Reborn From Oblivion

"Vivian, your mom hasn't visited me in ages. Did she remarry?" Lincoln asked suddenly, his voice low and his eyes clouded with sadness.

Nathalie hesitated, unsure of how to respond. The truth was much harsher than he could imagine.

"Dad, once you're better, I'll take you to see her," Nathalie replied, skirting the truth to keep him at ease.

Lincoln gave a small smile and let it be. After waking from a coma that lasted over two decades, he felt grateful and content to have such a loving daughter by his side.

Once Lincoln was asleep, Nathalie slipped out of the room and returned to the chilly silence of her home. Dominick was waiting for her in the living room.

"You're still up?" Nathalie asked, a bit surprised to find him there. "It's late."

Dominick handed her a manila folder. "Sis, here's what I dug up on most of the Stewart Corporation's shareholders. Especially those who seemed interested in you today. One of them is definitely fishy."

"Who?" Nathalie asked, instantly on guard.

"Michael."

Nathalie's face went pale. She'd suspected everyone else, but Michael had never crossed her mind. Her instincts needed sharpening.

Just because Ashley had warned her that Michael was the Stewart family's biggest rival, she had naively thought of him as an ally. How foolish.noveldrama

Running her fingers through her hair, Nathalie felt a wave of frustration. Dominick tried to soothe her, "Sis, times have changed. It's not your fault for not being wary of Michael. The crafty old Mr. Hawthorne planted Michael as a pawn ages ago. Michael's constant clashes with Regan made it seem like they were at odds. But if you dig deeper, you'll see Regan would never get rid of Michael. He's Dean's illegitimate son, which is why Regan supports him."

Nathalie was shocked. "Illegitimate son?"

Dominick nodded. "The Stewart household has always maintained a facade of family harmony and love. Even though Mrs. Stewart only had Ashley, they pretended to dote on her. But the truth is, Regan favors sons. To ensure the Stewart name continues, he pushed his son to find Surrogate mothers. With Dean's issues, Michael was the only one who came along, so Regan treasures him. The rumors of family discord are just smoke and mirrors."

Listening intently, Nathalie realized that life among the wealthy was like a grand drama. She needed to

Pel

toughen up, become colder and

more ruthless.

"Michael?" Nathalie murmured, a sly grin forming. "Regan's been honing Michael as a weapon for ten years. He plans to use him against me. So, how do I deal with this?"

Dominick offered, "Just say the word, and I can take care of him."

Nathalie shook her head. "Going all out and suffering losses ourselves should be the last option."

"Got a better idea?" Dominick asked.

"Why not turn their game against them?" Nathalie suggested.

Dominick laughed. "Great plan, but I'm worried your kind heart might stumble against those sly foxes."

Nathalie gave him a look. "You doubt me?"

Dominick quickly backtracked, "You're a powerhouse, sis. You handle things like a

pro. Let's roll with your plan."

Nathalie soaked in Dominick's praise and smiled, feeling satisfied.