Written by: Dallas Walsh

"Well?" Dane Ashby stands in the study of the Rockwell mansion wearing his tuxedo as the wedding of Cole Rockwell and Madison Stewart is moments away from happening. Dane is at the wedding because Cole's father, Mac Rockwell, invited him after they finished their business deal together. Dane, however, happened to see Lucinda Rockwell standing in the study and had to come see her; he had hoped to see her a few nights earlier when Mac invited him for dinner, but Lucinda didn't show up to the meal. "Is that any way to greet the father of your child?"

Lucinda looks back at him in surprise. She can't believe that Dane is actually standing in front of her; it has been so many years she saw him, but it is taking her back to many years ago.

She and Mortimer were recently married and starting their lives together. Mortimer was also a go-getter and wanted to start his new company, Rockwell Mining. Lucinda watched and supported as Mortimer built the company from the ground up and slowly, he became a huge sensation. Lucinda, however, often found herself lonely and wishing her husband spent as much time with her as he did with the company. And, that's when she met Dane; he was dashing, confident and charming. Before she knew it, they were in bed together and he gave her what she was craving from Mortimer. Shortly after, Lucinda learned that she was pregnant and she panicked, so she lied to Mortimer that he was the father. Dane, however, knew the truth and agreed to keep Lucinda's secret because she begged him to keep quiet. Dane left town but made Lucinda promise to keep him updated on the child's progress, which she always did in secret. Mortimer never knew the truth; no one did.

"What do you think you're doing here?" she finally replies to him before she takes a sip of her brandy. "Do you know how dangerous this is?"

"Don't worry about that," Dane moves closer to her. "I am here to do business with Mac, no one is none the wiser."

"I don't like this Dane," Lucinda tells him sternly. "Why are you here? Why after all these years? So much has happened, you know that. I've kept you in the loop…"

Before Dane can respond, Mac opens the door to the study. "Mother, Dane? What is going on in here? Is everything okay?" he asks, feeling the tension in the room.

"Nothing darling," Lucinda forces a smile on her face. "I was just having a brandy before the ceremony. Is everything ready for the wedding?"

"Yes, we are going to begin shortly."

"Perfect, I'll head down to the garden now," Lucinda uneasily looks back at Dane before she looks at Mac. "Come on, we don't want to be late."

***

Down stairs in the living room of the Rockwell Mansion, Lydia Rockwell paces back and forth as she wishes that she had heard from her son, Lexington Rockwell, before the wedding. She hasn't heard from him in a few days and is starting to get worried, especially considering everything that he went through in Cabo.

"Why haven't you returned my calls Lex?" she asks herself before she grabs a glass of champagne from one of the waiting walking around. She takes a long sip of her drink before she opens her purse and grabs her phone.

She turns the screen on and still sees no new messages. "Damn it," she says, as she suddenly gets an idea. "That's it, I know what I have to do."

She sets her glass of champagne down and dials a number into her phone. "Casper Ross," she says into her phone. "This is Lydia Rockwell. I need your help with something, and I hope you will say yes."

Casper stands up from behind his desk in his office. "Mrs. Rockwell," he says back to her, wondering what she wants. He hopes that after his meeting with Chase Cooper, he isn't about to get into more trouble than he is already in. "What can I do for you?"

"My son," she says as he freezes, thinking about his affair with Cole. "Lexington, he is missing. I'm wondering if you can try to track him down?"

Casper breathes a sigh of relief. "Of course," he nods back to her. "I'll see what I can do. Anything for you and your family."

"Thank you," Lydia purses her lips together. "Please, act quickly and let me know as soon as you can."

***

Carmen Santos paces back and forth in the foyer of the Rockwell Mansion feeling her blood boil at what she just overheard: her lover, Marat Kafelinkov, just admitted to Houston Blackmore that he only got involved with her because Houston was trying to preoccupy her because she knows about the baby switch that he and Celeste Baldwin arranged. She did hear that Marat has since fallen for her, but she is still livid that he used her.

"You came in," Marat says as he walks down the spiral staircase. "I thought you were going to grab us some seats and two glasses of champagne?"

Carmen turns to him. "And, I thought you were going to check on Ashlee and Ivan?"

"I did," Marat smiles to her as he reaches the foyer. "Ashlee is playing with some toys and Ivan is taking a nap. I don't think they will make it for the wedding. Shall we go get our seats?"

He moves to reach for her hand, but she recoils from him. "Hey, Carmen, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

Carmen looks at him with tears in her eyes. "I know, Marat," she whispers back to him. "I know what you and Houston did to me."

Marat feels the blood drain from his face. "What are you talking about? Houston and I, we don't get along."

"Stop lying to me!" Carmen hisses back to him. "I overheard you two talking, right here just a short while ago. I know that you used me to help Houston because I know his secret. How could you?"

Marat sighs and looks back at her. "It might have started out that way, but everything changed, Carmen. I have fallen in love with you!"

Carmen's hand finds Marat's cheek in a hard, cold slap. "Don't you dare say those words to me," she grits her teeth back to him. "You don't know the meaning of the word."

"Come on, let's get out of here, we can go and talk about this?"

"I'm not going anywhere with you," Carmen lashes out at him. "We are over, and you, Houston and everyone else is going to pay for what you've done to me, do you understand me? You will rue the day ever crossed me!"

***

"Do you really think hiring a private investigator to find Lex was the best idea?" Mac asks Lydia as they move into the garden as the wedding of Cole and Madi is getting close to beginning.

"Yes I do," Lydia quickly responds to her ex-husband. "I am so worried about him Mac."

"Mom, Daddy, hi," a voice calls out in front of Mac and Lydia, who stop and look forward and see Stacey Rockwell standing in front of them.

Lydia gets tears in her eyes at the sight of her daughter standing in front of her. "My darling," Lydia moves up and wraps her arms around Stacey. "You're home, you're really here."

"I couldn't miss Cole's wedding," a single tear falls down Stacey's cheek before she moves up to Mac and hugs him. "I missed you guys so much."

"We missed you," Mac holds his daughter. "More than you'll ever know. How are you? You're doing okay?"

"I'm as well as to be expected," Stacey looks back at her parents. "We can catch up after the wedding? We have a lot to talk about?"

"Of course, I should head up and see if Cole needs help getting ready for the wedding," Mac looks back at his family. "See you at the wedding."

"I am so glad you're back," Lydia looks at her daughter. "You look so beautiful."

"Thanks Mom, you look good too."

"I can't help but notice that attractive man back there that has been watching you," Lydia notices Slate Lockhart watching Stacey's every move.

"He's a friend," Stacey purses her lips together. "Like I said, we have a lot to catch up on," she giggles to her mom.

***

Dyhannah Cooper moves up to the edge of the garden and takes off her large Chanel sunglasses to admire the setting of the wedding that is unfolding in front of her. She has always been a romantic at heart, so seeing the wedding come together touches her heart.

As she moves closer to her seat, she happens to see Chase Cooper finding his own seat near the front since he is the father of the bridge. She puts her hand on her hip as she thinks about how they made love the previous day, but when she awoke, he was gone; he left without a trace and she has no idea why.

"Beautiful day for a wedding," she announces as she arrives at Chase's side.

"That it is," Chase looks back at her. "I'm afraid, I don't have a lot of time to talk. I'm about to go help Madison get ready for the wedding."

"That's understandable," Dyhannah nods back to him. "But, I think you owe me an explanation, don't you? You come to my suite, make passionate love to me and then leave without as much of a word? What gives, Chase? Why did you leave?"

Chase sighs and glares back at her. "Do you really have to ask me that? You know damn well why I left, Dyhannah!"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Madison is blackmailing Vivian and I," Chase tells her. "Who would have given her that idea, Dyhannah? You couldn't get away with your own blackmail scheme, so you put my daughter up too it."

"Chase…I…."

"Save your breath," Chase cuts her off. "Did I come to your suite yesterday? Yes, I did. Did I make love to you? Yes, I did. Did I leave after? Yes, I did. And why? To get back at you, Dyhannah. I knew that this would be the one way to really hurt you, and now you can know the truth. I never wanted to be with you. I slept with you to get back at you for screwing up my life. You know what they say, an eye for an eye…now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go see my daughter."

Dyhannah feels like she was just sucker punched. She waits until Chase is out of her sight before she moves her hand to her mouth as she gasps for air and fights tears in her eyes. She finds the nearest seat and sits down.

"Damn you," she gasps to herself. "Damn you straight to hell."

***

A few minutes later, Dyhannah is walking quickly to the exit as she doesn't feel like she can stay at the wedding. After hearing that Chase was using her, she just wants to crawl into a bubble bath with a bottle of wine and drown her sorrows away.

"Leaving so soon?" a voice makes Dyhannah freeze. She turns and sees Vivian Blackmore standing next to her. "What's the rush, Dy?"

"What the hell do you want?" Dyhannah snaps back at her. "I'm in no mood for you or anything you have to say."

"You may think you have won," Vivian looks back at her with intent. "But, I will get back together with Chase, you can mark my words on that."

Dyhannah slowly takes off her sun glasses and smirks back to her. "You really believe that, don't you?"

"Of course I do," Vivian nods back to her. "Chase and I, we belong together."

Dyhannah chuckles back to her. "Well, before you rush back to his arms, why you don't ask him who he spent last night with because let me tell you, Viv, he certainly hasn't lost his magic in the bedroom."

Vivian freezes at her words before she laughs back to her. "I almost believed you for a moment."

"Believe it," Dyhannah puts her sunglasses back on. "And, if you don't believe me, ask Chase. He'll tell you all about it."

Vivian watches as Dyhannah storms off and is left wondering if it could be true: did Chase sleep with Dyhannah?"

***

"I almost didn't believe my eyes when I arrived," Kent Blackmore says as he approaches Stacey, who is sitting waiting for the wedding to begin. "You're home."

Stacey looks up at Kent and immediately stands up to look at him. "Kent, hi," Stacey puts a piece of hair behind her ear. "I am home. I couldn't miss Cole's wedding, despite everything that I went through."

"I don't blame you for running," Kent admits to her. "These last few weeks, months, they have been trying for me too."

"I know they have," Stacey uneasily looks back at him. "Like I told my Mom, I guess we all have a lot of catching up to do."

"You saw your mother?"

"And my father," Stacey nods to him. "Why are you surprised by that?"

Kent gulps back to her, thinking that she likely doesn't know that he and Lydia have reunited. Still, seeing her in front of him know, Kent realizes that he still does have feelings, very strong feelings, for Stacey.

Just then, Lydia comes up to them and puts her hands on Kent's shoulders. "Isn't it wonderful darling, Stacey is home where she belongs."

Stacey picks up on the body language between the two and finds herself feeling gutted. "Are you two…?"

"Back together? Isn't it wonderful?" Lydia smiles back to her daughter. "We thought after everything that had happened, we belong together."

"Yea, uh, that's great," Stacey forces a smile on her face as she looks at Kent. "If you'll excuse me for a moment, Slate has been gone for awhile and I want to make sure he didn't get lost in the mansion."

Lydia and Kent watch as Stacey quickly walks away from them. "I hope it wasn't something I said," Lydia looks back at Kent, before she leans up and gives him a kiss on his cheek. "I'm just so glad my baby is home."

***

Madison Stewart looks in the large mirror in the room of the mansion that she is getting ready in and sees herself in her long, white wedding dress. She almost can't believe that this day is here; after everything that she and Cole have been through, to be moments away from being husband and wife is almost disbelieving.

She turns when she hears a soft knock on the door. "Come in," she calls out before the door opens and Chase appears.

"Wow, my goodness, you look beautiful," Chase says as he moves into the room and closes the door behind him. "My little girl is really getting married today?"

"I am," Madi smiles back to her father. "Can you believe it?"

Chase comes up to her and grabs her hands before he kisses both of her cheeks. "I know that we haven't seen eye to eye lately," he looks into her eyes. "But, I want you to know that I do love you."

"Oh Daddy," Madi gets tears in her eyes. "I love you too. I don't like everything that has happened between us, but I just did what I thought was right."

Chase uneasily nods back to her. "I know that my beauty," he whispers back to her. "And, that is exactly what I am about to do. I'm about to do what I believe is right, whether you like it not."

Madi arches her eyebrow back to him. "What does that mean?"

"Come sit with me and I'll tell you everything."

***

"We are only a few minutes away before your wedding will begin," Mac looks at Cole, who I swearing his tuxedo. "Are you having any cold feet?"

Cole smirks back to his father. "Ironically, no," he admits to Mac. "Madi and I have been through hell and back to get to this place, I'm just excited that this moment is finally here."

"This is the start of the rest of your lives together," Mac smiles back to him. "You and Madi you deserve all the happiness in the world."

"Thanks Dad, I really appreciate that," Cole nods back to him. "I know that you weren't always close to me because of what happened with Celeste."

"That's all water under the bridge," Mac waves his hand in the air. "We are in a good place now and we will continue to be."

Cole moves up to his father and hugs him. "I love you, Dad."

"I love you too son. Now, let's finish getting you ready so you can marry the woman of your dreams!"

***

Stacey opens the French doors that move her from the garden into the living room of the Rockwell Mansion. She has no idea why the idea of her mother reuniting with Kent was such a trigger to her, but she had to get away from them.

She freezes when she closes the door and she sees Celeste Baldwin standing by the sofa holding her daughter in her arms.

"Stacey," Celeste whispers back to her, stunned that she is back in town. "I didn't realize that you were home."

"I came for the wedding," Stacey admits to her. "Is that…?"

"Charlotte?" Celeste nods back to her. "She was being fussy, so I brought her inside. She just fell asleep. I don't think she will make it to the wedding."

Stacey feels her heart move into her throat. "Can…Can I see her?"

Celeste gulps heavily knowing that the baby she is holding in her arms is really Stacey's child. She was so relieved when Stacey left for New York after the baby was born because she didn't have to deal with this awkwardness. Now, she knows that she has to let Stacey hold the baby or she will risk setting off alarm bells.

"How about I let you hold the baby when she wakes up?" Celeste replies to her, thinking of a way to prevent Stacey from holding Charlotte.

"Of course, sure, I didn't mean…"

"It's okay," Celeste turns to her after she puts the sleeping child in her play pen. "It's good to see you Stacey. I'm glad you're home."

Stacey looks into the play pen and watches Charlotte sleep; immediately she feels her eyes swell with water. "Thanks," she bites her lower lip. "At every turn, I am wondering if this was all some huge mistake."

***

Sabine Andrews opens the front door to the Rockwell mansion and moves inside with Nathan Lockhart behind her. Nathan stops once he is in the foyer and looks around, amazed at the house that he just stepped into.

"Wow, this is some place," Nathan observes to everyone.

"It is pretty special," Sabine smiles back to him before she moves up to him. "I am glad you agreed to do this, Nathan. You need to be reunited with your family, once and for all."

"I hope that you're right about that."

"I'm always right," Sabine chuckles as she kisses him on the lips quickly.

"Well, well, well," Lucinda says as she walks down the stairs of the mansion. "Look what the cat dragged in from New York. You're back, Sabine?"

"I'm here for the wedding, and hello to you too, Lucinda," Sabine turns to face the elderly woman.

"And, why am I not surprised that you've sunk your claws into yet another man?" Lucinda huffs before she does a double take at Nathan. "Is this some kind of joke? Levi, is that really you?"

"Levi?" Sabine asks as she shoots Nathan a look of confusion.

"Hello mother," Nathan looks back at her. "I'm back, and I go by Nathan now. Nathan Lockhart."

Lucinda grabs a hold of a small table next to her, as she feels faint. "Why is this happening now? Why are you here, Levi?"

"I thought it was time to come home," Nathan moves closer to her. "Are you okay? Do you want some water?"

"I don't need your help," she stands up straight and looks back at him. "You abandoned this family! I'll be damned if you are just going to show up now and announce yourself a member of my family, Levi!"

"What the hell is going on down here?" Mac asks as he rushes down the stairs. "The wedding is about to happen, mother what is it?"

"It's me Mac," Nathan moves up to his brother. "It's me, Levi. I'm back."

Mac feels the blood drain from his face before he looks over at Lucinda. "Mom, come on, let's sit you down and get you some water. This has to be a shock for you; the fact that my long lost, emancipated brother has finally decided to return," Mac says before he looks back at Nathan. "Are you happy now? Is this what you wanted?"

***

Lydia sits in the garden waiting for the wedding to begin. She looks over and sees Kent grabbing two more glasses of champagne when she hears her cell phone ring. She opens her purse and pulls out the phone.

"Casper, hi," she says having seen the private investigator's name on her screen. "I'm hoping that you have good news for me?"

"I do," Casper says into his phone as he parks his car. "I was able to determine that Lex's car was last seen at Lucinda's mansion; the one that she is cleaning up to sell. While it's no longer in the front yard, I confirmed with a groundskeeper that someone parked it in the garage."

Lydia arches her eyebrow back to him. "Why would Lex park his car at Lucinda's? That doesn't make any sense to me."

"I wish I had more answers, I can keep digging if you'd like."

"That won't be necessary," Lydia quickly says back to him. "Send me the invoice, I'll head over to Lucinda's now and see what is going on."

She hangs up the phone just as Kent returns with a glass of champagne. "I'll be right back," Lydia tells him as she stands up.

"Where are you going?" Kent asks her. "The wedding is about to begin?"

"This can't wait," Lydia rushes away from him. "With any luck, I'll be back before the wedding begins!"

***

Moments later, the guests are all seated in the garden and Cole is at the altar waiting for Madi to emerge. Then, the wedding march begins to play and Madi arrives at the back of the aisle.

Cole smiles back to Madi as she starts to walk down the aisle. Madi, who has tears in her eyes, looks at all the guests and then turns her head back up to Cole. She still can't believe that this is happening; everything has seemingly happened so quickly, she feels almost short of breath.

She finally reaches the altar and looks at Cole. "You look beautiful," he whispers to her, as she gets more tears in her eyes. "Hey, are you okay?"

Madi nods back to him. "Just … overwhelmed."

"Ladies and gentlemen, you may be seated," the minister says as the guests sit down and Madi continues to shed more tears.

***

Lydia opens the front to Lucinda's mansion and moves inside quickly. She looks around the foyer before she runs into the living room.

She sees boxes of Lucinda's belongings that are still waiting to be sent to the Rockwell mansion. "Lex? Lexington, where are you? Are you here?"

She looks around the room but doesn't hear a response. "Where are you? Damnit!"

She turns around again and freezes when she sees door to the basement. "Oh my God…" she says as she rushes to the door.

***

Madi continues to stand at the altar crying as Cole looks at her. She is unable to control her emotions as the moment is catching up to her and she can't stop thinking about her conversation with her father. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Madi nods back to him. "I'm fine, sorry."

"It's fine young lady," the minister tells Madi. "Everyone gets emotional on their wedding day. How about I start with you, Cole?"

Madi nods back to him. "Cole, you have written your own vows, please proceed with them."

Cole looks back into Madi's eyes and smiles at her. "I almost don't even know where to begin," he admits to Madi and the guests. "When I first met you, Madison, I was in a very dark place in my life. The minute you came into my life, the darkness turned into light. You have given me so much strength to be the best version of myself," he continues as Madi sheds more tears. "And that person has brought me here to this moment today when I am committing my entire self to you for the rest of my life. I have never felt more sure about a decision in my life; I am so honored that you have agreed to be my wife and I promise that I spend the rest of my days making you the happiest woman in the world."

"Madison, are you ready to say your vows?" the minister asks her, as she tries to control her tears.

Madi looks up at Cole, who urges her with a nod. "Madi, what is it? What's wrong?"

Madi's hand raises and slaps Cole hard across the face. "I can't marry you, you son of a bitch! I know about your affair! I know all about it!"

Cole looks back at her in shock. "What are you talking about?"

"Do you really want me to air your dirty laundry in front of all your friends and family?" Madi asks him. "Because, I'm not sure everyone is ready to hear about your involvement with the private investigator!"

Cole feels the blood drain from his face. He has no idea how she has found out about him and Casper but he realizes that he isn't ready for everyone to know about it yet. "I…I can explain."

"Don't bother," Madi huffs back at him. "I never want to see you again! You're disgusting!"

Before Cole can respond, Madi rushes back down the aisle and back to the house as the guests sit in shock and awe. Cole, meanwhile, wonders what the hell just happened.

"Once I found out the truth," Chase whispers as he approaches Cole. "You had to know that I was going to tell my daughter the truth."

"You son of a bitch," Cole grits his teeth at Chase. "You couldn't have waited until after the ceremony?"

"And let a homosexual like you marry my daughter?" Chase shakes his head back to him. "Absolutely not. There's no way that I would allow that to happen. Consider yourself lucky because I could have killed you for hurting her that way."

***

Upstairs, Vivian opens the door to room where Madi lays on the bed, tears still strolling down her face.

"Darling, I'm here," Vivian says as she crawls into bed and wraps her arms around Madi. "You are a beautiful, brave, strong, young woman. You will get through this, okay?"

"I…feel…like…I…can't…breathe," Madi tells her through her tears.

"Take some deep breaths," Vivian encourages her. "You're okay, you will be okay."

Madi turns and looks her mother in the eyes. "Why are you being so nice to me?"

"Because, you're my daughter," Vivian replies to her quickly. "And, no matter what has happened, I love you, okay?"

"Thanks Mom," Madi tells her. "When Dad told me the truth…I knew that I couldn't marry Cole."

"Chase told you about the affair?" Vivian gasps back to her, as she thinks about how he told her that he was going to teach Madi a lesson. "I didn't know that."

"He saved me, Mom. He saved me from marrying that cheater."

"Yes, he did," Vivian pulls her into a hug again. "He certainly did."

***

"Most of the guests have left," Stacey tells Cole, Mac, Celeste, Kent and Lucinda as she moves back into the living room of the Rockwell mansion. She moves up to the bar and starts pouring some brandy's. "It looks like everyone could use a drink."

"Cole, son, do you want to talk about anything that happened?" Mac asks him, wondering who he was cheating on Madi with.

"No, I don't," Cole shakes his head before he takes the brandy from Stacey. "I want to change and get out of here for a while. Are you okay with that?"

"You need to clear you head, that is completely understandable," Lucinda tells her grandson. "You take all the time you need. I can't believe that wench would do this to you at your wedding. There is a time and place for everything."

"I tend to agree with Lucinda," Celeste chimes in. "She should have ended things in a private manner."

Before anyone can say anything else, Sabine and Nathan enter the living room.

"Sabine, you're back? I didn't see you before the wedding?" Cole says as he moves up to his Aunt and hugs her. "And, who is this?"

"Ah, so you didn't tell everyone?" Nathan looks over at Mac and then Lucinda.

"This is not the time nor the place Levi," Lucinda scolds him, not wanting to create more drama for everyone.

"Would someone tell me what is going on?" Stacey asks everyone, as Slate comes into the room.

"I am Levi Rockwell," Nathan announces to everyone. "Lucinda's other son and Mac's brother."

"Wait, what?" Slate asks him in shock. "Stacey is my cousin?"

"I don't believe any of this," Cole shakes his head in shock. "I need to get out of here."

"Are you happy now?" Mac grits his teeth back to Nathan. "You leave this family high and dry and just decide out of nowhere to come back? What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Mac, please," Sabine pleads with him. "Nathan has every right to be here. This should be a time of healing!"

"Do me a favor, Sabine, and stay the hell out of this!" Mac yells back at her.

Before anyone can respond, the French doors open and Houston emerges from the garden. Behind him, Carmen is walking with a gun pointed into his back.

"Everyone needs to shut the fuck up and listen to me," Carmen yells to the family, who gasp when they realize that she has a gun on Houston.

"Carmen, please, you don't have to do this," Houston says before he looks over at Celeste. "This has all been some big mistake."

"Like hell it has," Carmen replies to him. "I have something to say, and you will all want to hear this."

***

"Lex? Lex are you down here?" Lydia asks as she rushes down the stairs that lead into the basement of Lucinda's mansion.

"Mom? Is that you?" Lex asks as he stands up from the cot in the cage. "Oh, thank God!"

"So, it's true! You are in here," Lydia rushes up to him. "My God, don't you worry, I will get you out of here! How did you get trapped in here, Lex? Why are you down here?" she asks him while she looks for a key to open the door.

"It was Houston," Lex reveals to her. "That son of a bitch put me in here because I learned his secret."

"What secret?" Lydia asks him quickly.

"It's a long story," Lex tells her. "You won't believe it when I tell you."

***

Cole parks his car outside of Casper's office as he was able to escape the chaos erupting at the mansion once Nathan was revealed to be a Rockwell. Learning that his uncle is back in town following his interrupted wedding was more than he could handle. He ended up getting into his car and driving and now, he is at Casper's office.

"I am guessing that you're wedding didn't happen?" Casper asks Cole, who appears in the doorway of the office. "I am sorry about that."

"I'd like to know how, exactly, Chase Cooper found out about our affair," Cole crosses his arms across chest. "I asked you not to say anything!"

"I know, and I didn't," Casper moves up to him. "He came to me the other day; he told me he saw us at the country club and then he told me that he bought this building. He was going to increase my rent unless I told him everything."

"That son of a bitch blackmailed you?"

"I'm so sorry Cole," Casper replies to him. "I had no choice but to tell him everything. I don't come from a lot of money like you; I couldn't afford the rent increase, so, yes, I told him."

Cole shakes his head. "And, Chase was furious with Madi because she told him to break up with Vivian. He used my affair to get back at his own daughter. He's a monster."

Casper moves up to him. "Is there anything I can do to help now? Do you think Madi will ever give you another chance?"

"No," Cole shakes his head back to him. "She was devastated, and rightfully so. It's not like I was sleeping with another woman…"

"You always did seem to enjoy our time together."

"I did."

Casper moves closer to him and puts his hand on his chest. "There's nothing stopping you now, Cole."

Their eyes lock and Casper licks his lips before they lean into one another and kiss passionately.

***

"Carmen, for the love of God, please put the gun down," Kent pleads with her, as Carmen continues to hold her gun into Houston's back. "You don't have to hurt anyone, especially my son!"

Carmen chuckles back to Kent. "You really think this son of a bitch is worth saving? You have no idea what he has done, what they have done!"

"What is she talking about?" Stacey asks in confusion. "What did you do, Houston?"

"Nothing!" Houston yells back at them. "She's crazy! She's lost her mind! Don't believe a word that she says! Stacey, you know that I love you!"

"I've lost my mind?" Carmen laughs back to him. "That baby that Celeste has, it's not even hers!"

"How dare you say that to me!" Celeste shrieks back to her as she moves back to the playpen and picks up baby Charlotte. "This is my baby, do you hear me? This is my child!"

"Yes, of course it is," Mac rushes up to her and puts his arm around Celeste. "This is our child, anything else is impossible."

"Do you want to tell them, or do you want me too?" Carmen looks back at Houston. "You got Marat to use me, Houston, so this little game is over! This is going to end now!"

"You don't have to do this," Houston pleads with her.

"He's right," Celeste cries back to her. "This isn't necessary!"

"Oh, that's where you're wrong," Carmen glares back at her. "You have all played me and my dead brother for fools! And, I will not stand for it!"

"What are you talking about?" Kent asks her. "What does this have to do with Houston and Celeste?"

"Start talking!" Carmen tells Houston.

Houston shakes his head back to her and then looks over at Celeste, who holds Charlotte tighter in her arms.

"Fine," Carmen snaps back at him. "Baby Poppy is alive and well," Carmen announces as Stacey gasps.

"That's not possible," Stacey let's a tear fall down her cheek. "I would know if my baby was alive!"

"You better explain yourself," Kent grits his teeth together. "You're talking about my daughter!"

"Houston wanted Stacey back but couldn't get over that she was having a baby with his father," Carmen begins to explain to everyone. "And, Celeste, she was desperate to hold on to Mac, my husband. One day, she visited me when I was in jail."

"Stop this!" Celeste shrieks at her.

"We argued and Celeste, she collapsed. The physician at the prison checked her out and she had miscarried her baby. Celeste left, not realizing that I knew the truth. Imagine my surprise when I later realized that she was raising baby Charlotte."

"Shut your mouth!" Celeste yells at her through tears.

"Houston and Celeste came up with the idea to tell Stacey her baby was dead when in fact she is alive; Celeste is raising baby Polly as her own baby because her child is dead," Carmen stuns the room.

"Is that true?" a stunned Stacey asks as she moves up to Celeste, who holds the baby tighter in her arms. "Is that my baby? Is that why you wouldn't let me hold her earlier?"

"It's not possible," Mac whispers back to her daughter before he looks at Celeste. "Tell me this isn't true, Celeste. Tell me that I haven't been raising my granddaughter as my own child!"

"Of course it's not true," Celeste let's more tears fall down her eyes. "This is my baby! This is my child!"

"Stop lying!" Carmen yells at her. "For once in your life, tell the truth."

"It's true," Houston admits to everyone. "My God, it's true. I am so sorry, Celeste, I just can't lie anymore. I'm exhausted. Stacey, I did this for you; I did this for us!"

"You mean to tell me, you made me think my daughter was dead?" Kent moves up to his son. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Give me my daughter!" Stacey looks at Celeste. "Now!"

"Celeste, I can't believe this," Mac looks at her in disgust. "You made me think this baby was my daughter? What is wrong with you?"

"They are lying," Celeste pleads with everyone. "This is my baby; this is our baby!"

"Give me my child!" Stacey yells at her. "Houston admitted it! Stop lying, Celeste!"

Suddenly, the baby starts to cry. Celeste looks at the child and then over at Stacey. "I can't lose her," she cries to Stacey. "Don't you understand? I can't lose her, not again."

Stacey moves up to her and takes the crying child from Celeste's hands. As soon as the baby is out of Celeste's hands, she collapses on the ground in tears.

"My beautiful Poppy," Stacey looks at her daughter as Kent comes up behind her and holds her in his arms. "You're alive and you're finally back where you belong. Oh God, you're really alive!"

***

Lucinda opens the door to the study and moves herself inside. She needed an escape from all of the drama that just unfolded downstairs so she came to the study to clear her head.

She moves to the bar and pours herself a brandy and takes a long sip of it.

"Seems like quite a day around here," a voice calls out from behind her.

Lucinda shuts her eyes for a moment before she turns around to face Dane. "I didn't realize you were still here," Lucinda tells her former lover. "You shouldn't be, you know."

"Mac and I are friendly now," Dane reminds her. "We are in business together and we had dinner together the other day."

"You don't have to remind me."

"I saw that Levi came home," Dane tells her. "Both of your children back under one roof. You must be pleased."

"Stop acting like you care!" Lucinda hisses to him. "My family is all under one damn roof, but all hell could break loose at any given time."

"You know that I won't say anything," he moves closer to her. "I will never tell anyone that my son is down stairs."

"Please, Dane," Lucinda waves her hand in the air. "I know that your son is downstairs! We don't have to rehash this."

"That's why I reached out, you know," Dane looks at her with intent. "To MacKenzie; I wanted to be around my son. I wanted to get to know him as a man."

"Would you keep your voice down?" Lucinda looks back at him with intent. "The very last thing I need is for Levi to hear that his older brother, the man that my husband raised to take over the Rockwell estate and company isn't really a Rockwell well at all! No one can ever know that Mac's real last name is Ashby."