Chapter 13: The Choice Victor Expected
The request reached Victor through his lawyers.
A premature infant required Aurelia therapy.
His granddaughter.
The biological heir whose cells he had attempted to control.
Victor responded within twenty minutes.
He would release the medication if Khloe signed the settlement.
Julian read the terms and swore under his breath.
“He is using her life.”
Khloe stood beside Hope’s incubator.
The baby’s oxygen requirements continued rising.
Doctors estimated they had hours, not days.
Miriam contacted federal regulators.
Because the therapy remained under restricted approval, the government could not simply seize it without a complex emergency process.
Another hospital possessed a small dose, but transport would take too long.
Thorne Global’s local research facility held several units.
Victor controlled release codes.
Marcus entered the NICU conference room.
“Give me the settlement.”
“No,” Khloe said.
“I am not asking you to sign it.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Get the medication.”
Victor’s research facility used biometric security.
Marcus’s credentials had been revoked, but he knew the internal systems.
Julian contacted federal agents.
They could obtain an emergency warrant if they proved the medicine was being unlawfully withheld.
Victor’s lawyers argued that the therapy was experimental, privately owned, and not guaranteed to help.
The delay continued.
Khloe looked at the settlement.
Five hundred million dollars.
Full medical support.
Surrender of the trust.
One signature could save Hope.
Perhaps.
Victor expected maternal fear to accomplish what his legal strategies could not.
Miriam touched Khloe’s arm.
“If you sign under medical duress, we can challenge it later.”
“Can we guarantee that?”
“No.”
Khloe picked up the pen.
Marcus took it from her.
“You sign, and Victor learns that Hope’s life will always be his strongest weapon.”
“She may die while we prove a principle.”
“This is not a principle.”
Marcus’s voice broke.
“It is the rest of her life.”
He placed the pen down.
“Give me thirty minutes.”
Agents entered the Thorne research facility with an emergency judicial order twenty-two minutes later.
Victor’s security team refused access.
Marcus provided an override code linked to Evelyn Thorne’s original founder credentials.
The system opened.
Inside the medication vault, they found no Aurelia doses.
Only empty containers.
Victor had moved them.
A facility manager eventually confessed.
A private courier collected the medication that morning and transported it to Victor’s yacht.
The yacht was preparing to leave territorial waters.
Coast Guard units moved to intercept.
Hope’s condition worsened.
Khloe returned to the settlement.
Victor called directly.
His face appeared on a secure screen.
He sat inside the yacht’s main cabin.
A refrigerated medical case rested beside him.
“Sign,” he said.
Khloe held the document.
“You knew she would become sick.”
“Premature infants are vulnerable.”
“You suspended hospital access before the infection was diagnosed.”
“I protected company property during an unlawful takeover.”
“You moved the medication because you hoped I would need it.”
Victor did not answer.
That silence was recorded.
“Release the case to the Coast Guard,” Khloe said.
“Sign first.”
Marcus appeared behind Khloe.
Victor looked at him with contempt.
“You destroyed your inheritance for a woman who will never forgive you.”
Marcus replied, “It was never mine.”
“It could still be.”
“No.”
Victor’s face hardened.
Marcus continued.
“You taught me everyone has a price. You never taught me what happens when the thing you want stops being valuable.”
“You think the company is not valuable?”
“Not compared to my daughter.”
Victor looked toward Khloe.
“He calls her his daughter now. Did he tell you he questioned whether she was his after reading Helena’s letter?”
Marcus closed his eyes.
Khloe stared at him.
“For how long?”
“Minutes.”
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
Pain moved through her, but there was no time to hold it.
Victor smiled faintly.
“He will always doubt whatever love requires him to sacrifice.”
Khloe lifted the settlement.
Then she tore it in half.
Victor’s expression changed.
“You are killing your child for pride.”
“No.”
Khloe looked into the camera.
“You are withholding medication from a dying infant to control her inheritance.”
The statement was being streamed to federal agents and the Coast Guard.
Victor had been warned the call was recorded.
He believed pressure would still protect him.
The yacht’s door opened behind him.
Coast Guard officers entered.
Victor reached for the medical case.
An officer stopped him.
The therapy was transported by helicopter.
Forty-three minutes later, doctors administered it to Hope.
The response was not immediate.
Khloe sat beside the incubator through the night.
Marcus remained across the room.
At dawn, Hope’s oxygen levels began improving.
The infection markers fell.
Khloe cried with her forehead against the glass.
Marcus turned away to hide his own tears.
Federal prosecutors arrested Victor on charges including conspiracy, medical extortion, obstruction, and unlawful withholding of emergency treatment.
The medication case also contained something else.
Copies of Helena’s alleged trust revocation.
And a handwritten note from Elaine.
I GAVE YOU THE FALSE DOCUMENT. NOW GIVE ME WHAT YOU PROMISED.
May you like
Elaine had not only worked against Victor.
She had been working with him.
