"I get it—you''re loyal to your own."

    "But when I show loyalty, you act like I''m wrong."

    "Mick''s the CEO at Vincent Corporation. He''s got his hands on every secret we have—good, bad, all of it. If I dump Mick now and he turns on me, he could use what he knows to tear the wholepany down overnight."

    "Lincoln, I''m not young anymore. I couldn''t care less about power these days. But I owe something to the old crew who built thispany with me. I can''t just leave them hanging."

    "Mick''s got his ws, sure, but for the sake of thepany, I can''t just cut him loose. We need to think things through."

    Lincoln clicked his tongue. "If your eyes are so useless, why not donate them? There''s a world full of talented young guys-how''d you wind up picking a guy like that for your sessor?"

    Jules kept quiet, letting Lincoln rant as much as he wanted.

    When Lincoln finally wore himself out, he just felt bored-Jules never fought back, never even talked back. It was no fun at all.

    "So how did you figure out Nathan''s your son?" Lincoln asked, steering the conversation back.

    Jules looked at him, finally showing some fire. "Lincoln, after everything between us, you kept Nathan''s identity from me? Watching me and my own son drift apart -was that entertaining for you?"

    Lincoln threw up his hands. "Oh,e on! Don''t pin this on me. I didn''t even know Nathan was your son with Kelly. If he doesn''t want to acknowledge his own family, how is that my problem?"

    Jules looked defeated. "Why doesn''t he want to ept me?"

    Lincoln shrugged. "Maybe he just doesn''t want a father with no heart."

    Jules shot him a look.

    At that moment, Morris rolled in quietly, regal in his wheelchair, his presence distant and refined.

    Both Jules and Lincoln went silent, their argument dying on their lips.

    Morris slowly reached up and took off his sunsses.

    Jules stiffened, stunned as if he''d turned to stone.

    Lincoln blurted out, "Nathan, so the

    son you never take off those

    is because you look

    Just li

    like

    Morris said, calm as ever, "Lincoln, wasn''t exing. My eyes can''t h

    My eyes can''t handle

    He slipped his

    s back on. Conte ver

    é

    Jules felt a sharp pain in his chest. "Nathan, what happened to your eyes?"

    Lincoln snorted. "Some dad you are. You missed almost his whole life. Maybe try being there for him now."

    Jules pursed his lips. "If you can''t say something helpful, Lincoln, just don''t. My boy''s still young-I''ve got plenty of time to make up fordost

    20

    Prs."

    Lincoln muttered, "You don''t have as much time as you think."

    "Lincoln-" Morris cut him off.

    Lincoln stormed out, face sour.

    Jules stepped in front of Morris, eyes red, voice trembling. "Son, I''m sorry. I messed up."

    Morris sighed. "Let''s just go."

    Jules lit up, hardly daring to believe it. "You''re really willing toe home with me?"

    Morris turned, his gaze lingering on the empty staircase.

    He let his eyes wander up to the study.

    Nathalie and Almos were in there. When she finally stepped out, her life would never be the same.

    He''d already intruded on her world long enough.

    "Yeah," he said, nodding.

    For a second, Jules was stunned by how easily Morris agreed, but he quickly recovered and wheeled Morris away.

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!