Regan''s voice was calm and steady as he said, "I''ve been thinking a lottely.


    Isn''t it unfair to you? You are the treasured daughter of the Stewart family, yet you had to grow up facing hardships away from us. After much thought, I''ve decided it''s time for you to reim your ce in the family."


    In the past, such honesty from Regan would have thrilled Nathalie. But now, with the knowledge that her parents'' tragic fate might have been entangled in the Stewart family''s power struggles, she suspected that Regan''s offer of reconciliation wasn''t as genuine as it seemed.


    "Dustin, I''m ttered that you think so highly of me. But I have no interest in reiming my ce in the family."


    "Why not?" he asked.


    To throw him off, Nathalie replied with a hint of arrogance, "People spend their lives chasing fame and fortune. When I was young and struggling, if the Stewart family had showed up, I would have followed without a second thought. But now, I have a life I love my career, my husband, my cozy home. The Stewart family can''t offer me anything I don''t already have."


    Regan looked puzzled. "Nathalie, didn''t you post those things online to pressure the Stewart family into bringing you back?"


    Busy with her farm, Nathalie was clueless about the onlinemotion. "What posts?" she asked.


    Regan''s surprise was evident. "So, those posts weren''t from you."


    Nathalie quickly pulled out her phone, her eyes widening at the numerous posts about finding Lincoln. She was stunned.


    It dawned on her that Dustin''s sudden outreach wasn''t a heartfelt invite. He needed her to calm the storm brewing online.


    She couldn''t help but admire whoever was behind the posts-now everyone was searching for Lincoln, leaving the Stewart family unable to keep his whereabouts a secret.


    Sure enough, ament caught her eye: "I used to work at Petersburg Hospital. There''s a floor there where regr patients aren''t allowed, and family visits are restricted. In room 606, there''s a man who''s been there for twenty years, supposedly linked to the Stewart family. I suspect he''s the Lincoln you''re looking for."


    Anothermenter chimed in, "I heard Lincoln''s ident was no ident at all; someone wanted him dead. Now that his location is out, aren''t you worried someone might try to finish the job?"


    "Let''s head to Petersburg Hospital and demand they protect him," someone else suggested.


    Tears welled up in Nathalie''s eyes, but a smile soon spread across her face.


    Dustin''s voice broke through her thoughts, "Nathalie, don''t you want to see your father?"


    With newfound enthusiasm, Nathalie replied, "Yes, I do."


    Dustin responded, "Thene back to the Stewart family today."


    "Alright," Nathalie agreed.


    Hanging up, she dashed up to the study.


    "Nathan!" she called out.


    Hearing her voice, Nathan stepped out from the study, standing at


    top of the spiral staircase as


    Nathalie bounded toward helpe


    2, Ux


    with


    the energy of a bird in flight.


    He opened his arms wide, enveloping her in a tight embrace.


    "What''s got you so happy?" he asked.


    Nathalie beamed. "You won''t believe


    the


    asked me toe


    it Stewart family. I can finalet


    my dad openly."