Chapter 203

Callum drove Natalia to the ancient McKinney family mansion. Before they even stepped out of the car, Natalia overheard a harsh tirade. “Get rid of this damned thing at once! I can’t bear to see her for another second!”

The woman who was venting her ire was dressed lavishly, and her eyes were revealing a harshness that she didn’t attempt to conceal.

Alice, who had been sulking in her car behind Callum, regained her confidence as soon as she returned home. She stepped out of the car and boldly approached the woman who was furiously ranting, “Mother!”

Alice’s mother, who was raging at Lena’s suicide, softened instantly upon seeing her beloved daughter.

“Alice, where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

Reassured by her mother’s presence, Alice recovered her usual haughty demeanor.

Pointing at Natalia, who was being led by Callum from the car, Alice fumed, “Mother, I went to find this little tramp. She’s Lena’s bastard, and she’s been hiding in Cal’s castle for five years!”

Alice’s mother’s eyes followed Alice’s hand, and she stared at Natalia with ill intent. Upon seeing Natalia’s blue eyes that resembled Rowell’s, her gray eyes displayed a cruel determination. “So you’re Lena’s daughter?”

“Yes,” Natalia replied with dignity, meeting the woman’s gaze.

The woman scoffed. “Well, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Lena’s daughter is just as worthless.

Get rid of your mother’s mess!” Alice’s mother retorted.

Natalia, ignoring the woman, slowly moved towards Lena’s body, which was displayed in the center of the hall under a white cloth.

Callum had already coolly retorted, “Lady McKinney, when you speak about others, do your words reflect your upbringing? It’s clear that the illustrious Lady McKinney’s family values are quite lacking.”

Enraged, Lady McKinney wanted to lash out, but standing in her way was the Duke, a rank higher than her. She swallowed the angry words that were on the tip of her tongue.

Meanwhile, Lena’s body had been retrieved and was laid out in the mansion’s courtyard. Rowell was sitting blankly in a chair, and his eyes were blankly fixed on Lena, seemingly oblivious to the crowd that had gathered.

Suddenly, his gaze drifted towards Natalia, who was slowly walking in. A jolt of realization hit him – this was her daughter! He stood up slowly, and his eyes took in Natalia’s blue dress. Her long dark hair was cascading down like a waterfall, and her delicate demeanor mirrored her mother’s.

Was this really his daughter? She was way more fragile than he had imagined, and stunningly beautiful, even more so than Alice. Could she really be his daughter?

Natalia had no interest in bickering with Lady McKinney. She walked towards Lena’s corpse, and her eyes blurred with tears.

Just a few hours ago, Lena was standing before her, pleading with Natalia to allow her to be called Mother. Now, Natalia was staring at Lena’s lifeless body. She wept silently, begging for Lena’s forgiveness for her earlier obstinacy. If she could turn back time, she would definitely have called Lena Mother and could have even given her a big hug.

When she was little, Natalia had imagined countless reunions with her mother, but she never thought it would be under such circumstances. She didn’t even get the chance to know Lena’s hobbies or understand who Lena truly was. And now, Lena was gone.

Natalia’s shoulders shook uncontrollably as she was overwhelmed by grief. Why was it that others had both parents while she was sent to an orphanage at an early age? Why was it that just when she found her mother, she was snatched away before Natalia could even adapt to the idea?

Rowell, the Earl, was immersed in the pain of Lena’s tragic death. He stared at Natalia, his sudden daughter, wondering whether to be happy or sad. Because of her arrival, Lena was dead.

The night before, he had learned that Lena had been pregnant with his child years ago and had given the baby away to an orphanage, and then sent her away. In his rage, he had hit Lena. Despite his harsh actions, he was deeply drawn to Lena, a woman of stunning beauty and proud spirit. She was like the finest wine that had captured his soul. But he was an Earl and could not marry her, so, he kept her as his secret lover.

Over the years, although Lena had always been indifferent to him, When Count Rowell tought of this proud woman as his own, his heart felt as sweet as if he has drunk honey. He loved her deeply and wanted to keep her by his side forever, but he never imagined that she would choose to end her life in this manner.

Because of his actions, Lena chose to protest in this way. Against his failings, against their love, against the lack of a proper status, and against the daughter she had to give 1. up.

She’d left a suicide note and leaped into the ocean. Her last wish was scrawled in ink, pleading with him to acknowledge his daughter. She knew that as long as she lived, Natalia’s status would be complicated. Only in her death could Natalia rightfully reclaim her place in the McKinney family. Rowell watched as Lena’s life extinguished, feeling as though a stone lodged itself in his heart. He lifted his gaze to Natalia, only to be met with sapphire eyes as deep and vast as the ocean itself.

Those eyes shimmered as though filled with stardust, causing a pang in Rowell’s heart. How much they resembled his own! These eyes, so strikingly similar to his own, were set