Chapter 4 - LAST MONTH
Khloe had never been diabetic.
A doctor explained that a large enough dose of insulin could cause weakness, confusion, loss of consciousness, and dangerous complications.
Marcus heard only one sentence clearly.
"It could have harmed both mother and baby."
He walked to the window because he did not trust himself to stay near Isabella.
Khloe was stable. The baby was stable.
Detective Avery asked Isabella to come with him.
"Am I under arrest?"
"Not yet."
"Then I'm not going anywhere."
Avery smiled without warmth.
"That's fine. We can talk here."
Isabella turned to Marcus.
"This is ridiculous. You know me."
"I thought I did."
A nurse brought Khloe's chart.
"Mr. Hale, your wife asked for you."
Khloe looked exhausted.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For not believing you."
"You never said anything."
"I should have seen it."
Khloe looked toward the door.
"Last month, when I fainted, Isabella made me tea."
Marcus went still.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I didn't think tea could make me collapse."
"What happened before you fainted?"
"She was asking about the baby."
"What about the baby?"
Khloe hesitated.
"She wanted to know if we had changed the trust."
Marcus stared at her.
After his father's death, Marcus had inherited Hale Systems, a medical logistics company worth hundreds of millions.
If he died, Khloe inherited control.
If both he and Khloe died, their child inherited through a protected trust.
Isabella received nothing beyond a separate family fund their father had created years earlier.
"She asked about the trust?"
"Three times."
Khloe squeezed his hand.
"Marcus, there's more."
"What?"
"Two weeks ago, she brought a lawyer to lunch."
"Which lawyer?"
"She said he handled family planning documents."
Marcus's stomach turned.
"I never approved that."
"I know."
Khloe reached into the drawer beside her bed and pulled out an envelope.
"I kept this because it felt wrong."
Inside was a photocopy of a document titled TEMPORARY MEDICAL GUARDIANSHIP.
If Khloe became medically incapacitated, Isabella Hale would receive authority over certain personal and prenatal medical decisions.
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At the bottom was Khloe's signature.
Khloe whispered, "I never signed that."
