Luis ran into Sheridan’s bedroom and pushed the door open. Beth and Sheridan were on the bed fighting. Luis quickly ran over to the bed and pulled Sheridan off Beth. “What the hell is wrong with you!” Sheridan screamed at Beth who was still lying on the bed. “What happened?” Luis asked, Sheridan. “Well your woman came over here and started screaming at me, and then she attacked me! I tried to talk to her, and calm her down but it didn’t work.” she said, eyeing Beth.

Sheridan turned around when Heather walked into the room. “What’s going on in here?” she asked, looking at Luis, Beth, and Sheridan. “Nothing. We’ll talk about this later.” she said, walking out of the room.

Theresa and Ethan sat down on Ethan’s patio, and watched the waves roll in. “Theresa I think that we need to go talk to your father. I felt awkward last night, but I think that we should go over there and talk to your parents.” Ethan said, hugging her. “Alright, let’s go.” Theresa said, walking to the driveway, with Ethan on her heels.

Martin and Pilar were just sitting down to dinner when the doorbell chimed. The maid had gone home sick, so Pilar got up to answer it. She opened the door, and there stood Theresa and Ethan. “Hi Mama. Is Daddy home? Me and Ethan need to talk to him.” Theresa said, hopefully. Pilar nodded, “Come on in. He’s in the dinning room.” she said.

Theresa and Ethan walked into the dinning room, followed by a worried Pilar. Martin looked up surprised, “Why hello princess! Hi Ethan.” he said, greeting them. Theresa smiled at her father, and sat down next to him. Martin motioned for Ethan and Pilar to do the same.

“Daddy, me and Ethan wanted to come by and talk to you and Mama.” Theresa said, looking down at the table. “What about, sweetie?” Martin asked, knowing full well why the two were there. “Well sir, we’re very sorry how last night turned out and wanted to apologize for springing this all on you and the rest of your family.” Ethan said, politely.

Martin smiled at him. He was surprised at the boy’s manners. Julian and Alistar weren’t that well mannered. He was impressed. “Ethan don’t worry about it. All I want now is to try and form some sort of truce between our families, since it looks like the apple of my eye is about to be Theresa Crane. I certainly don’t want her to have to walk into the lion’s den. If you catch my drift?” Martin said, eyeing Ethan.

“Yes sir, I understand. I was hoping for the same thing, exactly. I just want you to know that I love your daughter with all my being. I won’t let anything happen to her. If I have to I’ll disown my family. I love her that much.” Ethan stated, gazing lovingly at Theresa.

“Isn’t that the biggest crock of crap that you have ever heard? Please! Giving up your fortune for Theresa? You must be insane!” Paloma said dramatically, as she walked into the room. She had been listening at the door. She had hoped that her father would disown Theresa and kick her out of the family. But that apparently wasn’t so.

Pilar glared at her oldest daughter, “You mind your own business, Paloma Ann! I won’t have you speaking that way in my house! You apologize right this second!” Pilar demanded, shocking everyone in the room. Paloma stared at Pilar with her mouth hanging open.

“I am not a child, nor do I pretend to be like most people.” Paloma said, looking at her sister, ‘And I will not apologize either. If you want to sit here and listen to this crap than go right on ahead. But I won’t. Daddy, your really going to let some Crane into this family? Have you completely lost your mind? You must be getting on in years, if your going to let this rif raf marry Theresa.” she finished, glaring at her father.

Martin was furious. No one talked to him like that. He was not at all amused with his eldest daughter. “Listen you little ungrateful brat! You will NOT speak to me in that tone again, or with such disrespect! You shouldn’t be talking about anyone like that. Especially, your family. You my darling daughter are the one who has married poorly. You married Caleb knowing full well that he is nothing but a money sucking slim, not to mention the fact that Jamie isn’t even his child!’ he said angrily, looking at Paloma.

She was getting ready to say something, but Martin cut her off. “You are nothing but an ungrateful, unfeeling self absorbed slut! Now go get your husband and your things and get the hell out of my house! And let me remind you, Paloma, that I have full guardianship and custody of Jamie. So don’t think about trying to take her with you.” He yelled at her.

Paloma was speechless. She just stared at her father, who was still glaring at her. Paloma turned to Theresa, who also looked shock. She felt sick and angry. Paloma reached out and slapped Theresa across the face, for no reason at all. Theresa cried out in pain. Paloma looked to Ethan, who looked pissed. “Protect that, Crane.” she said, turning her back on them and walking out of the room.

Paloma made it to the stairs, before being knocked to the floor. She rolled over to see her father standing over her. “I have had it Paloma! You are never welcomed in this house again. I never want to see you again. You had no right to hit Theresa, or to disrespect me. You are no longer my daughter. I hope that you enjoyed the last time that you saw Jamie, because that is the last time that you’ll ever be seeing her again.” Martin said through clenched teeth.

Paloma felt the tears, making tracks down her face. She sat up and looked at her father. “You don’t mean that! You can’t! You have always favored Theresa! You never gave me a chance! It was always about her or Tony or Luis or Miguel, but never about ME! Your just going to abandon me now? Well that’s fine! I don’t need you! I hate you, and I hate the rest of this screwed up family!” she screamed, jumping to her feet and running up the stairs.

Theresa who had been standing in the doorway with her mother, ran past her father and up the stairs after her sister. She ran down the hallway, till she came to Paloma’s bedroom door. She flung it open and walked in, closing the door behind her. Paloma turned and looked at Theresa who was still standing near the door. “Come to gloat?” Paloma asked, drying her face with a Kleenex.

Theresa shook her head, “Paloma we need to talk. I don’t know why you’ve grown to hate me so much. I love you. Your my sister for goodness sake! I don’t want you to hate me, anymore. I don’t know what I’ve done to make you despise as much as you do, but I do want to fix it. So what do you say?” Theresa asked.

Luis sat down next to Sheridan on her couch. He had made Beth and Heather leave so that he could talk to Sheridan. Beth was angry, but she would just have to get over it. Heather went back over to the mansion, to hang out with Matt, her boyfriend’. Luis took Sheridan’s hand into his. “I’m sorry about what happened early. I wish that it wouldn’t have came out the way that it did but I can’t say that I’m sorry that everyone knows that I love you, Sheridan. But I do, with all my heart.” He said, staring at her intently.

Sheridan smiled at him, “I love you too, Luis. But I’m not going to sneak around anymore. Either your going to leave Beth and be with me, or you can stay with Beth and we no longer see each other.” she said, sadly. She didn’t want to stop seeing him. But she wasn’t going to continue to be his mistress either.

“Sheridan it’s not that easy! I love you more than life itself, but I have a responsibility to my family to marry Beth. Just like you did with Jean-Luc!” Luis said, desperately. He loved Sheridan, he wanted to marry her, but he also knew that his family was counting on this merger between Beth’s family and his.

(Authors note: I sorta turned the tables and flipped the script here. N-E way, go on.)

Sheridan didn’t know what to say. She just stared at him, coldly. She stood up and pointed toward the door. “Get out Luis! I don’t want to see you until you’ve made your decision! Bye!” she yelled, hurt and angry. Luis put his head down and walked toward the door. He turned back in the entry way, “I love you Sheridan Crane! I’ll be back! Please don’t give up on us! I don’t think that I’ll be able to live without you!” He pleaded, tears clouding his eyes.

Inside Sheridan was crumbling at his pleas, but she had to stay firm. “Luis I won’t give up until, I know your decision. I love you too. But you have to leave right now. I need time to myself.” she said, staring at Luis. He ran to her, and placed a gentle kiss on her lips, and walked out the door. Sheridan stared at the door he had just walked out of.

She let her emotions take over, and curled up on the couch and cried.

Paloma just stared at her sister in shock. She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t really hate Theresa, but was angry and hurt that their father loved her more. Paloma got off the bed and walked over to her sister. “I don’t hate or despise you, Reesie. It’s just that you’ve always been Dad’s favorite, and it’s hard to stand in your shadow, if you get what I’m saying.” she said, glancing at Theresa.

Theresa nodded, “I know and I’m sorry. But I’ve always tried to include you in my life, but you’ve never seemed that interested. I don’t know why Daddy treats us differently. I wish that he didn’t. And believe me, I’m going to be talking to him about the way that he treated you earlier. He had no right to knock you down, or call you all those names.” she said defiantly.

Paloma smiled at her, “You crack me up, Reesie. Thank you for the offer, but I think that it’s time that me and Caleb move out. But would you please talk to him about me seeing Jamie? I don’t think that I could live without seeing my little girl. And Theresa before I forget, I’m sorry for the way that I acted last night. I guess it was just jealousy rearing it’s ugly head. I wish that I could have found such a nice man to marry. Your lucky. Come to think of it, you must have been born under a lucky star.” she said, warmly.

Theresa started to laugh, “Ha ha ha! Your so funny! But anyways, how about you come downstairs and I’ll properly introduce you to my sweet-cakes.” she said, grabbing her sister’s hand. Paloma laughed along with Theresa. The two ran out of the room and down the stairs, still holding hands.

Gwen knocked nervously on Beth’s door. She knew that she probably should’ve listened to Antonio, but she had to make sure that Beth was alright. Gwen knocked again. Still no answer. She started to feel the panic rise in her throat. She banged harder, and still no response.

Gwen ran over to the potted plant next to the door and reached under the base and grabbed the spare key. She fumbled with the key and finally got it into the lock. She frantically swung the door open, and ran in. “BETH! BETH! Where are you?” Gwen called out starting to get scared.

She ran through the house, looking in every room. No Beth. She slowly approached the bathroom door. She had this gut feeling that something was seriously wrong. Gwen slowly opened the door and walked in.

No one was in there. She was getting ready to walk out, but she noticed that the shower curtain was closed. Gwen reached over and yanked the curtain open. When Gwen’s eyes registered what they were seeing, she ran out of the room, and to the nearest phone. She quickly dialed 911.

“Hello Operator!...... Yes I need assistance! Please hurry! My best friend is bleeding to death!......1254 Raven Hill Road.....Hurry!” Gwen said franticly and hung up the phone.

Theresa, Paloma, Ethan, Pilar, and Martin were sitting down for a family chat when the phone rang. Pilar jumped up and answered it. “Hello?....Yes...Oh my God!....Yes, yes we’ll be right there.” she hung up the phone, and turned to look at her family. “Beth cut her wrists in her bathroom. Gwen found her. They didn’t get there in time...she died in the ambulance.” Pilar said, her face pale, tears slipping down her face. “We need to go over to Luis’s house. He needs us right now.” she said, herding her family towards the door.