Chapter 3
The ambulance disappeared into the night.
Marcus stood motionless outside the Royal Suite, watching the flashing emergency lights fade into the distance.
His wife...
His unborn child...
Were fighting for their lives.
For the first time in years...
The billionaire who controlled a global empire felt completely powerless.
Back inside the suite...
Detectives continued collecting evidence.
Every broken champagne flute.
Every bloodstain on the marble floor.
Every footprint.
Nothing was overlooked.
The lead detective approached Marcus.
"Mr. Ashford."
"We've secured the surveillance footage."
"But..."
"We found something else."
Marcus slowly turned.
"What is it?"
The detective held up Isabella's cellphone.
"Our digital forensic team recovered several deleted conversations."
Marcus frowned.
"With whom?"
The detective hesitated.
"You should probably read them yourself."
Minutes later...
Marcus sat alone inside the hotel's private conference room.
The recovered messages appeared on a large monitor.
Most were between Isabella and an unknown contact saved only as 'Director.'
The first message read:
'The wife is seven months pregnant. Once the baby is gone, Marcus will have no heir.'
Marcus's expression darkened.
The next message appeared.
'After tonight, he'll be emotionally destroyed. He'll sign anything.'
Another.
'The Ashford merger must fail before the shareholders' meeting.'
Marcus slowly clenched his fists.
This wasn't jealousy.
It was a conspiracy.
Someone wasn't trying to destroy his marriage.
Someone wanted to destroy his empire.
His Chief of Security entered the room.
"Sir."
"We traced the phone number."
Marcus looked up.
"And?"
"It belongs to someone inside Ashford Global."
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
"Who?"
The security chief placed a personnel file on the table.
Marcus opened it.
The name froze him.
Leon Graves.
His Executive Vice President.
His closest business partner for over fifteen years.
The man he trusted almost like a brother.
Marcus whispered,
"...Impossible."
The security chief quietly shook his head.
"I'm afraid not."
"We've also discovered large transfers into Isabella's offshore accounts."
Marcus flipped through the financial records.
Ten million dollars.
Twenty million.
Forty million.
Each payment came through shell companies connected to Leon.
The final transfer had been scheduled for midnight.
Its description contained only five words.
'After the heir is eliminated.'
Marcus slowly closed the folder.
His face became expressionless.
The detective looked at him carefully.
"Sir..."
"This attack wasn't personal."
"It was corporate."
"They wanted control of your company."
Marcus answered quietly.
"No."
"They wanted everything."
Across town...
At St. Gabriel Medical Center...
Doctors rushed Sophia into emergency surgery.
Marcus arrived just as the operating room doors closed.
A young surgeon approached him.
"Mr. Ashford."
"Your wife suffered severe abdominal trauma."
"We're doing everything possible to save both mother and child."
Marcus nodded silently.
For the next four hours...
He never left the hallway.
He refused coffee.
He refused food.
He simply stared at the operating room doors.
Praying.
Finally...
Just before dawn...
The chief surgeon stepped outside.
Marcus immediately stood.
The doctor removed his surgical mask.
A tired smile slowly appeared.
"Your wife is going to recover."
Marcus closed his eyes in relief.
"And..."
"The baby?"
The doctor smiled wider.
"It's a miracle."
"But your child survived."
For the first time since entering the Royal Suite...
Marcus allowed himself to breathe.
Tears filled his eyes.
Not tears of weakness.
Tears of gratitude.
He quietly whispered,
"Thank you..."
As he entered Sophia's recovery room...
She was still asleep.
One hand rested gently across her stomach.
Marcus sat beside her.
He carefully intertwined his fingers with hers.
"I almost lost both of you."
His voice barely rose above a whisper.
"I'll never let anyone come between us again."
Outside the room...
His phone vibrated.
A single message from his Chief of Security appeared.
"Sir... we've located Leon Graves. He's attempting to leave the country."
Marcus slowly stood.
His eyes lost every trace of relief.
Only cold determination remained.
He looked once at his sleeping wife.
Then quietly said,
"They thought tonight was over."
May you like
"They're wrong."
"This was only the beginning."
