Rejected: A love story-Chapter 76: The confrontation

Natasha returned to the Ferrari, slid into the driver’s seat, and gripped the wheel. Instead of turning back toward the Kent estate, she steered onto another road entirely—one leading deeper into the city.

The further she drove, the narrower the road became. The clean city lanes gave way to a long stretch of winding tar bordered by tall trees—oak, cypress, wild shrubs thick enough to swallow a whole car. The wind rustled through the leaves, casting moving shadows across the lonely road. It was quiet. It was always quiet.

Natasha’s stomach churned.

When Leila’s house finally appeared, almost hidden behind a cluster of overgrown trees, Natasha parked right at the front. A modern bungalow with tall glass walls and a wide wraparound porch, it looked harmless—almost peaceful. The afternoon sun bounced off the windows, giving the house an almost blinding glow.

Natasha stepped out, she banged on the door. And Immediately, hurried footsteps approached from inside, followed by the sound of the lock turning.

Leila opened the door wearing a silk robe—emerald green, tied loosely around her waist. Her hair was tousled like she had just woken up or been lounging lazily. The moment she saw Natasha, her face lit up as it always did.

"My beautiful friend," she cooed, leaning forward for a hug and her usual greeting kiss.

Natasha walked straight past her without a glance.

Leila froze, her arms suspended awkwardly in the air.

"What on earth—Natasha?" She shut the door slowly, confusion melting into irritation. "What’s wrong with you?"

Natasha didn’t sit. She stood near the living room table, hands trembling slightly but her face cold.

"Did you kidnap Fiona?"

Leila blinked once. Then again.

"What?"

"You heard me." Natasha turned fully toward her, eyes sharp. "Did you have anything to do with Fiona’s kidnapping? Were you involved?"

Leila stared at her for three long seconds... then burst into laughter.

The unsettling kind—unbothered, mocking, almost delighted.

"Oh, sweetheart," Leila chuckled, walking across the room like the question was amusing. "You came here looking like someone who got robbed of her happiness just to ask me that?" She opened her liquor cabinet, pulling out a golden-brown bottle. "Sit. Drink something. You’re tense."

"I’m not drinking." Natasha’s voice was firm.

Leila poured two glasses anyway, as she always did—hers half full, Natasha’s filled to the brim. She pushed the glass toward her.

Natasha didn’t touch it.

"Leila," she said slower this time, voice trembling. "Answer the question. Did you kidnap Fiona?"

The smile faded from Leila’s face bit by bit. She exhaled, long and tired, as if Natasha were annoying her.

"Yes," she finally said casually, taking a sip. "I did."

Natasha’s heart stopped.

Leila shrugged, leaning back against the edge of the table, sipping her drink with no remorse.

"Is something wrong with that?"

Natasha scoffed, stepping back like she’d been slapped. "Are you insane? Do you know what you’ve done? Nathan is furious—furious, Leila! He’s not going to rest until he finds the person who took Fiona."

Leila rolled her eyes. "Nathan this. Nathan that. Nathan, Nathan, Nathan. You’re always singing that man’s praises."

Natasha ignored it. "What did you even do to her? What did you say?"

"Oh, come on." Leila waved a hand dismissively, walking closer. "It was for your own good. For our good. You should be grateful I handled everything."

Natasha stared at her, horrified. "Grateful? You threatened her, didn’t you?"

Leila didn’t respond.

Natasha stepped back again, anger and disbelief mixing violently in her chest. "Leila—what is wrong with you? You crossed a line this time."

Leila smirked and began walking toward her slowly, catlike.

"You’re upset," she whispered. "Because of her?"

"I’m upset because you kidnapped someone!" Natasha snapped.

Leila only smiled more. She stopped inches from Natasha, eyes drifting over her face.

"Tell me," she murmured. "Have you even thought about me? About how I feel? Or is it always about Nathan?"

"Leila, don’t—"

She reached up and brushed her fingers against Natasha’s cheek, her touch hot, familiar, dangerous.

"Remember our nights?" Leila whispered, leaning closer. "Remember what we did? What I did for you? You weren’t complaining then."

Natasha stiffened, eyes darting away. "I was young and I was naive. I didn’t know what I wanted."

Leila laughed—a sharp, mocking sound.

"And you think you know now?"

Natasha’s lips parted but no words came.

Leila circled her like a predator.

"Do you know how many things I’ve done for you?" she whispered, her voice becoming low and dark. "How many plans I made? You think Nathan’s life happened by coincidence?" She stopped in front of Natasha again, eyes burning. "Who faked the DNA tests? Who searched every orphanage, every city, looking for a child who looked exactly like him? Who found his carbon copy and brought him to you on a silver platter?"

Natasha swallowed, breathing unsteady. "Stop."

"No." Leila leaned closer, voice trembling with obsession. "I have always been there for you. I protected you. I fixed everything for you. And now you come running into my house because of that girl? That—" she hissed the word— "homewrecker?"

Natasha shut her eyes tightly.

She had known Leila was ruthless, manipulative and twisted.

But this... this was beyond anything she imagined.

"Leila," she whispered, shaking. "You could have gotten someone killed."

Leila scoffed. "Please. I didn’t even touch the brat. Just scared her a bit."

Natasha stared at her, horrified. "A bit? She was shaking uncontrollably. She has bruises. She was blindfolded for hours—"

"She deserved worse," Leila snapped suddenly, mask cracking.

Natasha flinched but stayed quiet.

"She deserves to rot," Leila spat. "For taking him from you. From us."

"Leila, there is no us." Natasha finally stepped back, voice breaking. "There hasn’t been for a long time."

Leila’s eyes darkened and silence stretched between them—thick, suffocating.

Then Leila whispered, "You’ll thank me one day."

Natasha shook her head slowly. "No. I’m calling this off. Whatever you’re planning next—you stop it. Now."

Leila tilted her head with a strange smile.

"Oh, Natasha." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "You think this is over... but this is only the beginning."