"I''m telling you, Nathan is Lincoln''s kid-born out of wedlock. Nobody in the family really treats him right."

Nathalie felt a pang in her chest. She''d always suspected Nathan was starved for affection. But she wasn''t about to let it slide. She shot Arthur a sharp look and said, “How can you call him illegitimate? Lincoln never married anyone, did he? Doesn''t that just mean he truly loved Morris''s mother? If he loved her that much, don''t you think he''d love her son too?"

Arthur hesitated, going quiet for a second.

"Maybe you''re right," he conceded, "but whenever I see Lincoln, he never seems all that warm toward Nathan."

Nathalie''s nails dug into her palm. "You''re just not seeing the whole picture. Some love runs deep-it''s just hidden," she argued, her voice tight. "What father doesn''t care about his own son?"

Arthur grew uneasy, her words hitting a little too close to home. If Lincoln truly cared for Morris, then surely he''d notice how Arthur treated him. Would Lincoln be disappointed in him? Lincoln was never one to show his feelings, after all.

After making her point, Nathalie leaned back and closed her eyes, pretending to rest.

The car pulled up to the Sharp family home, and immediately, a small army of housemaids swarmed out to greet the young master. One opened the car door for Mike, another grabbed his briefcase, a third helped him off with his coat, and someone else waited patiently with a pair of slippers.

Nathalie stared,pletely stunned by Mike''s pampered lifestyle.

"Wow, Mike, you''re really living the good life, huh?"

Arthur shot her a surprised look, eyebrow raised. "What, don''t tell me Ashley doesn''t have a bunch of staff waiting on her too?"

Nathalie grinned. "I can handle things myself, thanks. No need to waste good help." Sheughed and sauntered inside like she owned the ce.

It was as if she''d juste home.

Arthur scoffed. “Are you making fun of me?”

"Come on, this is your house, isn''t it? Howe you act like it''s mine?"

"You''re supposed to wait at the door while I go ask the elders if you cane in."fn1d54 Chapters first released on FindN0vel/fn1d54

Nathalie stopped in her tracks and looked back at him, eyebrow arched. "Do your friends have to go through all that trouble when they visit?"

Arthur replied, "My friends? Of course not. But you''re not my friend."

Nathalie just smiled. "That''s fine. I''m not here for you anyway. Morris is the one I''m visiting-we''re good friends."

Arthur''s face turned red with irritation. "You give Morris way too much credit. He''s barely epted around here, and you''re just an outsider!"

Nathalie''s eyes went cold. "Even you, as the illegitimate son, get to invite your own friends over. Why can''t the

real eldest son do the same 2

going in, whether you like it or not."  s

With that, she marched straight inside, not even ncing back.

She was using Morris''s name on purpose, being bold on his behalf She wanted to see if the Sharps would give Morris the freedom he deserved. And if they didn''t-well, she''d make sure he got it.  s

Out in the garden courtyard, the family matriarch was having tea with a few of her grandkids. Morris was there too, and the olddy just couldn''t help herself.

"Nathan, your father tells me you turned down the maids'' help?"

Morris answered calmly, "I''m just naturally morefortable on my own. Having people hovering around makes me uneasy."

She eyed him with doubt. "But you''re a grown man, and your leg isn''t in great shape. Can you really take care of yourself?"

Morris offered a small, wry smile. "I think I''m managing just fine."

She shook her head. "No, you look pale and skinnier than ever. Clearly, you''re not looking after yourself. Starting today, I''m sending Judith and Eden to your room-they''ll take care of you from now on."  s