"Marcus Thorne had survived billion-dollar wars. But nothing prepared him for the night his world almost shattered."

Marcus sat in the waiting area, his leg bouncing with nervous energy.

His mother arrived twenty minutes later, her hair still slightly disheveled from the drive.

"Where is she?" she asked.

"They're still examining her. They said they'd update me soon."

His mother sat beside him and took his hand.

"Marcus, tell me what happened."

He told her everything.

The gala.

The surprise appearance.

The confrontation.

Isabella's accusations.

Khloe's fall.

His mother listened without interrupting.

When he finished, she was quiet for a long moment.

Then she spoke.

"Isabella Rossi has been jealous of Khloe from the moment you announced your engagement. I thought it was just petty resentment. But this... this is something else entirely."

Marcus nodded.

"Uncle David said the cameras caught everything."

His mother's expression hardened.

"Then we have proof. Isabella can't lie her way out of this."

A doctor appeared in the doorway.

"Mr. Thorne?"

Marcus stood immediately.

"How is she?"

Dr. Caldwell smiled.

"Your wife and baby are stable. There was no significant trauma to the baby, and Khloe is resting comfortably. We want to monitor her overnight, but I believe she's going to be fine."

Marcus felt his knees buckle.

"She's okay?"

"She's okay," the doctor confirmed. "You can see her now."

Marcus practically ran to the room.

Khloe was propped up against pillows, looking tired but relieved.

"Marcus..."

He crossed to her bedside and took her hand.

"Thank God," he whispered. "Thank God you're okay."

Khloe smiled weakly.

"Our baby is okay too."

Marcus kissed her forehead.

"I know. They told me."

Khloe's expression shifted.

"Marcus, I need to tell you something about Isabella. Something I've never told anyone."

Marcus sat on the edge of the bed.

"Tell me."

She spoke quietly.

Isabella had been an employee of Thorne Industries years before.

A junior assistant in the accounting department.

She had been fired for embezzlement.

But she had managed to hide the records before leaving.

"She's been using that secret as leverage ever since," Khloe said. "She threatened to expose me if I didn't stay away from you. She said she had proof that I was part of the scheme."

Marcus's face darkened.

"Khloe, why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I was afraid," she admitted. "Afraid you would believe her. Afraid you would think I was somehow involved. I was a teenager then. I made mistakes."

Marcus squeezed her hand.

"Khloe, I don't care about the past. I care about you. And I care about our future."

Khloe looked up at him.

"Then what do we do?"

Marcus smiled.