
It was now, and nell stood beneath the factory lights, seven months pregnant, staring directly at callum whitlock without fear.
They told me you lost the baby, callum whispered, his voice cracking beneath the weight of those old lies.
They told me you signed everything, nell replied, placing one trembling hand protectively over her stomach.
Ask your sister why i had to hide, mr. whitlock, she said, refusing to look away from him.
Callum froze when nell revealed the child was his, remembering the night beneath the collapsing scaffold.
How far along are you, nell? he asked, barely breathing as seven months suddenly became real before him.
Seven months, she answered. yours. it was yours in the emergency room, too, that terrible night.
Callum staggered backward, because cordelia had told him nell lost their child and left the state forever.
I was in a coma for nine weeks, he whispered, remembering nothing beyond those cold hospital ceilings.
When i woke up, cordelia told me you'd disappeared, callum continued, his hands beginning to shake uncontrollably.
Nell stepped closer and whispered, i've been forty feet under your feet for four months, mr. whitlock.
Callum stared toward the factory floor, suddenly realizing nell had been working beneath him without his knowledge.
Nell, you are not on this shift, shouted a supervisor. where is delorey, and who authorized you here?
Callum raised his hand, but nell stopped him. don't, she warned. this is a shakedown, and they know you're weak.
She wants a number, nell continued, watching cordelia approach. she picked the exact hour when you're weakest.
Cordelia smiled coldly and said, your sister decides who gets close to you, mr. whitlock, whether you like it.
Callum turned toward cordelia, finally demanding, then ask yourself why you decided who was allowed to love me.
Silence spread across the factory as cordelia's confidence vanished beneath callum's accusing stare.
The apartment on fel street suddenly mattered, because callum remembered putting that unit in nell's name during february.
I put that unit in your name, callum said. what happened to it after i disappeared from your life?
Nell answered quietly, two men arrived with a locksmith at seven that morning, march eleventh.
The papers claimed the apartment had reverted to the company as a corporate asset, signed by you personally.
I never signed anything in march, callum shouted. i couldn't even hold a pen during those weeks.
Cordelia interrupted, claiming company authority gave her control, but callum finally understood what the power of attorney meant.
You had authority over company assets, cordelia insisted, trying to sound certain while everyone watched her carefully.
Callum stepped closer and asked, then why did you use my name while i was unconscious in that hospital?
Cordelia's face hardened, but nell revealed another document, whispering, this is just the beginning tonight.
Callum took the document, finally seeing proof that his sister had stolen far more than an apartment from him.






