Chapter 13
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The state penitentiary was a bleak, imposing fortress of gray concrete and razor wire, a stark contrast to the lush beauty of the Thorne Estate. Khloe sat in the sterile, heavily guarded visitor’s room, her hands folded neatly on the metal table. She refused to show any sign of intimidation.
Marcus was waiting outside in the SUV with their private security team. The warden, out of respect for Marcus’s influence, had arranged a private room for the meeting, but the tension in the air was still suffocating.
The heavy steel door buzzed and swung open. Elaine Parker was escorted into the room by a female guard. Elaine wore a standard orange jumpsuit, her previously immaculate hair now dull and tied back in a harsh bun. The bitterness in her eyes was palpable.
She sat down across from Khloe, a cynical smirk twisting her lips.
"Well, well. The Queen of the Thorne Empire descends into the dungeons," Elaine mocked, leaning back in her uncomfortable chair. "Come to gloat, Khloe? Come to show off your perfect, happy ending?"
"I didn't come to gloat, Elaine," Khloe said, her voice perfectly steady. "I came to make a deal."
Elaine laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "A deal? You put me in here. Your husband made sure the judge threw the book at me. I have nothing to say to you."
"You have twenty years to serve, Elaine. But I know Julian Vance has reached out to your lawyers," Khloe said, watching Elaine’s reaction closely.
Elaine’s smirk faltered for a fraction of a second. It was all the confirmation Khloe needed.
"Julian is using you," Khloe continued. "He wants you to testify against Marcus. But Julian won't actually help you. The moment he gets what he wants, he will leave you to rot in here to cover his own tracks."
"And you think Marcus is any better?" Elaine spat angrily.
"Marcus protects the people who are loyal to him," Khloe countered. "I remember you mentioning an 'insurance policy' once. If you have evidence that Julian is corrupt, give it to me. If it helps us stop him, Marcus will use his legal team to petition for your transfer to a minimum-security facility. Better living conditions, closer to your family."
May you like
Elaine stared at Khloe, the hatred in her eyes warring with the desperate reality of her miserable existence. She looked down at her rough, calloused hands, the remnants of her former luxurious life completely gone.
"Julian isn't just corrupt, Khloe," Elaine whispered, leaning across the table. "He is the one who brought Isabella Rossi back into the city."
