Chapter 18 - The Baby Shower Nobody ExpectedKhloe refused to cancel the baby shower.
Marcus thought she was joking.
“You were attacked at a gala, dragged into a federal investigation, smeared online, and nearly forced into bed rest,” he said. “You want to host a party?”
Khloe adjusted a ribbon on a white floral arrangement.
“I want to celebrate my baby.”
Marcus stared at her.
Then he smiled for the first time in days.
“Then we celebrate.”
The shower was held not in a ballroom, but in Adrian’s hospital garden courtyard. Small. Private. Warm. No society vultures. No reporters. No donors pretending concern.
Elaine Parker organized it quietly after apologizing to Khloe for freezing that night.
Khloe forgave her.
Not because Elaine had been brave.
Because fear was human, and Elaine had told the truth afterward.
Helena came.
Detective Cole sent flowers but did not attend.
Celeste arrived with a handmade silver rattle that had belonged to Marcus as a baby.
Marcus looked embarrassed.
Khloe loved it instantly.
For two hours, the world felt gentle.
Then a package arrived.
No sender name.
Marcus’s security team moved quickly, but Khloe already knew.
Something was wrong.
Inside the package was a small velvet box.
In it lay a gold bracelet engraved with one word.
Soon.
Marcus ordered the courtyard cleared.
Adrian called security.
Celeste went pale.
Khloe held the bracelet without shaking.
“Vincent?” Marcus asked.
Detective Cole arrived within thirty minutes.
Vincent was in custody.
Isabella was under monitoring.
Most of Rossi’s inner circle was being investigated.
But one person remained unaccounted for.
Peter Lang.
The suspended board member.
The man whose email had revealed plans to remove Marcus before the birth.
By evening, police confirmed Peter had disappeared from his apartment.
His accounts were drained.
His passport was missing.
And on his office computer, investigators found a draft message addressed to Vincent.
If the wife survives to delivery, the trust activates. I can still prevent the transfer.
Marcus read the line once.
Then again.
Khloe watched his face turn cold.
The attack had failed.
The smear had failed.
The court had failed to save Vincent.
Now the last desperate player wanted to finish what Isabella started.
Khloe placed one hand over her stomach.
May you like
Her voice was quiet.
“Then we don’t wait for him to come to us.”
