The Imposter Bride by Sallie Woods

Chapter 204

The little girl before him, who looked like an angel straight out of a Renaissance painting, was his daughter, a child he never knew he had, a child he shared with Lena.

Rowell’s eyes glistened with a hint of tears, and his voice raspy. “Are you Lena’s child?”

Natalia lifted her gaze to the imposing older man, and a mix of desolation and guilt washed over her. She felt no affection for this man who had wronged Lena. He was responsible for her mother’s death!

It didn’t matter whether he was an Earl or even the King of England; she wanted nothing to do with him.

Natalia’s silence caught Rowell off guard. His brow furrowed. His daughter was strong–willed, possibly even resentful towards him. He saw Callum approach and nodded his acknowledgment. “I apologize for dragging you into this mess, my friend.”

Before Callum could respond, Natalia retorted, “A mess? Does the noble Count condone violence? Or perhaps you think the woman who died here has dirtied your grounds and tarnished your reputation?”

Her swift retort left Rowell momentarily stunned. The courage and audacity she showed in confronting him were unexpected. Was she not supposed to respect him and call him ‘Father‘?

“You!” Rowell sharply rebuked Natalia, “You are Lena’s child. Your manner of speaking is disrespectful!”

“Disrespectful?” Natalia scoffed. “I have no home. I was abandoned in an orphanage. How should I know about manners?”

Rowell’s demeanor shifted. It was clear she held resentment towards him. Yet her sharp wit was intriguing in its own way. Regardless, for Lena’s sake, Rowell decided not to take offense. He calmly looked at Natalia, and the guilt he felt over Lena’s death was evaporating. “I’ll arrange a paternity test. If you are indeed my child, you will join the McKinney family.”

girl a thing or two about

prestigious McKinney name.” Natalia rebuffed him without hesitation, an icy detachment in her

daughter was a status many women could only dream of. Lena had even given her life to

to toe, asking begrudgingly, “So, you don’t want

on the McKinney name?”

be your daughter,” Alice interjected. “Lena must have concocted this story to smear your reputation.

her father. The McKinney family’s

the flames, she shot Natalia

quiet!” Rowell, without warning, struck Alice across the face, causing her to stagger

Alice turned her wrathful gaze towards Natalia. It was all Natalia’s fault! If not for her, how could Cal have abandoned her? How could her doting

her?

I will

and collected. She initially had no interest in any connection with the McKinney family. However, to clear Lena’s name and do justice to the woman who had

to take the

Rowell and filled with detachment. “But I have a

rest?”

for her to be buried in the best

the paternity test,” Natalia reiterated. “But I want to

pondered for a moment, then agreed. “Alright, we’ll cremate her and give the ashes to you. Is