Chapter 3 - THE BLOODLINE VENGEANCE 🐍The revelation hit the hospital room like a bomb.
Ten years ago, the empire known as Vance Pharmaceuticals—once owned by Khloe’s father, Arthur Vance’s brother—had been completely swallowed in a hostile takeover by a young, ruthless corporate predator named Marcus Thorne. Two months after losing his life's work, Khloe's father had taken his own life.
Marcus had built Thorne Biotech on the ashes of that company. Three years ago, when he met Khloe Vance at an art gala, he believed she was an innocent, naive socialite who knew nothing about corporate finance. He had married her, captivated by her grace, completely oblivious to the fact that her entire life had been meticulously engineered for one sole purpose: absolute destruction.
"My father spent thirty years developing the genetic sequencing patents you stole from him," Khloe said, her voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "You thought you won when you put a ring on my finger. You thought buying me diamond necklaces and housing me in penthouses would make me forget the blood on your hands."
Isabella was staring at Khloe in utter horror. "You... you used me. You knew I hated you. You knew I wanted Marcus!"
Khloe turned her gaze to Isabella, her eyes cold enough to freeze blood. "You were an easy pawn, Isabella. A desperate, insecure woman obsessed with a married man. I knew if I pushed your buttons at the gala tonight, you’d follow me anywhere. I needed a violent incident to trigger a emergency protocol lock-down in this hospital—because this hospital hosts Thorne Biotech's secondary server hub."
Dr. Arthur Vance walked into the room, holding a tablet of his own. He wasn't acting like a concerned uncle anymore. He stood behind Khloe, a cold, victorious smile on his face.
"The police are here, Marcus," Dr. Vance said smoothly. "But they aren't here for Khloe. They are here for Miss Rossi for felony assault... and they are waiting downstairs for you."
Marcus’s eyes narrowed. "For me?"
"The global authorities just received an anonymous tip containing files from your secondary server," Dr. Vance replied. "Files showing ten years of illegal human trials, offshore bribery, and forged clinical data. The very data Khloe just leaked to the Federal Trade Commission."
Marcus took a step forward, his jaw clenched so hard his teeth threatened to shatter. "You think this ruins me? I own the judges in this city, Arthur. I own the prosecutors."
"You used to own them," Khloe corrected him, touching her pregnant stomach softly. "When your stock price plunges 80% at market open tomorrow morning, those judges won't even answer your phone calls."
Suddenly, the door was thrown open.
Four federal agents stepped into the room, badges hanging around their necks.
"Marcus Thorne?" the lead agent asked. "You are under federal investigation for securities fraud, corporate espionage, and illegal bio-research. Step away from the bed and put your hands behind your back."
Isabella began to scream again as the police dragged her out down the hallway.
Marcus stood still as the federal agents moved in. He didn't look at the agents. He didn't look at Dr. Vance. He kept his eyes locked on Khloe.
"You sacrificed our child's future for a dead man's revenge?" Marcus asked, his voice raw.
Khloe looked down at her stomach, her expression softening for just a fraction of a second, before her face hardened back into iron.
"This child will inherit everything you built, Marcus," Khloe said softly. "But you won't be around to see it."
As the handcuffs clicked around Marcus's wrists, he leaned down, whispering in Khloe's ear so only she could hear.
"You forgot one thing, Khloe," Marcus whispered. "Check the baby's sonogram records from this morning. Look at the blood test results."
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Khloe’s breath hitched. "What are you talking about?"
"You think you played me?" Marcus smiled—a dark, terrifying smile that sent a shiver down her spine. "I knew who you were the night I met you three years ago."
