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Two photo albums lie on the couch as Leslie sits down, both open to photos of her wedding receptions. Her first wedding to Sean Moore and the second from her wedding to Michael Hanley. While nothing could match the feeling she felt when she first walked down the aisle hand-in-hand with Sean...she knows that it would be a lie to claim that she didn't feel the same feelings of joy when she finally married Michael.
At first, she'd always thought he was responsible for her husband's death. But with Derek revealing his true colors and all but admitting he'd killed Sean, Vincent moving into Michael's mansion, and growing close to Michael herself after her home burnt to the ground... she developed true feelings for Michael.
Feelings that she slaps herself for now that she knows the truth about Michael and how he'd manipulated her for years.
"Is it safe to come in here?"
Leslie glances up and sees her son, Vincent Moore, entering from the foyer. He wears a pained expression on her face that rivals her own. Clearly, the stress of this wedding has affected more than her.
"Yes, it's safe," Leslie says. "Where have you been?"
"Finals," Vince answers. "I've got a bunch of studying still left to do. Surprisingly, I've got a lot done today...the house is empty."
"Robert is in court. I wish I could be there...but I've got this wedding to plan," Leslie says. "It's unfortunate that I'm planning a wedding for the man trying to take everything Melissa left to Robert away from him."
"And his son," Vince reminds her.
Leslie nods. "And Hunter. Thank God he's been sleeping all day."
"You know...I'm fine living here," Vince says. "You don't have to work on that bastard's wedding."
Leslie laughs. "Vincent, watch your mouth."
"What? Who cares if Akilah is whining. She's always whining. And as soon as she goes to school, she won't even be around."
"We should have our own home again," Leslie says. "It's something I need to do."
"Whatever," Vince says, shrugging. "Speaking of my wonderful sister, where is she?"
"I sent her to apologize to Gabrielle at the boutique."
Vince bursts into laughter. "I'm sure that went —"
Vince is interrupted by the sound of the doorbell ringing. He steps back into the foyer and opens the door, surprisingly enough finding his sister on the doorstep, drenched from head to toe. Vince looks her up and down, an amused look on his face.
"Sorry, we don't need any Girl Scout Cookies," Vince says, slamming the door in her face.
"Robert."
He turns to find Darren finally striding down the hall, briefcase in hand. He stops at Robert, setting the briefcase on a bench near the door. "Sorry I'm late."
"It's fine," Robert says. "I'm just nervous."
"Don't be," Darren says. "You've got nothing to worry about. There's absolutely no way that Aaron can lay claim to anything Melissa left you in her will. You were her husband."
Robert nods. "I know that...but Aaron is slippery, to say the least. Who knows what the hell he's cooked up."
"I think you'll find that he's got an empty kitchen."
Robert sits down, sighing heavily. "I can't let him take everything away from me. Everything Melissa left...it's all I have. The house. Hunter."
"He won't get your son either," Darren insists. "And even if he did, somehow, take everything else. He can't take away the life you had with Melissa."
"Can't he?"
Darren takes a seat next to Robert.
"He's already taken away Felicia. Alec. The respect of my friends and former colleagues. I can still hear the whispers everywhere I go in town," Robert says. "People will always think the worst. Always wonder if what Alec said was true."
"And it is."
Robert and Darren look up to see Aaron fast approaching. "Alec told me the truth about those nights you crept into his bedroom and violated him. You can deny them all you want."
Darren instinctively grabs Robert's arm, keeping his uncle from leaping to his feet and kicking Aaron's head in. "Just ignore him."
"Changing sides so quickly?" Aaron asks, before leaning in toward his adversaries. "You're going to lose everything, Robert. And I can't think of anyone who deserves it more."
MARQUETTE COVE COUNTY PRISON
Valerie Holden doesn't deserve this.
She's never claimed to be perfect, never claimed to be a "good" person. But to have not a single person be there for her on the day of her first parole hearing is more than cruel. It's embarrassing.
"Ms. Holden...we can't wait much longer," Nathan Orlando, Valerie's attorney says.
"Someone has to be showing up," Valerie insists, staring out from her seat toward the door and the end of the room.
She can't believe that no one has bothered to show up.
Not Matt.
Not Simon.
Not even anyone as a witness to keep Valerie in prison.
She can't imagine why Felicia isn't here to continue her grudge against Valerie for making her believe she'd caused Melissa Bale's miscarriage. Or Aaron for terrorizing his cousin for so long.
"We need to begin," Grant Pine, the head of the parole board announces. "There are other cases."
"I'm sure someone's on their way," Valerie says, batting an eyelash.
"At any rate, we will proceed," Grant says.
Nathan nods, taking a seat next to Valerie. "Don't worry."
"You think I'll be getting out?"
"No," Nathan says glumly. "But there's always the appeal."
FORMER THOMAS HOME
Blake Thomas descends the stairs into the basement, downing a large glass of iced tea to keep himself cool from the house's unbearable heat. The foreclosed, boarded up house was the only one on the block without air conditioning. Blake would much rather be back at Darren's apartment, but he has this responsibility.
He has Chris.
Blake's ex-boyfriend stirs on the couch, his eyes glowing bright red. The very sight of Chris fills Blake with old memories, memories that can never be revisited. Not now that Chris is...this thing. This demon. This monster.
And it's Blake's fault.
All his problems began when he made the decision to kill Damon Johnson and bring his brother back to life. That day is still so much of a blur. He'd been visited by a ghost he thought was Nicholas Brennan, one of his former classmates.
He was told that his brother hadn't died peacefully. That he was burning in hell and needing saving from the only person who could.
So Blake took a life to save his brother's, and when he learned that he'd been manipulated into doing so...he was horrified. But he was trapped. His brother was back alive, he was lost, confused...Blake had to help him. Even though doing so plunged Blake's life and the lives of his friends and family into their own version of hell.
And now here Blake is doing the same thing with Chris. Someone he loved that should be dead. But isn't.
"Hungry," Chris hisses.
"I know," Blake says, approaching the couch. "But there's a slight...there's a problem."
Chris stares at him blankly.
"With the hospital gone, and the clinic opening...there's not really enough blood for me to..." Blake's voice trails off. "I don't really feel right doing..."
"Feed me," Chris says softly, his face quivering in pain. "I...I can't...feel..."
"I'm sorry," Blake says. "I just don't know what to do! I want to help you, but you're not getting any better. And I can't keep coming here like this."
Chris turns away, staring off into the distance. His entire body is shaking now. He needs to feed. Needs blood. Needs something to keep him alive. And Blake knows it. He can sense it.
"Chris..." Blake begins. "I don't want to lose you again. I still..."
Blake marches toward the couch, a steely resolve on his face. He sits next to Chris, pulling his ex back around to face him. "So feed."
Chris is bewildered. He doesn't understand what Blake is saying.
"Drink," Blake says, craning his neck. "Drink from me."
BALE HOME
"Stop being a jerk," Akilah says, shoving the front door open and pushing her brother out of her way. "I need to get into dry clothes."
Vince laughs, holding up hands to defend himself. "I'm sorry! Why the hell are you wet anyway?"
"Your damn girlfriend is why!"
"I have a girlfriend?"
"Jessica," Akilah says. "She got into a fight with Farrah and I got shoved into the fountain in Emerald Square."
Vince fights the urge to double over in laughter. "Wow."
"Why are you wet?" The question echoes as Leslie emerges from the living room, bridal magazines in hand. In the time it takes Akilah to open her mouth, however, Leslie shakes her head in disdain and wanders toward the stairs. "I don't even want to know. Go to your damn room."
"I can't wait to start college and get away from the witch," Akilah mutters.
"I heard that," Leslie intones from the top of the stairwell.
"Better get back in your cabin, Harriet," Vince mocks.
"My phone got ruined," Akilah says, ignoring him. "I hate your stupid friends."
"I'm sure your phone is fine," Vince says, snatching it from Akilah's hands. "Lemme see."
He tries to turn the phone on, but it won't work. Without warning, he throws the against the wall. Akilah squeals in horror, rushing to grab her phone from the floor.
"What the hell is wrong with you!?"
Vince shrugs. "I do it to my phone all the time."
"You're aware we don't have Michael to buy us replacement phones anymore, right?"
Akilah tries turning on her phone, and this time, it surprisingly works. Vince grins widely as the bright "power on" light appears on her Blackberry.
"Told you," Vince says.
Akilah's phone returns to the video she recorded of her fight with Farrah and Jessica. As Vince cranes his neck to get a view, he is none too pleased to see Kane Li amongst them.
"What's he doing there?" Vince demands.
"He was with Jessica," Akilah says.
"He's been hanging out with her a lot," Vince says. "I don't think I like it."
Akilah rolls her eyes. "Oh boy."
Vince folds his arms and narrows his eyes at his sister. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means, are you going to be all crazy again like when you tried to break up Jessica and Alec?"
"No," Vince insists. "I'm practically an adult. I'm too old for games like that."
"Good," Akilah says. "Because —"
"This time will be different," Vince continues. "Because I'm going to have help. From my favorite sister in the world."
"I really hope Denise is having a girl," Akilah says, her voice trailing off as Vince drags her off into the living room.
MARQUETTE COVE COURTHOUSE
"Don't worry about him," Darren says, pushing open the doors to the courtroom and leading Robert inside. "He's all talk. There's absolutely nothing he can do besides trash your character. And let's face it, as much of an asshole as you've been in the past, that's not grounds for breaking someone's will."
"I never thought Aaron would succeed in tearing me apart from my family, but he did that, didn't he?"
Darren sets up his desk at the defendant's desk, pulling out a chair and taking a seat. "I'm your family. And I'm right here with you."
"Thank you," Robert says. "That means a lot."
"Again with the sappy whining," Aaron says, taking a seat himself at the plaintiff table. "I hope you brought tissues."
"There's no need for you to be an overbearing prick," Darren shoots back.
He can't believe he ever sided with Aaron when Alec's accusations were first made, and he still can't believe that Felicia still trusts this man. He's been nothing but the catalyst for the destruction of their family for the past year, whether or not he had anything to do with Alec's problems.
"The court will come to order," the bailiff announces. "All rise for the honorable Judge Sullivan."
Judge Sullivan enters the courtroom, signaling for everyone to have a seat as he reaches his bench. He gets the court in order and calls for the first witness. As Robert and Darren turn toward Aaron to await his first witness, they are both stunned when Aaron's lawyer rises and asks if they are able to wait until the witness arrives.
"This is preposterous," Robert snaps, raising his voice loudly. "He's the one who's suing me! He should have his goddamn witnesses!"
Judge Sullivan bangs a gavel to shut Robert up, but before he can speak, the door to the courtroom flies open and Michael Hanley hurries inside.
"Sorry I'm late," Michael says. "I was held up momentarily. But everything's fine.."
"Michael's the witness?" Robert laughs. "This is a joke."
"I'm not the witness," Michael says, taking a seat behind Robert. "I drove the witness. The witness who knows one simple reason why Melissa Bale's husband has no right to her fortune."
Robert rises to his feet, glaring directly at Michael. "Oh really? What's that?"
"Because he's still married to me," Felicia Bale says coldly, entering the courtroom and knowing full well that all eyes are now on her.
