CHAPTER 6 — THE WOMAN MARCUS CHOSE
CHAPTER 6 — THE WOMAN MARCUS CHOSE
Marcus had spent years believing that the worst mistake of his life was marrying Khloe.
He was wrong.
The worst mistake was believing he had chosen Isabella.
Because now, sitting alone in the dark library of the Thorne estate, staring at a photograph of the woman he had once loved, Marcus finally understood something that terrified him.
He had never truly chosen Isabella.
Someone had chosen her for him.
And someone had spent years making sure he never discovered why.
THE WOMAN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH
The photograph lay beneath the yellow light of the desk lamp.
Isabella was smiling.
She looked younger.
Innocent.
Beautiful.
Her hand rested on Marcus's shoulder.
They had taken the photograph three years earlier at a private resort in Monaco.
Marcus remembered that night.
He remembered the champagne.
The music.
The way Isabella had whispered that she loved him.
He remembered believing her.
But there was something in the photograph he had never noticed.
A man stood behind them.
Half-hidden near the doorway.
Marcus leaned closer.
His stomach tightened.
Adrian.
His supposedly dead uncle.
Marcus immediately reached for his phone.
He called Nathan.
“Come to the library.”
“What's wrong?”
“Bring everything you have on Isabella.”
Nathan was silent for a moment.
“Marcus…”
“Everything.”
“I'll be there.”
Marcus ended the call.
He looked at Isabella's face again.
For the first time, he didn't see the woman he had loved.
He saw a stranger.
THE FIRST LIE
Nathan arrived twenty minutes later carrying three folders.
He placed them on the table.
“The first one is her family history.”
Marcus opened it.
“The second?”
“Her financial records.”
“And the third?”
Nathan looked at him.
“Everything she told you about herself.”
Marcus slowly opened the final folder.
His eyes moved across the pages.
Education.
Charity work.
Travel history.
Business investments.
Family relationships.
Everything looked perfect.
Too perfect.
Marcus frowned.
“What's wrong?”
Nathan pointed to the birth certificate.
“She was born in Boston.”
“Yes.”
“That's what she told you.”
“Yes.”
Nathan opened another document.
“This says she was born in Geneva.”
Marcus stared.
“Which one is real?”
“Neither.”
Marcus looked up.
Nathan's voice became quiet.
“Her original birth record disappeared seventeen years ago.”
Marcus felt a chill.
“Who erased it?”
Nathan slid another document forward.
“Your father.”
Silence.
Marcus leaned back.
“Why?”
Nathan didn't answer.
Instead, he opened a photograph.
A little girl stood beside an older woman.
Marcus recognized the woman immediately.
His mother.
His eyes widened.
“That's Isabella.”
Nathan nodded.
“How old?”
“About seven.”
Marcus stared.
“That photograph was taken twenty years ago.”
Nathan nodded.
“Your mother knew Isabella before you did.”
Marcus's face hardened.
“Why didn't she tell me?”
“Because she was afraid.”
“Of Isabella?”
Nathan shook his head.
“Of your father.”
WHAT MARCUS NEVER TOLD KHLOE
Khloe was awake when Marcus returned to the hospital.
She looked at him from the bed.
“You're hiding something.”
Marcus stopped.
“What?”
“You always touch your wedding ring when you're lying.”
He looked down.
His fingers were resting against the ring.
He slowly lowered his hand.
Khloe watched him.
“What did you find?”
“Nothing.”
She smiled sadly.
“You're still doing it.”
Marcus sat beside her.
“Khloe…”
“You promised me the truth.”
“I know.”
“Then tell me.”
Marcus looked away.
There were things he had never told her.
Not because he wanted to hurt her.
Because he had been afraid.
Three years earlier, before he married Khloe, Isabella had approached him with a secret.
She told him Khloe's family had stolen money from the Thorne family.
She claimed Khloe's mother had manipulated the trust.
She told Marcus that Khloe had married him for his inheritance.
Marcus had believed her.
And worse—
he had investigated Khloe in secret.
He had hired a private investigator.
He had accessed her mother's financial records.
He had followed Khloe.
He had read her personal correspondence.
And when the investigator found nothing—
Marcus had hidden the report.
He had never told Khloe.
Until now.
“I investigated you.”
Khloe stared at him.
“What?”
“Before we married.”
Her face went still.
“You investigated me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Isabella told me your family was trying to take control of mine.”
Khloe's eyes filled with disbelief.
“And you believed her?”
“I was wrong.”
“You didn't trust me.”
“No.”
“You married me anyway.”
“Yes.”
Khloe turned toward the window.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then:
“What did you find?”
Marcus swallowed.
“Nothing.”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You found nothing?”
“No evidence.”
Khloe laughed bitterly.
“So you knew I was innocent.”
“I did.”
“And you still kept watching me.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
Khloe looked at him.
“That is not love.”
Marcus nodded.
“I know.”
THE SECRET HE KEPT
Khloe's voice became colder.
“What else?”
Marcus hesitated.
She immediately knew.
“There is more.”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“I knew Isabella wanted me.”
Khloe stared.
“And?”
“I let her.”
The room went silent.
Marcus's voice cracked.
“I told myself it was harmless.”
“Was it?”
“No.”
“Did you sleep with her?”
Marcus looked at Khloe.
“No.”
She searched his face.
“I never slept with her.”
“But you wanted to.”
“Yes.”
Khloe's eyes filled with tears.
“Thank you.”
Marcus looked confused.
“For what?”
“For finally telling me something I already knew.”
He looked down.
Khloe continued.
“You didn't betray me because Isabella forced you.”
“No.”
“You betrayed me because you wanted to see how far you could go without losing me.”
Marcus couldn't answer.
Because she was right.
ISABELLA ARRIVES
The hospital doors opened at 4:30 p.m.
Isabella walked in wearing black.
No cameras.
No reporters.
No assistants.
She looked devastated.
Marcus saw her from the end of the corridor.
For a second, instinct took over.
He remembered the woman he had loved.
Then he remembered the footage.
The kick.
The lie.
The fake witnesses.
The stolen records.
He kept walking.
Isabella stopped.
“Marcus.”
He didn't answer.
“I came to see Khloe.”
“No.”
She looked wounded.
“Why?”
“Because you don't get to go near her.”
“I just want to apologize.”
“No.”
She lowered her voice.
“Marcus, you don't understand.”
“I understand perfectly.”
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“You think I did this because I wanted you.”
Marcus stared at her.
“Didn't you?”
Isabella's eyes changed.
For the first time, the softness disappeared.
“No.”
Marcus froze.
“Then why?”
She smiled.
“You still haven't figured it out.”
“Figured what out?”
“I never needed you.”
Marcus felt cold.
“You needed something else.”
She nodded.
“Your family.”
THE TRUTH ABOUT ISABELLA
Isabella stepped closer.
“Do you remember the first time we met?”
“Yes.”
“Your father introduced us.”
Marcus nodded.
“He said I was perfect for you.”
“Yes.”
“You thought it was romantic.”
Marcus said nothing.
“It wasn't.”
She smiled bitterly.
“Your father selected me.”
“Why?”
“Because my family owed him everything.”
Marcus stared.
“He threatened my parents.”
“What?”
“He bought their debts.”
He froze.
“Then he gave them a choice.”
“What choice?”
“Either I marry into the Thorne family…”
She paused.
“…or they lose everything.”
Marcus stared at her.
“You're lying.”
“I wish I were.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because your father told me what would happen if I did.”
Marcus's voice became low.
“What?”
“He said he'd destroy you.”
Silence.
Isabella's eyes filled with tears.
“I was nineteen.”
Marcus looked at her.
“I was trapped.”
“You could have left.”
She laughed.
“Where?”
He had no answer.
“You were the golden son.”
She continued.
“I was the girl your father bought.”
Marcus looked horrified.
“And when you fell in love with me?”
“I thought I had found a way out.”
“But you didn't.”
“No.”
Her voice became cold.
“Because your father had another plan.”
THE PLAN
Marcus stared at her.
“What plan?”
“To make Khloe disappear.”
His heart stopped.
“What?”
“Your father knew about the trust.”
Marcus's face hardened.
“He knew Khloe was the true heir.”
“Yes.”
“And you?”
“I was supposed to help him.”
“How?”
“By making you distrust her.”
Marcus stepped backward.
“You poisoned my mind.”
“Yes.”
“You told me she wanted my money.”
“Yes.”
“You told me her family had stolen from mine.”
“Yes.”
“And you made me believe she was dangerous.”
Isabella nodded.
Marcus looked sick.
“All those years…”
“You were supposed to divorce her.”
“And marry you.”
“No.”
Marcus frowned.
“No?”
Isabella looked at him.
“You were supposed to marry me after Khloe disappeared.”
Marcus stared.
“And then?”
“You would sign the trust documents.”
His face went pale.
“And I would transfer everything.”
“To whom?”
Isabella smiled sadly.
“Adrian.”
THE NAME THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING
Marcus froze.
“Adrian.”
“Yes.”
“My uncle.”
“Yes.”
“He's alive.”
“Yes.”
“How long have you known?”
“Twenty years.”
Marcus's voice became almost a whisper.
“You've known for twenty years?”
Isabella nodded.
“Your father worked with him.”
Marcus felt the room spinning.
“Why did everyone say he was dead?”
“Because he wasn't.”
“Where is he?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“The last time I saw him was three years ago.”
Marcus stared.
“Three years ago?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“Paris.”
His blood ran cold.
The crash.
The fake death.
Claire—
No.
Khloe.
Everything suddenly connected.
Paris.
The accident.
The insurance money.
The altered records.
The trust.
The baby.
Adrian.
Isabella.
His father's secrets.
It wasn't a collection of separate crimes.
It was one plan.
THE WOMAN MARCUS CHOSE
Marcus looked at Isabella.
For years, he had blamed himself for choosing her.
Now he realized the truth.
He hadn't chosen Isabella.
His father had placed her in his path.
He had manipulated Marcus's fear.
His ambition.
His insecurity.
His desire to become the perfect heir.
But there was something Isabella had done that no one had forced her to do.
She had attacked Khloe.
She had lied.
She had hired witnesses.
She had helped falsify medical records.
She had endangered an unborn child.
Marcus looked at her.
“You could have stopped.”
Isabella's eyes hardened.
“Yes.”
“But you didn't.”
“No.”
“Why?”
She looked at him for a long moment.
“Because eventually I stopped being afraid of your father.”
“What happened?”
“I became like him.”
Marcus said nothing.
Isabella smiled.
“And that's the part you'll never understand.”
“What?”
“I didn't destroy Khloe because I hated her.”
She looked toward Khloe's room.
“I destroyed her because I wanted what she had.”
Marcus's voice became cold.
“The trust.”
“No.”
“The money.”
“No.”
“Then what?”
Isabella's eyes filled with tears.
“You.”
Marcus stared at her.
“I wanted the man you were before you became your father's son.”
KHOLE HEARS EVERYTHING
Neither of them noticed the door behind them.
Khloe stood there.
She had heard everything.
Marcus turned.
His face went white.
“Khloe…”
She raised her hand.
“Don't.”
Isabella looked at her.
For the first time, neither woman spoke.
Then Khloe said:
“So it was all planned.”
Isabella looked away.
“Yes.”
“My marriage.”
“Yes.”
“My reputation.”
“Yes.”
“My family.”
“Yes.”
“My baby.”
Isabella's eyes filled with tears.
“I didn't know they would go this far.”
Khloe laughed bitterly.
“But you helped them.”
“Yes.”
Khloe stared at Marcus.
“And you?”
Marcus couldn't speak.
“You knew Isabella was lying.”
“I suspected.”
“But you stayed with her.”
“Yes.”
“You protected her.”
“Yes.”
“You hid the investigation.”
“Yes.”
Khloe's voice broke.
“You made me live inside a lie.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
Khloe nodded slowly.
Then she removed her wedding ring.
She placed it in his hand.
Marcus stared at it.
“Khloe…”
“I don't know if I can forgive you.”
“I don't expect you to.”
“I don't know if I can trust you.”
“I understand.”
“But I know one thing.”
She looked at him.
“My child will never grow up believing silence is love.”
Marcus's eyes filled with tears.
Khloe walked back into her room.
The door closed.
Marcus stood in the hallway holding the ring.
Isabella watched him.
“You chose her.”
Marcus looked at Isabella.
“No.”
He looked toward Khloe's door.
“She chose herself.”
THE FINAL SECRET
Nathan arrived ten minutes later.
His face was pale.
“Marcus.”
“What?”
“We found Adrian.”
Marcus looked up.
“Where?”
Nathan handed him a photograph.
Marcus stared.
It showed Adrian standing beside a woman.
A woman Marcus recognized.
His mother.
Alive.
Marcus's hands began shaking.
But that wasn't the worst part.
Beside them stood another person.
A little girl.
Marcus looked at the photograph.
The girl was about seven years old.
He recognized her.
Isabella.
Marcus looked up.
“She knew my mother.”
Nathan nodded.
“And there's more.”
“What?”
Nathan pointed to the date.
Twenty years ago.
Then he pointed to another document.
A birth record.
Marcus read the name.
His entire body went cold.
Isabella Rossi.
Underneath it:
Mother — Evelyn Thorne.
Marcus stared.
Evelyn.
The woman they had believed was his grandfather's lost daughter.
The woman whose bloodline connected to Khloe.
His mother.
And Isabella.
Marcus looked at Nathan.
“Isabella is…”
Nathan finished the sentence.
“Your cousin.”
Silence.
Marcus stared at the hallway where Isabella had disappeared.
The woman he had loved.
The woman he had chosen.
The woman he had betrayed Khloe for.
Was part of the family he had spent his entire life trying to understand.
And somewhere beyond the hospital walls, Adrian was still moving pieces across the board.
Because now Marcus knew the truth.
Isabella wasn't the mastermind.
She wasn't even the final enemy.
She was another piece.
And the real game had never been about Marcus.
It had always been about Khloe.
And the child she was carrying.
The heir who could destroy everything Adrian had spent decades building.
Marcus closed his hand around Khloe's wedding ring.
Then he made a decision.
For the first time in his life—
he would choose without his father's permission.
He would choose Khloe.
May you like
Even if choosing her meant destroying his own family.
Even if the truth destroyed him with it.
