Chapter 8: The Truth That Destroyed Everything
I don’t remember sitting down.
One moment I was standing.
The next, I was on the old couch where I used to watch cartoons with my mother.
My entire world had tilted.
“No.””
The word came out quietly.
Then louder.
“No.””
Marcus looked like he couldn’t breathe.
“Khloe…”
“Don’t.””
I pulled away when he reached for me.
Not because I hated him.
Because I didn’t know who we were anymore.
Everything we built.
Every memory.
Every promise.
Everything suddenly felt like it belonged to someone else.
Victoria stood across the room.
“I know how this looks.””
“How it looks?””
I laughed bitterly.
“My entire marriage is built on something impossible.””
Marcus looked at Victoria.
“Explain.””
She nodded.
“That’s why I brought you here.””
She sat down slowly.
“Years ago, my father discovered that Marcus’s father had another relationship.””
She looked at me.
“With your mother.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
“Why didn’t anyone tell us?””
Victoria looked at him.
“Because your father was afraid.””
“Afraid of what?””
“The company.””
The inheritance.
The family name.
The same things that had controlled everyone for years.
Victoria continued.
“He believed a scandal would destroy everything he built.””
I looked at the photograph.
“And my mother?””
“She was forced to leave.””
My hands tightened.
“My mother never told me.””
“She wanted to protect you.””
Victoria reached into her bag again.
She pulled out another document.
“This is a DNA test.””
Marcus looked shocked.
“When was this done?””
“Three months ago.””
My heart sank.
“Three months?””
Victoria looked at me.
“I found out when I saw your wedding announcement.””
Marcus stared.
“You knew all this time?””
Victoria looked ashamed.
“Yes.””
“Then why didn’t you tell us?””
Her eyes moved to him.
“Because someone was watching.””
The room became quiet.
“Who?””
Victoria looked toward the window.
“Your mother.””
Marcus shook his head.
“She didn’t know.””
“She knew enough.””
Victoria turned back.
“She knew Khloe existed.””
Elaine’s actions suddenly made more sense.
The pressure.
The hostility.
The fear.
But one question remained.
“If everyone knew…”
I looked at Victoria.
“Why did nobody stop us?””
Victoria’s expression changed.
Because she had no answer.
Then my phone rang.
Everyone froze.
I looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
Marcus immediately said:
“Don’t answer.””
But I already had.
“Hello?””
Silence.
Then a woman’s voice.
Soft.
Familiar.
My blood turned cold.
“Khloe.””
I stopped breathing.
Because I knew that voice.
I had heard it every night in old recordings.
I had heard it in memories.
My mother.
But that was impossible.
“Mom?””
Everyone stared at me.
The voice on the phone trembled.
“Listen carefully. You don’t have much time.””
Tears filled my eyes.
“This isn’t real.””
“It is.””
“How?””
“I made everyone believe I was gone.””
My hands shook.
“Why?””
The voice became emotional.
“Because I was trying to protect you.””
Marcus moved closer.
“Who is this?””
The voice went silent.
Then my mother whispered:
“Is Marcus there?””
I looked at him.
“Yes.””
Another long silence.
Then she said:
“Tell him his father wasn’t the only one who lied.””
Marcus froze.
“What does that mean?””
The call suddenly crackled.
Then my mother said one final sentence before the line went dead.
“The baby you’re carrying is the reason they came back.””
The phone slipped from my hand.
Nobody moved.
Then Marcus looked at Victoria.
At the photograph.
At me.
May you like
And whispered:
“What did she mean?””
