Reborn From Oblivion by Christia Muray

That evening, Nathalie decided to move her dolls to the room next door to

Lincoln's. In the end, she wanted to be close to her dad. The two of them would chat, play chess, and enjoy their peaceful days together. Life felt pretty perfect. At least, until the main family decided to stir things up.

Nathalie was jolted awake in the middle of the night by a heated argument outside her window. She wrapped herself in a robe and tiptoed to the window, straining to catch the voices in the hallway.

"Lincoln, have you been out of the loop so long that you've lost your marbles? By bringing Nathalie home so openly today, aren't you basically putting up a billboard that screams you've got an illegitimate daughter, dragging our family name through the mud?" Dean's voice was sharp and cutting.

Lincoln shot back defiantly, "I couldn't care less what people think. My daughter's happiness is all that matters to me."

Dean let out a mocking laugh. "Don't forget the rule Grandpa set: no child born out of wedlock can live in the Stewart family estate."

Lincoln's response was sharp and pointed like a sword. "Dean, that rule was meant to keep family peace by preventing infidelity after marriage."

He paused, his voice thick with anger. "Maya should have been my wife, and Vivian should have been my daughter in name and everything. If it weren't for your little schemes that caused my accident, Maya and I would have been married the very next day..." His voice was tense with barely contained rage.

Dean's bravado faltered. "Lincoln, you can't just throw around accusations without proof."

Lincoln smirked, "You know exactly what I'm talking about."

of her birth, I'll do whatever it takes to bring the truth from that time to light. Think long

guilt, yet he countered, "According to Grandpa's rule, if your

was silent for a

burst through

composed face showed a hint of exasperation. "Vivian, don't

countering with determination, "Uncle, I don't need the Stewart

you really do understand

about Michael? What's Uncle planning

Dean was taken aback.

"What do you mean?"

"Uncle should also show Michael the door at Stewart Enterprise. That's only fair,

floored,

was

earth did she

locked that secret

"How did you know?"