Stefano DiMera stood in his lavish living room, studying his daughter with an intensity that made her skin crawl. “Alexandra, darling, thank you for coming. I know how busy you are. Please come in.
”
Lexie hesitated at the threshold. “Is Vivian upstairs? ”
“No, she is out with Celeste. I wanted to talk to you privately.
”
“About what? ”
“I want you to tell me the truth about Vivian. I want you to be totally honest with me. ”
Her stomach twisted.
She knew exactly what he was asking, and she knew exactly what he had done. Across town, Vivian sat with Bo Brady, a dangerous plan taking shape. Bo leaned forward, his voice low. “Give away these paintings before you die?
Because it will be the beginning of the end for DiMera. We’ll find out why he transformed Hope into Gina, and then I’ll terminate the monster. ”
Vivian’s laugh was bitter and hollow. “But I don’t understand how giving away the paintings now would force his hand.
If I give away all the paintings, I’ll be double-crossing Stefano. I’m a dead woman. Not that I’m not dying anyway, but I’d really not like to die before my time. Every day is precious to me.
”
“Wouldn’t you like to reconcile with Victor, your one true love? Wouldn’t that make it worth the gamble? ”
“Victorin? ” Her eyes flickered with something like hope.
“How do you suppose Stefano’s going to react if I give everything away? ”
“If he wants these paintings for himself, he’s not going to let you give anything away. But I am willing to bet there is something in this house that he’s determined to hang on to at all costs. ”
Vivian thought for a long moment, her fingers tracing patterns in the air.
Finally, she nodded. “I’ll do whatever it takes for you to bring down that man’s reign of terror once and for all. I think I know a perfect way to do that. ”
Meanwhile, the custody hearing had exploded into chaos.
The judge’s gavel had slammed down, her voice ringing through the courtroom. “Mr. Roberts, you may take custody of your son immediately. ”
Austin shot to his feet, his face red with fury.
“Your Honor, this is not only a terrible mistake. This is a dangerous mistake. ”
“The decision is final. I trust that the parties in this dispute will work toward reconciliation, so that they may share in and contribute to William’s well being.
This hearing is adjourned. ”
The bailiff’s voice cut through the murmuring crowd. “All rise. ”
Lucas grabbed Nicole’s arm, pulling her close.
“Where’d you go just now? ”
“I needed some air. ”
“Come here for a second. I just want to thank you.
I couldn’t have won without you. ”
Austin pushed through the crowd toward them, but Mickey blocked his path. “Austin! Austin, don’t.
Austin! ”
Sami stood in the corner, her world collapsing around her. She clung to her father, tears streaming down her face. “Dad, this just can’t be happening.
Eric gave Nicole an engagement ring. She told him how happy she was. She told him she loved him. I just don’t understand.
”
Roman held her tight. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I’m so, so sorry. ”
“God, I’ve lost my baby.
”
Caroline tried to comfort Eric, but he refused to accept what he had just witnessed. “She’s still in love with me. I know she is. Lucas was desperate to get custody of Will, so he pressured Nicole into marrying him.
That’s all it is. I will straighten this whole thing out, and Nicole and I will be fine. ”
“Dear, I wonder if you do know her,” Caroline said softly. Eric’s jaw tightened.
“This is not about Nicole being in love with Lucas, okay? Sami is the one that I’m worried about. ”
But Sami was beyond worry. She was consumed by rage and grief.
“They can’t do this. Austin had everything in his favor. He even had Carrie’s support. I can’t believe I did this.
I underestimated Kate Roberts, and that is how I failed my little boy. ”
Roman tried to reason with her. “Sami, it’s not going to do a damn bit of good to beat yourself up. ”
“No, Dad, you’re right.
We have to talk to Mickey. We have to get him to call the judge and get her to reverse her decision, convince her that Nicole only married Lucas so that she could help him get custody of Will. ”
Lucas wasn’t done gloating. He cornered Austin, his grin wide.
“You don’t deserve Will. ”
“Really? Not what the judge thinks. You conned her.
And as for you, I can’t believe you’d do this to Eric. How much money did they pay you to come here and perjure yourself? ”
Kate stepped between them. “You have no right to attack her that way.
It was Nicole’s decision to marry Lucas, and you must accept that. ”
“The hell I must, not when my son’s life is at stake. ”
Lucas laughed. “What are you talking about, your son?
He’s my son. Get that through your thick head. And as for perjury and conning the judge, isn’t that what you guys have been doing all day long? I know you and Carrie don’t have a happy marriage, or any marriage, for that matter.
”
Carrie grabbed Austin’s arm. “Let’s go, Austin. Come on. ”
“No, don’t go anywhere,” Lucas called after them.
“Austin’s pounded me with questions. I ask him one question, he can’t answer it? I notice you’re not wearing your wedding band, Austin. Why is that?
”
Austin’s voice was ice. “None of your damn business. ”
“Well, there it is. I rest my case.
”
Nicole tugged at Lucas’s sleeve. “Can we just get out of here? ”
“We got to wait for Gregory to bring out the custody papers, then we’re going to pick up my son. And if Will isn’t at the Brady Pub when Nicole and I get there, I’m going to track you down.
I’m going to make sure you get the cell right next to Sami. ”
Austin turned away, his shoulders slumped. “I let Sami down. And Eric—man, he must be going through hell right now.
He put all his trust and his faith in Nicole, and just like that, it’s over. She betrays him with another man. ”
Back at the DiMera mansion, Stefano pressed Lexie harder. “I need to know.
I want you to tell me how long Vivian has to live. ”
Lexie shook her head. “Father, honestly, I can’t make that kind of prediction. ”
“Then examine her again as soon as possible.
Get the reports from the clinic in Switzerland. I must see them. ”
“I’ll have to discuss this with Vivian. ”
“Why?
Vivian is my wife. I have a right to know about her condition. ”
Lexie’s patience snapped. “Excuse me, but you weren’t so concerned when she first got sick, when her mood swings became so extreme that she humiliated herself in public.
You were certainly aware that she wasn’t herself, that she was virtually losing her mind—but you let it go on. You let her suffer needlessly. You refused to get her medical attention. ”
“Are you saying that I am responsible for Vivian’s condition?
”
“I’m just saying I think it’s time that you were totally honest with me. ”
Stefano’s eyes narrowed. “Why are you so angry, Alexandra? Could it be that Celeste has finally succeeded in turning you against me?
”
“Mom doesn’t want me involved with you in any way. That’s a fact. But I make my own judgments about people. Besides, I’d have to be a total fool not to have seen the way you’ve controlled people in the past.
”
“So? I worked very hard to turn my life around, to become an honorable man. I thought you were one of the few people that believed that. ”
Lexie’s thoughts screamed the truth she couldn’t say aloud.
*Honorable? You almost killed Vivian, and now you’re lying to my face. Damn you, Father. *
She forced herself to speak carefully.
“I wanted to believe that, but the situation with Vivian—”
“The situation with Vivian is very tragic, and it hurts me. It hurts me deeply. ” He gestured for her to sit. “You see, my love for Vivian is very special.
She’s brought pleasure to my life, fun. When the first signs of her disease started showing up, I simply refused to believe it. I did not want to give in to this kind of thinking. Even when you gave me your diagnosis, I still would not admit it to myself.
But now—now finally I’ve absorbed the terrible truth, and I’m willing to do anything. I am willing to move heaven and earth to help her recover. If there’s anything that you may suggest, anything at all—any doctors you could recommend—you know that money is not an object. I just want her to recover and lead a happy life.
”
Lexie stood, her voice flat. “I have to get to the hospital. I’ll call you. ”
As she left, Stefano picked up the phone.
“Rolf, listen, there’s something I want you to do for me. Yes, Alexandra was here. No, she did not tell me how long Vivian has to live. She was acting very strangely.
It seems like she was keeping something from me. Go find Vivian and Celeste and find out what they are up to. ”
The doorbell rang. Stefano frowned.
“I have to go. Someone’s at the door. ”
He opened it to find a battered young man on his doorstep. “Well, you must be the legendary Stefano DiMera.
”
” I am Stefano DiMera. And you are? ”
“Vivian’s nephew—Nicholas Alamain. ”
Stefano’s expression didn’t change.
“Vivian is not here right now. ”
“Then I assume she’s in the hospital. I know she’s dying. ”
“How do you know that?
”
“All that matters is that I spend a little time with my aunt before—”
Stefano stepped aside. “Come in, come in. Your aunt is out right now with a friend, but she should be back very soon. You look as if you’ve had a bad day yourself.
Did you get into some kind of a fight before you got here? ”
“I ran into a little trouble on the pier. ”
“Ah, I see. Eliana, would you take Mrs.
DiMera’s nephew to the guest room? ”
“Thank you, Uncle Stefano. ”
The moment Nicholas was gone, Stefano’s face darkened. “What the hell is he doing here?
”
The front door opened again. Vivian stepped in, and Stefano’s expression shifted instantly. “Oh, darling, you’re back. Where did you go?
Where’s Celeste? ”
“She dropped me off. She had a few errands to run. ”
“Well, I have something to tell you.
”
Vivian smiled, something sharp hiding behind it. “Really? Well, I have something to tell you. ”
Elsewhere, Sami had lost control completely.
She stood in the prison visiting room, screaming, throwing everything within reach. A guard approached. “What’s going on here? ”
Roman stepped in front of her.
“It’s all right. It’s okay. Just leave us alone. I’ll take care of it.
”
The guard shook his head. “Sir, I’m sorry. I am going to have to report this. ”
Sami’s voice was shrill.
“Oh, fine, you just go ahead and report it, okay? You think you can do anything worse to me than what’s already happened? ”
Roman pleaded with the guard. “Look, I’m asking you to let me handle this, okay?
She just got bad news regarding her son. Please. ”
He turned back to Sami. “Sweetheart, listen to me.
Please pull yourself together. ”
“I can’t, Dad. You think being on death row is the worst thing that could happen, but it’s not. The thought of that drunken bastard raising my son—”
“Honey, I promise you, I will keep a close eye on Will.
He’ll be okay. Don’t worry about it. I promise that. ”
The guard’s voice was firm.
“Captain Brady, you have to leave now. ”
“No. Not while my daughter’s so upset. ”
“Dad, it’s okay.
I’ll be okay. ”
Roman hugged her. “All right, sweetheart. I love you.
” He looked at the guard. “You keep an eye on her. I don’t want her left alone. ”
As he walked away, Sami collapsed against the wall.
“God, how am I supposed to ever take my little boy from Lucas now? How can I? ”
At that moment, Austin arrived at the Brady Pub, and Will ran into his arms. “Daddy!
”
Austin scooped him up, holding him tight. “Hey, little man. ”
Gregory pulled Lucas aside, his voice low. “Okay, Lucas, it’s time to tell your attorney the truth.
How in the hell did you get Nicole to marry you? ”
“She knew a good thing when she saw it, plus I can give her the kind of future Eric could never. ”
Eric stormed over. “You’re dreaming, Lucas.
Nicole loves me. I know you threatened her into this marriage just so you could get custody of Will. But as soon as I talk to her, she will annul this joke of a marriage, and you will lose her, and you will lose your son. ”
Lucas smirked.
“And you think I’m dreaming? ”
Kate pulled Nicole aside, her voice a low warning. “I’m happy you finally came to your senses. ”
Nicole’s eyes narrowed.
“There’s only one reason why I married Lucas, Kate, and you know exactly what that is. Don’t push me. I got married quickly, but I can end it just as fast. ”
Bo stood outside the Kiriakis mansion, bracing himself.
“There’s something hidden in this house, Fancy Face. Once I find it, we’ll know what DiMera’s up to, and you’ll be free—of everything. But first, I got to persuade Victor to consider reconciling with Vivian. Oh, boy.
That is not going to be easy. Here goes nothing. ”
He lifted the knocker and let it fall.
