I knew.”
“You knew the woman she wanted you to see.”
“She was an architect from a respectable family.”
“She was Adrian Grant’s niece.”
“That was never a secret.”
“Adrian Grant is more than a hospital security chief.”
Marcus said nothing.
Eleanor leaned forward.
“For twenty years, he worked in federal intelligence.”
Marcus had heard rumors about Adrian’s past, but Khloe never discussed them.
“He investigated financial crime,” Eleanor said. “International accounts. Corporate bribery. Political corruption.”
“Why does that matter?”
“Because your father was investigated shortly before his death.”
Marcus went still.
“My father died in an accident.”
“That is what the public believes.”
“What do you believe?”
Eleanor looked toward the rain.
“I believe he discovered someone inside Thorne Group was stealing from the company.”
Marcus’s anger shifted into confusion.
“Who?”
“I never found out.”
“Then why track Khloe?”
“Because Adrian began asking questions again after your marriage.”
Marcus stepped closer.
“You thought Khloe married me to investigate our family?”
“I considered the possibility.”
“So you treated her like an enemy.”
“I protected you.”
“You helped Isabella torment her.”
“I never told Isabella to attack anyone.”
“But you knew she hated Khloe.”
Eleanor did not answer.
“You encouraged her,” Marcus said.
“I encouraged you to consider whether your marriage was built on honesty.”
“You wanted me to leave my pregnant wife for Isabella.”
“I wanted stability.”
“Isabella is unstable.”
“Tonight suggests that.”
Marcus stared at his mother in disbelief.
“You speak as though you weren’t part of it.”
Eleanor’s eyes sharpened.
“I arranged the gala because I needed Isabella and Khloe in the same place.”
“Why?”
“To force the truth into the open.”
“You expected a confrontation.”
“Yes.”
“You warned Khloe not to react.”
“Yes.”
“You knew the room would record them.”
“Yes.”
Marcus took a step backward.
The plan was monstrous in its simplicity.
Eleanor had created the conditions for an explosion, believing the camera would reveal which woman was dangerous.
She had risked Khloe’s safety to conduct a test.
“You used my wife as bait.”
“I did not expect violence.”
“She is seven months pregnant!”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t.”
Marcus struck the table with his palm.
The coffee cup jumped.
“You looked at her and saw a threat to our name. Isabella looked at her and saw an obstacle. Neither of you saw a human being.”
Eleanor stood.
“Do not lecture me about sacrifice. I kept this company alive after your father died.”
“And what did it cost?”
“Everything.”
“Maybe that was too much.”
His mother stared at him.
“You sound like her.”
“Good.”
Marcus unlocked the door.
“You’re removing me from the board?”
“I’m removing you from my family’s decisions until the police finish their investigation.”
“You cannot do that.”
“I control fifty-one percent of Thorne Group.”
“Only until the trust transfers.”
Marcus stopped.
“What trust?”
Eleanor realized she had said too much.
He slowly turned.
“What transfers?”
“Nothing.”
“You pressured Khloe to sign an amendment controlling our child’s inheritance.”
“That document protects the company.”
“From whom?”
“From outsiders.”
“Khloe is my wife.”
“She may not remain your wife.”
Marcus moved toward her.
“What have you done?”
Before Eleanor could respond, her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
She answered cautiously.
“Yes?”
A distorted voice spoke from the other end.
“You failed.”
Eleanor’s face changed.
Marcus could not hear the words, but he saw fear.
Real fear.
“Who is this?” she asked.
The line went dead.
Marcus held out his hand.
“Give me the phone.”
“No.”
“Mother.”
She clutched it tighter.
Then every light in the lounge went out.
The hospital plunged into darkness.
Emergency alarms erupted.
Red backup lights flashed along the hallway.
Marcus opened the door.
Nurses shouted.
Machines beeped.
Somewhere nearby, glass shattered.
Adrian’s voice thundered from the corridor.
“Lock down the maternity floor!”
Marcus ran toward Khloe’s room.
The door was open.
May you like
The nurse who had been stationed outside lay unconscious beside the wall.
Khloe’s bed was empty.
