Rejected: A love story-Chapter 40: Accepting a child

Narrator’s Pov

The romantic morning was quickly replaced by a cold, force. Nathan went to take a long, hot shower, letting the water wash away the scent of whiskey and the haze of the previous night. When he finished, he dressed in fresh clothes, He stared at the mirror for a while, the vulnerability from an hour ago was now replaced by something more serious.

​"Are you ready?"Fiona asked, standing by the door.

​"I’ve never been more ready to end a lie," he replied, his eyes a bit dark.

​

Fiona’s Pov

We walked downstairs together. The atmosphere in the dining room was suffocating. Gabriel and Anne were sitting at the table, It looked like they were having a discussion but i wasn’t sure what it was, while Natasha sat at the middle sipping tea, like nothing bothered her.

The room went silent the moment Nathan stepped in. He didn’t sit dow, he just stood at the head of the table.

"I want a DNA test," Nathan stated, he ignored their confused faces. "Today, with my doctors and lab, under my supervision."

Natasha didn’t flinch. She set her teacup down with a slow, deliberate click. "There’s no need for all that drama, Nathan. I knew you’d react this way. I knew you’d try to claim I was lying to protect your... new life." She flicked a disdainful glance at me. "So, I already had it done. I didn’t want any doubts."

Nathan’s jaw tightened. "A test I wasn’t present for is meaningless."

"It’s not meaningless if it’s from a certified clinic, Nathan," Natasha countered smoothly.

Anne cleared her throat, intervening. She stood up slowly. "She’s right, Nathan. She provided proof while you and Fiona were... away. I wanted to check the validity myself before showing you."

"Mother, don’t tell me you believe this," Nathan said, his voice becoming angry.

"I don’t know what to believe," Anne whispered. "But the papers looks official."

She left the living room for a moment and returned with a manila envelope, she handed it to Nathan. Gabriel looked away, unable to meet his son’s eyes.

Nathan ripped the envelope open. I stood beside him, my heart hammering against my ribs. I watched his eyes scan the technical jargon, the clinic’s seal, and finally, the percentage at the bottom of the page.

The silence lasted forever, I wasn’t even able to look at Nathan or anyone, not even Natasha. Nathan’s grip on the paper was so tight the edges began to crinkle.

Nathan stared at the paper, his knuckles turning white. His eyes turned cold as he looked at Natasha.

​Natasha stood up, walking toward him with a look of feigned sympathy. "I told you, Nathan. I wouldn’t lie about something this serious. Our son can’t wait to meet his father."

​I looked at the paper, then at Nathan. The "DNA result" was right there in black and white, but something felt wrong. The smug look on Natasha’s face, everything about this whole thing.

"It’s a lie," Nathan said, his voice low and vibrating with fury. "I don’t know how you forged these documents, but they’re fake. I’m not stupid, Natasha. You expect me to believe this report?"

His father whom had possibly had enough drama sound slammed his hand against the table. His face red with shame and authority.

"Stop trying to deny everything! Just accept the truth for once in your life, Nathan!" Gabriel barked. "You made a mistake years ago. It happens. But you have a son and a responsibility right now, whether you choose to accept it or not."

Father, you can’t be serious—"

​"I am perfectly serious!" Gabriel cut him off. "The Keith family does not reject an heir that carries our blood. We do not turn our backs on our own. If that boy is a Keith, he belongs here, under this roof, with his name recognized

Nathan wanted to speak, but Gabriel raised a hand to silence him. I suddenly felt unwanted.

"I expect you to put whatever differences you have with the boy’s mother aside and make sure that child feels loved when he steps through that door. Do you understand me?"

Nathan didn’t answer. He looked at the "99.9%" on the paper one last time before crumpling it in his fist.

Gabriel turned his gaze toward Natasha, his tone softening only slightly. "Natasha, when is the boy arriving? We need to make arrangements."

​Natasha adjusted herself on the chair, her expression shifting from defensive to joyful in a heartbeat. "My father is handling everything, Mr. Keith. He’s going to pick him up from his boarding school personally. One of my father’s most trusted servants will board the plane with him to ensure he arrives safely."

​"Good," Gabriel nodded. He turned back to Nathan, his eyes stern. "Get your guts together, Nathan. Prepare yourself for the arrival of your son. You are a father now. Iike I said before, I expect you to put whatever differences you have with the boy’s mother aside and make sure that child feels loved when he steps through that door."

​Nathan didn’t make a sound, he didn’t evenook at his father or Natasha; his eyes moved to mine. In that look, I saw a storm of conflict—he was being told to be a father to a stranger, while his heart was tied to a woman his family was trying to push aside.

​"The boy will be here by tomorrow evening," Natasha added, her voice sounding sweet, though I could see the victory in her eyes.

The door to Nathan’s room clicked shut, Nathan immediately paced to and fro, his fingers tugging at his hair.

"It’s a lie, Fiona," he rasped, turning to face me. "I know who I am. Even at my worst... I would never force myself on a woman. I would never be that man. You have to believe me."

I stepped toward him, my heart aching at the desperation in his eyes. He started to ramble, his voice rising with every frantic denial..

​"If that child comes here tomorrow, what if he looks like me—"

​I reached out, placing my index finger gently over his lips to silence him. The sudden contact made him go still, his breath hitching as he looked down at me.

​"Shh," I whispered. "Stop."

​I let my hand slide down to cup his jaw, forcing him to look at me. "Whatever happens, Nathan, I’m standing by you. I’m not going anywhere."

​"But if he’s mine—"

​"Then he is an innocent child," I interrupted softly. "Listen to me, Nathan. You cannot put your anger on that boy. He didn’t ask to be born, and he didn’t choose who his mother was. He’s being brought into this mess without his consent, just like you are."

​Nathan closed his eyes, leaning into my palm.

​"I will accept the child," I continued, my voice firm. "Because accepting a child who needs a father doesn’t mean you’re accepting Natasha. It doesn’t mean you belong to her, and it doesn’t mean we are over. It means you are being a better man than everyone expect you to be."

​Nathan opened his eyes, the storm inside them finally beginning to settle. He looked at me with a mixture of awe and profound relief. "How can you be this strong? After everything they just threw at us? No-one even cared to ask how you feel about this whole stuff."

​"Because you were strong for me when I had nothing," I said.

​Nathan let out a long, shaky breath and pulled me into his arms, tucking his head into the crook of my neck. He held me so tightly it was as if he were afraid I’d vanish if he let go.

​"I don’t deserve you," he murmured against my skin.

​He pulled back just enough to capture my lips in a kiss—it wasn’t desperate. It was a slow, deep promise of loyalty. His hands moved to the small of my back, drawing me closer against him as the morning sun warmed the room. For a few minutes, we forgot about the drama going on. There was only the heat of his touch.

​"Promise you won’t leave me Fiona," Nathan whispered against my lips, his gaze finally clear and resolved.

​"I promise Nathan, I’ll always be here"

The following morning, the atmosphere in the mansion had shifted drastically, Fiona woke up to the clattering of objects. True to his word, Nathan had stepped into "fatherly" mode. If a child was entering this house—his son or not—Nathan Keith wouldn’t allow things to be done halfway.

Nathan paced the length of the study, his phone pressed to his ear, his voice sharp and decisive.

"I don’t care about the shipping delay. I want the orthopedic mattress delivered within the hour. And the desk—minimalist, oak. Yes, the one I saw in the catalog. Send the bill to my office."

He hung up, only to immediately dial another number.

"Alex? I need you to contact the top pediatrician in the city. Have them on standby for a full check-up tomorrow. And find out the curriculum for the best private elementary schools in this district. I want a full report by evening."

He finally stepped out of the study and looked over the balcony at the bustling foyer below. Servants were carrying boxes, and the sound of furniture being moved echoed through the halls. Nathan descended the stairs, his eyes scanning every detail.

"No, not that room," Nathan commanded, pointing to a guest suite that was being opened. "Move everything to the suite next to my girlfriend’s. It has better natural light and more space for a study area."

"Yes, Mr. Keith," the head housekeeper replied, directing the staff to change course.