When the gatekeeper came to report, Lincoln''s temper red. "Who does Jules think he is? Just stroll in here whenever he wants? When he let his people push my daughter around, did he ever think the Stewart Estate would m its doors in his face one day?"

    Still fuming, Lincoln barked, "Go tell him to get lost. I don''t want to see him anywhere near here. And those gifts he brought? Let him haul them right back out. The Stewart family doesn''t need his handouts."

    The gatekeeper hurried off.

    At the gate, he ryed Lincoln''s message to Jules, adding a bit of spice for good measure. "Mr. Jules, my master mes you for siding with the wrong people and letting his daughter get bullied. He says the Stewart Estate is closed to you for good. And those gifts? He doesn''t want them. You''d better just leave."

    Jules scoffed, just as stubborn. "Who cares about getting into the Stewart Estate? Tell him I brought these gifts for my son. He can''t stop me from taking my own kid home, can he?"

    The gatekeeper was left dumbfounded.

    He ran back inside, this time heading straight for Morris. "Mr. Morris, Mr. Vincent says he''s here for you. He wants to bring you home."

    But Morris didn''t seem to hear him; he just stared nkly up the stairs, those usually enchanting eyes now streaked with red.

    Lincoln was fit to burst, mming his hand on the table. "That old fox Jules-what a piece of work. When Nathan and Nathalie were on his turf, he just let his cronies walk all over them. Now that they''ve left the Vincent Corporation, he suddenly wants to y the doting father? Who does he think he''s fooling?"

    He turned to Morris, voice tense. "Nathan, don''t you dare go back. Leaving now would be letting him off way too easy."

    Morris kept his gaze on the uppernding, his voice barely above a whisper. "Lincoln, I''m afraid I have to go."

    Lincoln shot up and stormed outside. "If you''re going, at least make Jules sweat for it. Otherwise, he''ll never appreciate this son who just fell into hisp."

    Outside, Lincoln stood with his hands on his hips, looking every

    the furious head of the family feet

    "Jules, how do you have the nerve to show up here? Aren''t you ashamed?"

    Jules, knowing he was in the wrong, just grinned sheepishly. "Come on, Lincoln, I''m really sorry. Your niece was treated badly at mypany. I owe you both."

    f.n

    Lincoln''s face reddened in anger. "So now you remember she was wronged? You always show up after the fact, don''t you? I don''t know what happened while I wasid up, but you''ve turned into a world-ss two-face. If I didn''t know better, I''d call you a chameleon."

    Jules offered a bottle of water. "Are you done yelling? You sound thirsty. Here, have a drink."

    Lincoln rolled his eyes and tossed the bottle aside. "Who needs your water? You always took Mick''s side over my daughter. We''re done, Jules."

    Jules fell quiet, his usual smirk gone. "You''re right, I owe your niece an apology. But Lincoln, could you at least hear me out?"

    "Fine," Lincoln huffed.

    He waved for a chair, plopped down, and crossed his arms. "I''ll listen, but don''t expect me to go easy on you."

    Jules spoke slowly, sincerity in his voice. "You know, until today, I had no idea I even had a child.

    Mick-he''s always been clever, polite quick on the uptake. For

    years, I thought he''d be my heir, so I

    put everything I had into raising

    him."