CHAPTER 9 – THE SECOND SIGNATURE
CHAPTER 9 – THE SECOND SIGNATURE
Khloe’s labor stopped after emergency treatment.
Doctors ordered absolute bed rest.
Marcus remained outside the intensive maternity suite while federal agents questioned Eleanor.
She denied knowingly authorizing illegal transfers.
The documents, however, contained her electronic signature.
Adrian entered the family lounge carrying printed records.
Marcus stood.
“Did she help Victor?”
“We don’t know.”
“Her name is on the accounts.”
“Signatures can be copied.”
“Mother controlled the company’s financial office after Father died.”
“She also may have been used.”
Marcus laughed bitterly.
“That is what everyone says when the truth becomes inconvenient.”
Adrian placed the files on the table.
“There is another problem.”
“What?”
“William changed the family trust six days before he died.”
Marcus remembered Eleanor’s warning.
“What did he change?”
“Control of the main voting shares does not permanently belong to you.”
Marcus stared at him.
“Then who owns them?”
“The shares were placed into a protective trust.”
“For whom?”
Adrian looked toward Khloe’s room.
“For Daniel Grant’s future heir.”
Marcus slowly understood.
“Khloe.”
“Yes.”
“Why would my father leave control of Thorne Group to her?”
“Because Daniel helped him uncover the theft.”
Marcus sat down.
The marriage Isabella had dismissed as an accident had united the heirs of the two men who created the evidence.
The unborn child represented both families.
That was why the trust amendment mattered.
That was why Eleanor wanted control.
That was why Victor wanted Khloe gone.
If Khloe died before learning about the trust, Isabella could marry Marcus, influence the child and eventually reach the shares.
Marcus looked at Adrian.
“Does Khloe know?”
“Not yet.”
“Tell her.”
“You should.”
Marcus shook his head.
“She won’t believe it from me.”
Before Adrian could respond, federal agents escorted Eleanor into the lounge.
Her hands were not cuffed, but two guards remained beside her.
Marcus looked at her.
“Did you know Khloe owned the controlling trust?”
Eleanor closed her eyes briefly.
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Since before your wedding.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Because the trust required you to remain married for three years before transferring full control.”
Marcus stood.
“You tried to destroy our marriage.”
“I tried to determine why she married you.”
“She didn’t know about the trust!”
“I did not know that.”
“You assumed she was using me.”
“I had spent twenty years protecting this company.”
“You spent twenty years protecting your power.”
Eleanor flinched.
Marcus continued.
“You pressured Khloe to sign away control of our child’s inheritance.”
“I believed the company would collapse if an outsider gained authority.”
“She was never an outsider.”
Eleanor looked toward the hospital room.
“I know that now.”
“Too late.”
One of the federal agents interrupted.
“Mrs. Thorne, we need to continue.”
Eleanor looked at Marcus.
“Victor forged my authorization on most transfers.”
“Most?”
She swallowed.
“I approved three.”
Marcus stared at her.
“Why?”
“He told me the money was being used to protect the company from an investigation.”
“You helped hide funds.”
“I believed I was protecting your father.”
“You helped the man who killed him.”
Tears entered Eleanor’s eyes, but Marcus felt no sympathy.
Before she was taken away, she placed a sealed letter on the table.
“William left this for you.”
Marcus did not touch it.
“What does it say?”
“I never opened it.”
After she left, Marcus broke the seal.
The letter contained only four lines.
Marcus,
The company will tempt you to confuse possession with loyalty.
Trust the woman who tells you the truth when the truth costs her everything.
Do not repeat my mistakes.
—Father
Marcus read it twice.
Then a nurse entered.
“Mr. Thorne, your wife is asking for you.”
He stepped into Khloe’s room.
She looked exhausted but alert.
“Adrian told me about the trust,” she said.
Marcus stopped near the bed.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what now?”
“For bringing you into this family.”
“You didn’t know.”
“I knew enough to protect you better.”
Khloe looked at the city lights.
“What happens to Thorne Group?”
“You decide.”
She turned toward him.
“No.”
“The trust gives you control.”
“I don’t want your company.”
“It belongs to you.”
“It belongs to thousands of employees who had nothing to do with this.”
Marcus stared at her.
That answer proved his father had chosen correctly.
Khloe continued.
“We protect the employees. We expose everyone involved. Then we rebuild.”
“We?”
She met his eyes.
“Professionally.”
The word cut deeper than he expected.
“Our marriage may not survive this,” she said.
Marcus nodded slowly.
“I understand.”
“No, you don’t.”
She placed a hand over her stomach.
“I nearly lost our child while you were deciding which woman to believe.”
He looked down.
“I will spend the rest of my life regretting that.”
“Regret is not the same as change.”
“I know.”
A nurse rushed into the room carrying a tablet.
“Mr. Thorne, you need to see this.”
A live news broadcast showed Isabella standing before dozens of reporters.
She claimed the hospital footage had been fabricated.
She claimed Marcus and Khloe had created a conspiracy to steal her family’s company.
Then she raised the silver flash drive.
May you like
“I possess the original records,” she announced.
“And tomorrow morning, I will release proof that Marcus Thorne ordered the attack on his own wife.”
