CHAPTER 2 — THE WOMAN THEY TRIED TO DESTROY
THE BILLIONAIRE’S WIFE THEY TRIED TO DESTROY
CHAPTER 2 — THE WOMAN THEY TRIED TO DESTROY
The world did not know Khloe Thorne was fighting for her life.
It knew something much simpler.
A billionaire's wife had a breakdown.
That was the headline.
Not:
Pregnant Woman Attacked Inside Luxury Hospital Suite.
Not:
Hidden Camera Captures Assault Against Thorne Family Heir.
Not yet.
Because before the truth could reach the public...
someone had already written a different story.
And that story was spreading fast.
THORNE FAMILY CHARITY GALA ENDS IN PRIVATE DRAMA
Sources Claim Billionaire's Wife Became Violent
Is Marriage Between Marcus and Khloe Thorne Falling Apart?
Marcus stared at the articles on his phone.
Every word felt like an insult.
His wife was lying in a hospital bed.
Their unborn child had almost been lost.
And while Khloe was fighting to recover...
someone was destroying her reputation.
"Who released this?"
Marcus asked.
His chief security officer, Daniel Hayes, stood across the office.
"We're tracing it."
"That's not an answer."
Daniel remained silent.
Marcus looked up.
"Who knew?"
"About the incident?"
"No."
Marcus placed the phone down.
"About the story."
Daniel understood.
The question wasn't who reported it.
The question was:
Who was prepared?
Across the city, Isabella Rossi sat in her penthouse overlooking the skyline.
She watched the news with a glass of champagne in her hand.
The same red dress from the hospital was still hanging in her bedroom.
She hadn't changed because she wanted to remember.
She wanted to remember the moment everything changed.
The moment she believed she had finally won.
Her phone rang.
She smiled when she saw the name.
"Everything is moving perfectly."
The voice on the other end remained cold.
"You are certain?"
Isabella looked at the television.
Her own interview was already being prepared.
"Of course."
"You have the sympathy?"
"Yes."
"The public believes you?"
She smiled.
"They always believe the first person who cries."
A pause.
"Be careful, Isabella."
Her smile faded slightly.
"Careful?"
"You attacked a billionaire's wife."
"And nobody saw."
The voice became quieter.
"Someone saw."
Isabella froze.
"What?"
Silence.
Then:
"Marcus is looking."
Her fingers tightened around the glass.
For the first time that night...
she felt uncertainty.
Not guilt.
Fear.
Because Isabella knew Marcus Thorne.
He was not dangerous because he was rich.
Money could be predicted.
Power could be negotiated.
But Marcus had something more dangerous.
He cared.
And a man protecting his family was a different kind of enemy.
Inside the hospital, Khloe slowly opened her eyes.
The room was dark.
Quiet.
For a moment, she forgot.
Then the pain returned.
The memories returned.
The shove.
The floor.
The heel.
Her hand immediately moved to her stomach.
"Baby..."
Her voice broke.
A nurse appeared quickly.
"Mrs. Thorne?"
Khloe looked at her.
"Is my baby okay?"
The nurse smiled gently.
"Your baby is strong."
Khloe closed her eyes.
A tear escaped.
Strong.
She liked that.
Because she knew exactly where the baby got that strength.
Marcus entered moments later.
Khloe saw his expression.
Something was wrong.
"What happened?"
He sat beside her.
"Nothing you need to worry about."
She immediately knew he was lying.
"Marcus."
He looked at her.
She had known him too long.
The world saw a billionaire.
A ruthless businessman.
A man who could destroy competitors without raising his voice.
But she saw the small things.
The way he avoided eye contact when he was scared.
The way he clenched his jaw when he was angry.
"Tell me."
Marcus hesitated.
Then handed her the phone.
She read the headlines.
Her face changed.
Not anger.
Pain.
"They think I attacked her?"
Marcus took the phone away.
"I don't care what they think."
But Khloe looked at him.
"You care."
He didn't answer.
Because she was right.
Not because he believed the story.
Because he knew how quickly the world could destroy someone.
Especially a woman.
Especially a woman attached to his name.
"Marcus."
He looked at her.
"I need you to listen to me."
Her voice was weak but steady.
"I didn't touch her."
"I know."
"She came to my room."
"I know."
"She was angry."
"I know."
Khloe studied him.
"You saw something."
Silence.
Then Marcus nodded.
"Security footage."
Her breathing stopped.
"What?"
"The hospital ceiling cameras recorded everything."
A strange emotion crossed her face.
Relief.
Then fear.
"Why haven't you released it?"
Marcus looked away.
"Because whoever planned this wanted exactly that."
Khloe frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"They expected me to react emotionally."
He looked back at her.
"They want me to expose myself."
Khloe understood.
This wasn't just an attack.
It was a trap.
The next morning, Marcus called a private meeting.
Not with executives.
Not with lawyers.
With people who knew how to uncover secrets.
The conference room was silent.
On the screen was Isabella Rossi.
Her history.
Her finances.
Her connections.
Her relationship with Marcus.
Everything.
"She couldn't have done this alone."
Marcus said.
Daniel nodded.
"We found something."
A file appeared.
Bank transfers.
Large amounts.
Marcus narrowed his eyes.
"Who sent these?"
Daniel hesitated.
"That's the problem."
"Who?"
"The account belongs to a shell company."
"Owner?"
Daniel looked at the screen.
"Unknown."
Marcus leaned back.
Unknown.
Another hidden player.
Then another file appeared.
This one was from the hospital.
Security access logs.
Marcus frowned.
"What's this?"
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
"Someone accessed the private suite records before the attack."
Marcus stood.
"When?"
"Three hours before Isabella arrived."
The room went silent.
"Who?"
Daniel turned the screen.
A name appeared.
Dr. Adrian Vale.
Marcus stared.
"I know that name."
Daniel nodded.
"Hospital board member."
"Why would he access Khloe's records?"
Nobody answered.
Because suddenly the attack looked different.
It wasn't only Isabella.
Someone had information.
Someone had access.
Someone had planned.
That evening, Marcus returned to Khloe's room.
She was awake, looking out the window.
"You found something."
He stopped.
"You always know."
She smiled faintly.
"I know you."
Marcus sat beside her.
"There may be someone else involved."
Khloe looked at him.
"Who?"
"I don't know yet."
A pause.
Then she asked the question he feared.
"Marcus..."
"What?"
"Do you regret marrying me?"
The question shocked him.
"What?"
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Everyone says I destroyed your image."
"Khloe."
"They say I wasn't good enough."
He took her hand.
"Look at me."
She did.
"You are the only reason I still remember who I am."
Her expression broke.
"I almost lost our baby."
"I know."
"I almost lost everything."
Marcus squeezed her hand.
"No."
His voice became firm.
"They tried to take everything."
A pause.
"But they failed."
Outside the hospital room...
a figure stood in the hallway.
Listening.
Watching.
Then they made a phone call.
"Marcus knows."
A pause.
"No."
Their voice became colder.
"The footage isn't the biggest problem."
Silence.
"The real problem is..."
They looked through the glass window at Khloe.
"...she survived."
Because everyone involved had made the same mistake.
They thought Khloe Thorne was just a billionaire's wife.
A woman protected by her husband's name.
A woman who could be removed.
Replaced.
Destroyed.
They were wrong.
Because they didn't understand something.
Khloe had spent years standing beside Marcus Thorne.
She had watched him build an empire.
She had learned from him.
And now...
someone had forced her into a war.
A war she never wanted.
May you like
But one she would finish.
End of Chapter 2
