MADDOCK HOME

Robert Bale sat in the living room at Melissa Maddock's home, waiting for her to return with a cup of coffee. Now that Felicia was resting, Robert had left briefly with Melissa so he could get some air. Now, he wanted to discuss Felicia's decision with her.

"Here you go," Melissa said, returning the living room with two cups of coffee.

She had one of the cups to Robert and he thanked her before taking a sip. Once Melissa was seated next to him, Robert set the cup down on the coffee table.

"How are you doing?" Melissa asked.

"Better," Robert said. "But…there's something I have to tell."

"What is it?"

"Felicia asked for a divorce."

"Oh my God," Melissa said. "Are you going to give her a divorce?"

"I don't know," Robert said. "I think I should fight it, for my family's sake."

"You're worried about Alec," Melissa said.

"I don't want him to have to find out about all of this…but it's inevitable," Robert said. "His mother has been sleeping with Michael Hanley for months, he has a right to know."

"I know you don't want to hurt your son, but I just have to say…there's only one other reason for you to fight the divorce."

"And what's that?"

"You're still in love with Felicia and you don't want to be with me," Melissa said. "And if that's true, then I'll step aside. But if you love me…please don't fight the divorce. Because I won't continue to be your mistress."



REYES HOME

Alec Bale knocked on the door to Jessica's house, waiting for someone to answer. He had gotten a message from Natalie Reyes, Jessica's mother, on his voicemail and now he was wondering if something was wrong with Jessica.

A few moments after he knocked, Natalie opened the door. She looked as if she had been crying. Confused, Alec entered the house and asked her what was wrong.

"Please tell me you've heard from Jessica," Natalie said.

"I'm sorry, I haven't," Alec said. "Why?"

"She's missing," Natalie replied. "Her bed, it hasn't been slept in. I don't think she came home at all last night."

Alec frowned. He knew exactly where Jessica had been last night, and now he was wondering if that's where Jessica currently was.

"Where's Jessica?" Alec demanded, ignoring Vince's apology.

"She's…she's with me," Vince lied. "I'll tell her about your mom."

"Can you put her on the —"

"We're really busy right now," Vince said. "I'll have her call you back later."

Vince hung up the phone before Alec could get out a response. Once he heard the phone on the other end click off, Alec angrily hung up the pay phone he was using. Jessica had been so quick to help Vince after his uncle died, but now when Alec's mother was fighting for her life…she couldn't even bother to talk to him.

Alec clenched his teeth. "They can both go to hell."

"I know why Jessica didn't come home last night," Alec said. "She spent the night at the Hanley mansion."

"Excuse me?" Natalie demanded. "Why would my daughter be at that place?"

"That's where Vince is staying now," Alec explained. "She was over there last night, so maybe she slept over."

"¡Dios mio! My daughter shouldn't be there," Natalie cried. "And not with Vincent, not after what he did to her!"



AARON MADDOCK'S APARTMENT

Aaron Maddock entered his penthouse and closed the door, making sure to lock it. He had become used to locking his door at all times since he was attacked in his apartment the other day by Hugh Rogers' thugs.

All because Aaron had lied to Hugh about Melissa's wealth to keep him from blackmailing her for her past, when she worked for Hugh in Fordham Bay while also working her way through law school. Aaron promised Melissa he would keep Hugh away from her and that's exactly what he was going to do.

Once he removed from his pocket the money he had taken out of his bank account, Aaron's cell phone began to ring. He set the money down on the coffee table and answered the phone. "Hello?"

"It's Hugh. I'll be at your apartment momentarily."

"How did you get this number?" Aaron demanded.

"Don't worry about it," Hugh said. "I'll be there to collect my money soon enough."

Hugh hung up the phone.



HANLEY HOME

Michael Hanley thanked his chauffeur as he climbed out of his limousine and started toward the front door of his mansion. Before he could reach the door, a cab pulled into his driveway. Michael turned to see who was in the cab.

"Michael!" Vanessa Phillips called out, climbing out of the cab and tossing money at the driver.

She hurried over to Michael where he met her with a quick embrace.

"Vanessa, you're back from California already?" Michael asked. "That's wonderful."

"Yeah, that's…have you been crying?" Vanessa asked.

"Excuse me?"

"It looks like you've been crying, I'm sorry," Vanessa said.

"No, don't be sorry," Michael said. "There was…there was an accident yesterday, involving Felicia Bale. She's in the hospital now."

"Oh, that's horrible," Vanessa said.

"Yes, it's — Vanessa, where's your child?" Michael demanded, suddenly realizing that Vanessa no longer appeared to be pregnant. "Don't tell me you already had the baby."

"I have," Vanessa smiled. "I gave birth to Eamon earlier this week in California, but he's at my house with Nikki now."

"Congratulations," Michael said. "But where's Ryan?"

"That's what I'm here to talk to you about," Vanessa said. "I want him fired."

"What?

"When you hear what I have to tell you about Ryan, the only option you'll have is to fire him immediately," Vanessa insisted. "Trust me."

"I love you, Melissa," Robert said. "You know that. I want to start a relationship with you."

"Then why fight the divorce?"

"I'll admit, part of me doesn't want to let her win," Robert said. "If anyone should be getting a divorce, it's me. Because she started the deception."

"But you already have divorce papers," Melissa said. "Remember? You told me you drew them up one night when you stayed at the office…when Felicia was with Michael."

"I know," Robert said.

"Then it is like you're getting the divorce," Melissa offered. "Maybe she's expecting you to fight it. Don't give her the satisfaction, Robert. Surprise her and give her the divorce papers the minute she's out of the hospital."

"You're right," Robert decided. "I have to end things with Felicia right away."

"Good," Melissa said, kissing Robert.

Robert returned her kiss, then stood without finishing his coffee. He checked his watch and realized that he needed to take care of some things down at the courthouse. "I'd better go. But I'll talk to you later, okay?"

"Of course," Melissa said. "I should probably stop by and see my cousin, Aaron, anyway. He's been acting odd lately. I saw him at the hospital earlier with bruises on his face."

"Okay," Robert said, lifting Melissa to her feet. "I love you, Melissa. Don't you ever forget that, okay?"

Melissa kissed him again. "Never."



HANLEY HOME

"Why exactly do you want Ryan fired?" Michael asked.

His mind immediately raced to one reason Vanessa might have to be upset with Ryan, which would have resulted in her going to Michael and attempting to get him fired from his job. Unfortunately, that situation would also incriminate Michael.

"I need you to take a look at something," Michael told him, sliding the folder across his desk. "Have a look."

Ryan slowly reached for the folder and picked it up. He opened it and took a brief look, not understanding what he was reading at first.

"What…what is this?" Ryan demanded.

"They're the actual results to Vanessa Watson's paternity test," Michael said. "And they prove without a doubt that you are not the father of her child."

Ryan's face went blank.

"And yet…the results behind those seem to prove the exact opposite…that you are the father of her child," Michael said, faking bewilderment. "Now, can you tell me how this happened?"

"I don't — I don't know what —"

"Oh, that's right," Michael exclaimed. "You switched the results of her paternity test, didn't you?"

But it was ridiculous to assume that Vanessa knew about that, because if she did, she certainly wouldn't be talking to Michael about it right now without throwing a punch or two in his direction.

"He slept with one of his students," Vanessa said. "Alexis Lopez."

"So that's why Ryan was so worried about her getting her memory back," Michael said.

"Exactly," Vanessa said. "He slept with her, Michael, and he apparently got her pregnant and forced her to get an abortion. Alexis interrupted out honeymoon to announce it."

"So she has her memory back?" Michael asked.

"Yes, she remembers everything about Ryan raping her."

"Did she mention anything else?"

"Besides Ryan forcing her to cover up their relationship?" Vanessa asked. "No, she didn't."

Michael felt incredibly relieved.

"Please, come inside," Michael said. "We can figure out how to deal with this situation."

Michael led Vanessa to the front door and unlocked it, letting her walk inside first. Once she was inside, he followed her and closed the door.



REYES HOME

"¡Dios mio! I am in great pain in America!" Antonio mocked.

He was standing outside of the Reyes house, spying on Alec and Natalie. Now that he knew Jessica had gone missing due to Ariel Hanley's presence in Marquette Cove, Antonio was keeping a close watch on everyone involved in Jessica's life to make sure they didn't go snooping around the Hanley mansion.

He knew exactly who Ariel was and where she was from, and knowing that she was here was working to his advantage. Antonio had to turn Vince against Alec and the rest of his friends anyway, so as long as Jessica was gone, Alec would believe Vince was responsible. It was perfect.

"Absolutely perfect," Antonio said.

"Yeah, way to have someone else do all your work for you," Zaliphyr muttered, from his place standing behind Antonio.

"Like you?" Antonio asked. "The guy who got killed and then had to have his work finished by someone else?"

"You're the one who killed me," Zaliphyr reminded him.

"Whatever," Antonio snapped. "I do not have time to — you never have time for anything, Antonio…wait a second."

Zaliphyr glanced at his reflection in a window and realized that he appeared to be Antonio. It was almost as if he had slipped into Antonio's body, like he had done a few days ago. "What the hell is going on here?"

Before Zaliphyr could react, he found himself staring at Antonio once again. Antonio frowned at him.

"Did you feel that?" Antonio asked.

"Um, feel what?"

"I don't know…I just got the chills," Antonio said. "Almost as if someone just walked over my grave."

Zaliphyr frowned. "You know I really hate that saying."

"Yeah, me too."

"I agree," Alec said. "Jessica shouldn't be anywhere near Vince. But look, maybe I'm wrong. I mean…Jessica would have called if she weren't coming home."

"Of course she would," Natalie said.

"I'll talk to Vince, find out where she is," Alec offered. "Maybe she got called into work early this morning."

"Thank you, Alec," Natalie said. "If you find out anything, please call me."

"No problem, Mrs. Reyes," Alec said.

As Alec exited the house, he noticed someone in the bushes. He walked over to the stranger and grabbed their arm, demanding to know who it was.

"Ow! Let go of me," Antonio snapped.

"Antonio? What the hell are you doing here?" Alec demanded.

Alec recognized Antonio from school, or what little classes he had deemed important enough to show up to. He also knew that Antonio liked to hang around with Vince a lot, so maybe he would know where Jessica was.

"I was looking for a ball…it flew out of my hands and into the bushes," Antonio insisted. "Let me go."

Alec released Antonio's arm. "Have you talked to Vince recently?"

"No, sorry," Antonio said. "I have to go."

Antonio hurried off before Alec could ask him any further questions. Frowning, Alec turned the bushes and gave them a quick observation. He didn't see a ball anywhere.



AARON MADDOCK'S APARTMENT

Aaron was checking to see if his cell phone still worked when there was a knock on his door. He opened the door and found Hugh standing in the doorway. Aaron reluctantly invited him inside.

"Thank you for alerting the doorman to my arrival," Hugh said.

"Look, here's your damn money," Aaron said, snatching his money from the coffee table. "Now leave me and my cousin alone."

"Sorry, I can't do that," Hugh said. "This will only be the first of many payments."

"What?" Aaron demanded. "You never said that!"

"It takes a lot of money to destroy evidence," Hugh said. "And there's certainly a lot of evidence regarding your cousin's sordid past."

"Got to hell," Aaron snapped.

"Now, you wouldn't want everyone in Marquette Cove to find out about your cousin being in bed with me, would you?" Hugh asked.

"That's disgusting," Aaron said. "My cousin has never slept with you."

Hugh rolled his eyes. "It's a figure of speech, doctor."

Melissa exited the building elevator once it reached Aaron's floor. She gripped her purse as she walked toward his penthouse, where she noticed the door was open. She wondered if he was about leave, and figured she was lucky to have caught him before he left.

When Melissa reached the door, she heard Aaron loudly arguing with someone. Rather than interrupt, Melissa decided to peek her head inside to see whom he was talking to. Melissa gasped when she recognized whom Aaron was talking to.

She ran back toward the elevator and stopped to take a deep breath. She couldn't believe it…her cousin was talking to Hugh Rogers, a man she never thought she would have to see again. But here he was in Marquette Cove. In her cousin's penthouse. Less than twenty feet away from her.

"Oh my God," Melissa cried. "This can't be happening to me!"