Chapter 12 - A Warning Buried Too Long
Diane’s confession changed the emotional center of the room.
Khloe stared at her mother.
“You knew?”
“Not what she would do.”
“You knew enough to be warned.”
Diane sat slowly.
“Sofia Rossi called me after Isabella had a breakdown at their family home.”
Marcus remained silent.
Khloe asked, “What kind of breakdown?”
“She had photographs of you and Marcus.”
Diane answered.
“Magazine covers.”
“Event photographs.”
“Wedding pictures.”
“She had written notes about where you traveled and when Marcus appeared without you.”
Khloe looked sick.
“And you didn’t tell me?”
Diane’s eyes filled.
“You were pregnant.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“I thought telling you would create stress.”
Khloe laughed bitterly.
“So everyone decided I was too fragile to know the truth.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
She pointed toward Marcus.
“He decided Isabella was harmless.”
Then toward Diane.
“You decided I shouldn’t know she was obsessed.”
Then toward Samuel.
“The hospital had access breaches and nobody noticed until I was on the floor.”
Samuel accepted the accusation.
“You’re right.”
Khloe looked at all three of them.
“I am done being protected by people keeping information from me.”
Marcus nodded first.
“You should be.”
Diane wiped at her eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
Khloe turned toward the window.
She needed space.
Diane continued.
“Sofia told me something else.”
Khloe did not turn around.
“What?”
“Isabella had been seeing Julian Mercer.”
Marcus’s head snapped up.
“Romantically?”
“I don’t know.”
“Sofia believed Julian was feeding her obsession.”
Marcus stepped closer.
“How?”
“He told Isabella you were unhappy.”
Khloe turned.
Diane continued.
“He convinced her your marriage existed only because of business reputation.”
“That’s insane.”
Marcus said.
“Yes.”
“But Isabella believed it.”
Diane reached into her bag.
“Sofia sent me copies of messages months ago.”
Khloe stared at her.
“You kept them?”
“I didn’t know what to do with them.”
Marcus nearly lost his composure.
“You give them to the police.”
“I was afraid of creating a scandal.”
Khloe looked at her mother.
“And look what silence created.”
Diane lowered her eyes.
That sentence ended the argument.
The messages were given to Detective Mills that afternoon.
One conversation was particularly important.
Julian had written:
MARCUS ALWAYS CHOOSES DUTY OVER DESIRE.
MAKE HIM THINK HIS DUTY IS DESTROYING HIM.
Isabella answered:
HE WILL COME BACK TO ME.
Julian wrote:
HE DOESN’T NEED TO COME TO YOU.
HE ONLY NEEDS TO LEAVE HER.
Khloe read the exchange.
“They used her.”
Marcus nodded.
“But she let them.”
“Yes.”
Khloe had no sympathy for Isabella.
But she now understood the shape of the trap.
Julian had not needed Isabella to win Marcus.
He needed her to believe she could.
That belief made her useful.
Detective Mills gathered every message.
Before leaving, he paused beside Marcus.
“We’re close.”
“To what?”
“A conspiracy indictment.”
Marcus looked toward Khloe.
“What do you need?”
“Direct evidence Mercer knew violence was possible.”
Khloe thought about the incomplete Phase Five document.
Then she remembered something Isabella had said during the attack.
“You were supposed to smile for the cameras, give him the child he wanted, and disappear.”
Her expression changed.
“Detective.”
Mills turned.
“She said disappear.”
“Yes.”
“Not leave him.”
Marcus looked at her.
Khloe continued.
“She said I was supposed to give him the child and disappear.”
Mills understood immediately.
“You think the plan changed after the pregnancy.”
“I think someone told her my baby mattered more to Marcus than I did.”
Marcus’s face tightened.
May you like
Khloe looked at him.
“And I think that made her hate both of us.”
