Chapter 13
Arthur is filling your head with nonsense.
You need to come home before you make a serious mistake.
Another followed.
People are already asking whether you’re mentally fit to handle the company.
Then a third.
Think about our daughter before you destroy this family.
I stared at the messages.
There it was again.
Our daughter.
The child he had barely discussed unless he was using her to silence me.
During my pregnancy, Caleb had missed appointments because of meetings.
He had called my changing body inconvenient.
He had accused me of becoming overly sensitive whenever I cried.
But now, suddenly, he wanted to talk about protecting our family.
I took screenshots of the messages.
Then I called Mr.
Harlan.
“I found the folder.”
His voice softened.
“Are you all right?”
“No.”
I looked at my father’s letter.
“But I’m going to be.”
I asked him to help me arrange independent legal representation for the marriage dispute and to preserve every document related to the company proxy.
I also wanted copies of the financial records, the preliminary forensic findings, and the communications Caleb had sent me.
Then I called my doctor’s office.
I canceled the unnecessary consultation Caleb had arranged and made it clear that no one should discuss my medical information with him without my permission.
The receptionist confirmed my instructions.
It was a small decision.
But for the first time in months, I felt as though the decisions about my body belonged to me again.
Later that afternoon, I returned to the penthouse with Mr.
Harlan’s assistance to collect my personal belongings.
Caleb was waiting in the living room.
Vanessa sat on the sofa beside a glass of wine.
She had changed out of her funeral dress.
I noticed that she looked entirely comfortable in my home.
As though she had been waiting for permission to take my place.
Caleb stood when I entered.
“Finally.”
I looked around.
Several framed photographs had been removed from the shelves.
Our wedding portrait was gone from the wall.
My favorite blanket lay folded beside two suitcases near the entrance.
He had already begun erasing me.
“Where are my things?”
I asked.
“In the guest room.”
“Why?”
He stared at me.
“Eleanor, don’t make me explain the situation.”
I looked at Vanessa.
“Does she live here now?”
Vanessa crossed her legs.
“That depends on how difficult you intend to be.”
Caleb sighed.
“You see?