It was revealed his real mother was Madeline's sister, Liesl Obrecht (Kathleen Gati), and his father wasn't Victor Cassadine (then played by Thaao Penghlis). That's when a news article lured his evil father, Cesar Faison (Anders Hove), out of hiding, and he took Maxine hostage. Nathan attempted a rescue, but his father fatally shot him by accident.