Chapter 3
The hospital laboratory tested the pills immediately.
Khloe waited with one hand over her stomach.
Her baby’s heartbeat had recovered, but every movement still terrified her.
Daniel sat beside the bed.
Marcus remained outside under the watch of hospital security.
An hour later, Dr. Reid returned.
His expression told Khloe everything.
“The capsules contained a medication that can trigger contractions,” he said. “Small doses over time could cause dizziness, bleeding, and premature labor.”
Khloe remembered every morning Isabella had appeared with breakfast.
Every glass of water.
Every vitamin placed carefully beside her plate.
“How long?” Khloe asked.
“Based on your bloodwork, possibly several weeks.”
Daniel stood.
“I’m calling the detective.”
Dr. Reid nodded.
“The police already have the results.”
Khloe stared through the window at Marcus.
He was speaking to Evelyn.
His mother held his face in her hands as if he were the victim.
“Bring Evelyn in,” Khloe said.
Daniel frowned.
“Are you sure?”
“I want to hear her lie.”
Evelyn entered five minutes later.
She carried Khloe’s favorite flowers.
Khloe almost laughed.
“Put those down.”
Evelyn placed them on the counter.
“My dear, I am so sorry.”
“Did you help Isabella poison me?”
The color drained from Evelyn’s face.
“Of course not.”
“Did you know about the custody contract?”
Evelyn glanced toward the door.
“That agreement was meant to protect the family.”
“From me?”
“You had been unstable.”
“I was pregnant and exhausted.”
“You threatened to leave Marcus.”
“Because I found messages between him and Isabella.”
Evelyn’s mouth tightened.
“They were old friends.”
“They were planning my child’s life without me.”
Evelyn lowered her voice.
“Marcus needed an heir. Our family company is in serious trouble. His grandfather’s trust transfers controlling shares only after Marcus has a biological child.”
Khloe felt sick.
“So that is all my baby is to you? A key to a bank account?”
“No. We love him.”
“He isn’t even born.”
“And he deserves stability.”
Daniel stepped between them.
“Get out.”
Evelyn ignored him.
She moved closer to Khloe.
“If you accuse Marcus publicly, the company will collapse. Hundreds of people will lose their jobs.”
“You forged my signature.”
“I protected my son.”
“No,” Khloe whispered. “You destroyed him.”
Detective Maya Torres entered with another officer.
“Evelyn Hale, we need to ask you some questions.”
Evelyn straightened.
“I will speak through my attorney.”
As the officer escorted her away, Evelyn looked back at Khloe.
“You have no idea what Daniel has done.”
Khloe turned to her uncle.
“What did she mean?”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“Nothing that matters right now.”
“Everyone keeps deciding what I’m allowed to know.”
He sat down slowly.
“Your father and Marcus’s father started the company together.”
Khloe stared at him.
“My father was a schoolteacher.”
“That’s what your mother told you.”
Daniel removed an old photograph from his wallet.
In it, Khloe’s father stood beside Marcus’s late father in front of Hale Medical Technologies.
“Your father owned forty percent,” Daniel said. “After he died, those shares disappeared.”
Khloe examined the picture with trembling hands.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Your mother made me promise.”
A knock sounded at the door.
Detective Torres returned, holding a phone recovered from Isabella.
“We found several deleted messages,” she said.
“One was sent last night to an unknown number.”
She placed the phone before Khloe.
The message contained only one sentence.
If Khloe survives, Daniel must not.
At that exact moment, Daniel’s phone rang.
He answered.
His face went still.
“What happened?” Khloe asked.
May you like
Daniel lowered the phone.
“My car just exploded in the hospital parking garage.”
