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"Is it done?" Robert demands.
"Yes, it's done," Valerie says.
Their plan was a stroke of genius, if Valerie is allowed to toot her own horn. While in prison, when her brother Michael turned his back on her and refused to help her get parole, and her sister Felicia began to live in Valerie's home and get cozy with Valerie's husband. Of all the backhanded things to do to a family member, Michael and Felicia had crossed the line. They'd formed a bond that once belonged to Valerie and Michael.
And Valerie knew this when she approached Robert. He'd always resented Felicia's relationship with Michael, and when they were revealed to be brother and sister, it solidified that bond. So the only option to reclaim their lives... bring Felicia out of Michael's orbit and strip her of the shares in Hanley she received for being one of Kevin Hanley's offspring... was this plan.
"Once they find out, we wait a bit," Valerie says. "Then we have a court order to take those Hanley shares away from Felicia."
"But I don't have any shares," Robert says. "Aaron saw to that. And Felicia helped. I was going to use Melissa's inheritance to buy those leftover shares so we could oust Michael from the company."
"We'll worry about that when we get to it," Valerie says. "All that matters is Kristin did her part. She came up with that blood marker thing or whatever so that it would lead Simon to the conclusion that Felicia isn't Michael's sister. No one knows the truth but us."
Robert grins. "I do have to admit I love this a little bit."
"See? You and I, we're not so different," Valerie says, resting a hand on Robert's shoulder.
"That's where you're wrong, Valerie," Robert insists. "You might be doing this for pure revenge, but I'm doing this to help Felicia. Getting her away from Michael's clutches is going to be the best thing I could ever do for her."
To say that Felicia's life and that of her family's was turned into a tailspin upon the reveal that she was a Hanley would be an egregious understatement.
But this could very well fix everything. Make things right once again. Simon knows more than anyone what it's like to join the Hanleys as an outsider. The freedom he feels now, it's incredible. Knowing he isn't chained to a family with no regard for their own blood, let alone the people they regularly interact with on a daily basis.
It troubles Simon that his son will always be connected to the Hanleys, but he hopes that in some way, he'll be able to help Matt before he ends up in prison like his mother or a sociopath like his uncle Michael.
He picks up his cell phone and dials Felicia's number, his fingers trembling with every button push. As he waits impatiently, he watches his lab technician Kristin. She seems overtly tense, as if she's taken on Simon's anxiety herself. But he's incredibly grateful that she discovered this... this could mean everything to pursuing a relationship with Felicia.
No longer feeling guilty over betraying her sister, or a family that hardly cares about her, Felicia would be free to love Simon. And he in turn would be free to love her.
He gets her voicemail.
That's fine. He'll just tell her everything at the wedding. How beautifully ironic.
PRISON DE PARIS
PARIS, FRANCE
As if things weren't already tense enough in the room, the addition of Ryan Phillips to the proceedings has not made things easier. He stands adjacent to the small, shoddily crafted table that Vanessa Watson sits at with Sean Moore. Across the table is Marcus Vicman, who very much recognizes Ryan and is surprised to see him in the same room as Vanessa. But not as surprises as Vanessa herself. She hasn't talked to him in years, hasn't even seen him in longer. Not since she left Marquette Cove and walked out of his life with their son, Eamon.
"This is sufficiently awkward," Ryan says, making the announcement himself.
"I think we need a different adjective," Vanessa says. "What are you doing here, Ryan?"
Ryan shrugs. "I've been following you."
"Still the same creep, I see," Marcus mutters.
Ryan shoots him a pointed glare. "I'm sorry... who's the one arrested for murder?"
Marcus remains silent. Ryan sighs wearily and unfolds his arms. He can read the room well enough to know that if he doesn't explain himself soon, he might end up in shackles himself.
"I came back to Marquette Cove the night of the hospital disaster," Ryan explains. "I needed to see Alexis about something."
"Here we go again," Vanessa says, shaking her head in disdain.
"That's neither here nor there. What's important is that I went to see her and instead saw you. And I found out you'd been living in town for weeks again, without anyone knowing. Luckily, we were seeing the same private investigator and I was able to break into her files and find out what you and Sean were up to," Ryan says. "So I followed you here to France. Because I think I can help."
"How could you possibly help?" Marcus demands.
"I'm very helpful," Ryan says, an arrogant twinge hanging on his words. "Not that the woman who kept me from my son for years would know very much about that, however."
Vanessa ignores Ryan's comments. "Help in what way?"
"When I left town, I was living in New Orleans, doing investigative journalism," Ryan continues. "Post-Katrina, I began to investigate an influx of organized crime that actually led me to meet the mother of your soon-to-be-child, Sean."
"Denise?" Sean asks.
"Her first husband was killed in a mob hit, I believe," Ryan says. "But the odd thing is... Denise isn't the only Marquette Cove connection to organized crime in New Orleans that I've found." He turns his gaze on Marcus. "Why don't you go ahead and tell everyone how you've been mixed up in the mob for years, Marcus?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Marcus balks.
"Come on now," Ryan says, grinning weakly. "Of course you do. You also know what my next question is going to be, don't you?"
"Shut up, Ryan."
"You killed Denise Price's husband, didn't you? Just like you killed Vanessa's sister."
ST. THOMAS CHURCH
Denise Price takes a seat to allow herself to rest before she has to stand for the rest of the wedding ceremony. Nearby, Felicia Bale paces back and forth, threatening to dig a hole in the floor with her heels.
"Felicia, why don't you have a seat?" Denise suggests.
"I can't have a seat," Felicia insists. "I have to make sure that this wedding goes perfectly. I am extremely devoted to this wedding."
Denise nods, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. "Sure."
There is a brief knock at the door. Denise glances up just in time to see Kane Li poke his head in. "How's my mother doing?"
"She's doing fine," Denise says. "How's Aaron?"
Kane shrugs. "I think he's fine. Kyle is with him right now."
"Kyle?" Felicia asks. "Where's Simon?"
"He had to take off for a moment, something about the clinic," Kane answers. "I don't know."
"That sounds troubling," Felicia mutters.
Before the conversation can continue any further, Rebecca Li emerges from her tiny dressing room, wearing a long, cream-colored dress. The fabric hugs her figure tightly, except in the areas where silky fabric flows from her waist. She smiles at everyone in the room, wiping a smile tear from her eyes.
To Felicia and Denise, they appear to be tears of joy.
But Rebecca and Kane know differently.
