Chapter 5 - The Question Marcus Couldn't Answer
Khloe woke to the steady sound of an infusion pump.
Her stomach hurt in a way she couldn't yet understand.
For a terrifying instant, she couldn't feel the weight of her baby beneath her ribs.
"Willa?" she whispered.
Marcus rose from the chair.
"She's alive. She's in the NICU. She's getting help breathing, but she's here."
Khloe looked at the bandage across her abdomen.
"They delivered her."
He nodded.
"I'm sorry."
"I want to see her."
"When the doctor says you're strong enough."
She watched his face.
"Did Isabella tell you I attacked her?"
"Yes."
"And did you believe her?"
Marcus hesitated.
"For a few seconds, I didn't know what to believe."
Khloe turned toward the window.
"You knew I was scared of her."
"I know."
"I asked you to stop inviting her into our lives. You told me I was reading too much into things."
He took a breath.
"I failed you."
"Don't make that the end of this conversation."
A nurse interrupted to explain that Khloe would require more monitoring before a supervised NICU visit.
After the nurse left, Khloe spoke without looking at Marcus.
"I filed a safety report about the fetal monitors Isabella's company sells. Last month."
"What?"
"I told the foundation's clinical committee that their alarms missed serious changes in some patients. I had records."
Marcus's expression shifted.
He was the chairman of the foundation that had been considering a major contract for those monitors.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because you were required to stay out of the review. I followed the conflict rules you insisted everybody respect."
She finally met his eyes.
"Isabella knew about the report anyway."
Marcus's phone vibrated.
It was a message from his foundation attorney.
Someone had circulated a withdrawal letter bearing Khloe's signature.
May you like
The letter said she was retracting every warning about the monitors.
Khloe hadn't signed it.
