Rejected: A love story-Chapter 39: Where is this child?

The silence dragged on. It pressed on my chest until it was hard to breathe. Gabriel wouldn’t look at me. Anne kept pulling at her sleeve like it was suddenly too tight. No one wanted to speak, and that scared me more than shouting would have.

"It’s Natasha, isn’t it?" I whispered.

No one answered. But I didn’t need them to.

The way she sat there, calm, almost pleased, even with fake tears in her eyes, told me everything they were trying to hide.

Natasha stood up slowly. There was a small smile on her lips.

"Since they’re too scared to tell you, I will," she said. "It happened years ago. He doesn’t remember because he was drunk, but I do. I kept quiet to protect his name. But the truth always comes out."

"Years ago?" My head felt light. "If this happened years ago, why now? Where is this child?"

"He’s in a private school abroad," she said easily. "And he deserves to know his father. Nathan knows now. That’s why he left today. He couldn’t face it. He couldn’t face you."

"That’s enough!" Gabriel shouted, standing up.

But it was already too late.

I stepped back. My heart was pounding so hard it hurt. I didn’t want to hear anymore. Every word felt dirty, like poison in my ears. I needed Nathan. I needed to look at him and hear it from his mouth.

"Fiona, wait," Anne called.

"I can’t," I said, my voice shaking. "Nathan didn’t just run away. He’s hurting. I can’t sit here and do nothing. I have to find him."

I was almost at the stairs when someone grabbed my arm. I flinched before I could stop myself. Old habit. I looked up and saw Caleb. He wasn’t smiling.

"You can’t find him here," he said quietly.

"I know that," I snapped, trying to pull away. "I need to find him."

"You don’t know where he goes when he’s like this. I do."

I stared at him. Hope flickered for the first time since I came downstairs. "You know where he is?"

"I have a good guess," he said. "And you’re not going alone."

He glanced back at the living room. Natasha was still there, playing the victim. Caleb’s jaw tightened.

"Don’t listen to her, Fiona. Natasha has been chasing Nathan for years."

"Please," I said. "Take me to him."

"Meet me outside."

I didn’t wait. I grabbed my phone and followed him. The night air was cold, but I barely felt it.

Caleb unlocked his car and drove off the moment the gate opened.

"He’s not going to be okay," Caleb said, eyes on the road. "When Nathan loses control of a situation, he shuts down. He’s probably drinking at Azure Heights."

"Is it true?" I asked quietly. "About the child?"

Caleb’s hands tightened on the wheel. "I wasn’t there that night. But I know Natasha. Whether it’s true or not, she chose the perfect moment. Nathan was finally happy. She wanted to ruin that."

I tried calling Nathan again. But it went straight to voicemail.

We didn’t speak for a while. The city lights passed by in a blur.

"Do you believe her?" I asked.

Caleb shook his head. "Nathan can be a lot of things. But he’s not that. If he had done something like that, it would have destroyed him years ago."

---

The hotel lobby was quiet and smelled expensive. Caleb went straight to the desk.

"Nathan Keith room key. Now."

"I can’t—"

"I’m his brother and this is his fiancée," Caleb cut in. "He’s drinking himself to death. Give me the key."

The receptionist hesitated, then handed it over.

We rushed upstairs. Room 402.

---

Narrator’s POV

The room smelled of whisky and Nathan was on the floor by the window. Two bottles were empty, another was opened. His tie was gone and his shirt was undone.

He stared at the city lights.

"I’m sorry, Fiona," he muttered to no one. "You shouldn’t have loved me."

If Natasha was right, then he was everything he hated.

Fiona’s POV

Immediately we got inside, i sighted Nathan, he looked broken. Not powerful, or in control. Just tired and lost.

"Nathan," I whispered.

He didn’t answer. His body sagged and Caleb caught him before he fell.

"He’s out," Caleb said. "We need to go." I said

"We’re taking him home, we can’t leave him here."

I grabbed his jacket and phone. Missed calls filled the screen.

The drive back felt endless. I held his hand the whole time. It was cold

Keith Mansion — 11:30 PM

The lights were still on, as we carried Nathan inside, the door opened. Gabriel and Anne rushed forward. Natasha stood behind them.

"Oh my God," she gasped. "Nathan."

"Let the servants take over Fiona" Mr. Gabriel suggested.

"No need, we can handle it" I continued walking step by step, my eyes glanced at Natasha, and I just ignored her.

"Move," Caleb said to her as she kept staring.

We took him upstairs, In his room, we laid him on the bed.

"He’ll wake up in the morning," Caleb said. "Thank you Fiona, for loving my brother genuinely" He turned after that and left shutting the door.

[Narrator’s Pov]

Morning came quietly.Nathan groaned. His head felt like it was splitting.

As his vision cleared, the events of the previous night crashed into him. The whisky, the hotel, the stinging words he’d shouted at Fiona—and the crushing weight of Natasha’s accusation.

He turned his head slightly and saw her. Fiona was curled up in a chair pulled close to the bedside, her hand still resting near his on the bed. She was awake, her eyes tired but fixed on him with a depth of concern that made his heart ache.

"Fiona," he croaked, his voice sandpaper-dry.

She moved instantly, leaning forward to press a cool hand to his forehead. "You’re awake. Don’t try to sit up too fast. I’ll get you some water."

As she started to pull away, Nathan’s hand shot out, catching her wrist with desperate strength. His composure, usually his greatest shield, was completely gone.

"Don’t go," he pleaded. The cold, arrogant CEO was nowhere to be found; in his place was a man terrified of losing the only light he had left. "Fiona, please. Stay."

"I’m just getting water, Nathan. I’m not leaving the room."

"No, I mean..." He swallowed hard, his throat burning. He pulled her closer until she was forced to sit on the edge of the bed. He looked up at her, his bloodshot eyes searching hers. "After everything you heard... after the way I acted... please don’t leave me. I don’t remember that night, Fiona. I don’t remember her. But the thought that I could have done something that would make you look at me with disgust... it’s killing me."

He sat up slowly, wincing at the spike of pain in his temples, and wrapped his arms around her waist, burying his face against her. "You’re the only thing that makes sense to me. If you walk away, I don’t have anything left to fight for."

Fiona felt the slight tremor in his shoulders. She ran her fingers through his messy hair, gently smoothing it down. The man who usually protected her was now the one seeking shelter.

"I’m not going anywhere," she whispered, her voice firm. "We’re in this together, remember? That was the deal."

Nathan pulled back just enough to look at her, his gaze intense and heartbreakingly sincere. "It stopped being a deal for me a long time ago, Fiona. I love you"

He looked at her like she was the only thing holding him together.

She rested her forehead against his. "I’m here," I whispered.