Well everyone I am back with a new story so please review! I will be updating "Affairs of the Heart as soon as possible so don't worry. Now I am a diehard Therox fan but it would be really hard and confusing to change the storyline right now so I am keeping it ET! OMG I hate Chris so if you like him then please don't read because I desperately want him to die and this story might pick on him just a little bit. LMAO so if you love me, please push that little button and make my day! I love to read reviews so send them in! Love you and enjoy!

Desperate Decisions

Chapter #1: Stone cold dead

Desperation hung in the air like a think fog. The guests paced restlessly back and forth across the expensive Persian carpet that covered the hardwood floor of the Crane living room. Each guest had their eyes on the attempted murder victim, their host for the evening. Eve Russell sat by Alistair, checking his overall health and stability while Julian sat by her watching her every move. Unfortunately the sick and bitter man had not yet taken a turn for the worst, which was of course what every person in the house had hoped so strongly for. No one in the room wanted Alistair to endure for another day but Fancy, his granddaughter, who for whatever reason, was so loyal to the man that had caused everyone she loved anguish. She tried to keep control of the tears that filled her eyes but unknowingly they cascaded down her cheeks and on to her green silk dress. Noah could only watch, helpless to comfort the woman he loved as she cried over the horrible condition of a man she adored, a man that had destroyed his family. All he could do was hold her and try urgently to find one bit of pity for Alistair Crane. He searched his heart but was still empty-handed. He wished that the old man would fade away into oblivion and never come back.

Theresa glanced across the room, her eyes falling on her weak and dying husband. She felt a smirk pass across her face. This was her revenge! Vengeance on her brothers' murderer, the one who had annihilated her whole family until all that was left was the pieces of her former life, broken into a million pieces. Her gaze then returned to her glass of champagne, her only relief from the ache in her heart at seeing Ethan hold Gwen with such care. But she knew the truth, Ethan Winthrop loved her and when she found the proof that Gwen sent his paternity to the tabloids, he would be hers again and Ethan would hold her like that. But with love not pity because Theresa could see that Ethan cared for Gwen, as a friend though not as the love of his life. Only Theresa would ever get that look from Ethan, and she would get that gaze of endearing love once again and forever once she found that proof that would rebuild her life.

She raised her head only to find Ethan staring at her. Her eyes met his and for a fleeting moment she saw adoration, shinning through his eyes. But once he saw that she had caught him, he looked away, ashamed that he was married to one woman but cared so deeply for another. But that didn't change his feelings and it seemed nothing ever would. Theresa Lopez- Fitzgerald had his heart and stubbornly refused to give it back. And Ethan couldn't honestly say he wanted it from her. It reassured him that he had her heart though; it was a reminder that he was never really alone, the love of his life was there with him and she always had been and will be forever.

After Ethan had looked away, a small but hopeful smile graced Theresa's face. She would never lose hope for the future and hell or high water, she would be happy with Ethan because that dream was all she had to hold on to. Without it Theresa was confused and doubtful. And if Ethan didn't come to her senses then her children would be her entire world, she would have a life centered on Jane and little Ethan. Gwen would never ever have her precious daughter; hell would freeze over twice before that happened! Because Jane was a part of Ethan, the only piece of him Theresa had left. And if looking at Jane made her remember her happiness with Ethan, then she could deal with the fact that he was no longer with her. Besides Jane, Theresa would always have Ethan's heart. Forever and for always, that was what Ethan had always said to her.

"You will say that to me again one day Ethan, I know you will!" Theresa muttered under her breath before taking another sip of her drink. "One day."

Sheridan paced across the balcony outside the mansion in hopes that a brisk walk would take her mind of the night's current events. Now a voice inside her head had been taunting her the past few days, making her feel extremely guilty and selfish.

"Only a couple of weeks after Luis is buried six feet under, you start playing house with Chris and James! Do you not have enough time to mourn your one true love and your lost son?" the voice asked shrill and loud inside her head. Sheridan's body shook with sobs as she melted to the ground, head in her hands. Her blue beaded dress submerging into a heap of crystal white snow.

"I was lonely and Chris loves me, he was there when I needed him!" she shouted out to the silent and frosty air, as if trying to justify herself to the disapproving voice.

"Luis loved you to you idiot, he told you so every day that you were together! He would have been there as well if you hadn't sent him off on that wild goose chase! You could have at least gone with him! He left and didn't come back and he probably died thinking that you hated him! You a horrible person Sheridan and you don't deserve to be loved, not by Chris and certainly not be Luis! You killed Luis, just like you murdered your aunt Rachel." the voice shot back. Sheridan just nodded and continued to cry, the muffled sounds lost to the wind. Truth was Sheridan just wanted to be held in Luis' arms once again, shielded from the harsh realities of the rest of the world. She would never be safe again because her protector was dead. Her lover, fiancée and best friend was gone forever and wasn't coming back. And to top it all off, it was her fault.

"Luis come back please, I need you!" Sheridan shouted at the top of her lungs. But the harsh wind carried away her words laced with desperation, far away.

"Face it girl, Luis is never coming back! Chris will never be Luis and James will never be Marty, your son! And how do you grieve for Luis, the supposed love of your life? You go warm up Chris' bed! If your lucky, Luis may have not seen that from up above but then again he might have!" the voice was now filled with disgust for Sheridan's recent actions.

"It's true, I did it and I can't take it back!" Sheridan whispered, hoping for the voice to forgive her and leave her in silence. No such luck.

"But you still did it and you will live with it until the day you die and face Luis once again. What will you do then Sheridan?" the voice questioned. Sheridan had no answer to give. No answer at all to take away the guilt, loneliness and grief that lay heavy on her heart. She was a shell of the person she once was. The person that Luis had loved.

The voice seemed satisfied hearing Sheridan's heart wrenching sobs and did not speak again. It had made her reflect on her actions and its work here was done. For now.

Ethan couldn't help but glance again at Theresa. He could see the desperate hope in her face. The hope that Alistair would die painfully and slowly, leaving her a widow to raise her children without his rules or expectations. He wanted so badly to reach out and comfort her but he was reminded that he couldn't as Gwen snuggled further into his loose embrace, resting her head on his chest. His eyes scanned Theresa's body and that dress that hugged her curves and glittered in the light. How beautiful she looked almost angelic! Ethan chuckled to himself, Theresa was anything but saintly, she was devious and scheming at times but her intentions were good. However it seemed that only he could see that she meant well.

"How I want to reassure you, my love!" he whispered quietly.

"Oh you are Ethan!" Gwen said, suddenly speaking up. She looked into Ethan's blue orbs and kissed him on the cheek. All he could do was nod and return to gazing at Theresa. The real meanings of his words were lost to Gwen and anyone who would have heard them. No one but his darling Theresa would understand. Understand that the woman in his arms was not the woman that he was referring to. Not at all and no one would ever know the truth. That he wished to call Theresa his wife, play with little Ethan, Jane and Theresa as a family or make passionate love to Theresa. That was his dream, his hope and desperate wish. And he would keep it a secret till the day he died.

"Forever and for always, Theresa!" he muttered. Tearing his eyes away from Theresa, he squirmed out of Gwen's grasp. He needed a drink, something strong.

Eve continued to check Alistair's heart rate in feeble hope that maybe his small twisted heart had ceased to beat. Unfortunately his heart maintained a small but steady pulse. That man had a will to live that Eve Russell had never seen before and it scared her. Was this man so evil that it made him untouchable? Why wouldn't Alistair just stop struggling, do everyone a favor and just die?

"Dear God, just give up Alistair! What in the world do you have to live for anyway?" the doctor hissed through clenched teeth.

The question was a valid one. Why did Alistair want to survive? He was cold and cruel and despised by all. Why wake up to a world where you are not wanted? But then again, maybe that is why Alistair wanted to live. Because waking up would not only irritate Harmony's residents but would give him more time to cause pain, the very thing that he loved to put upon anyone who got in his way. A bit more time to control and manipulate. That alone was his reason for life, a sad and perverted motive, but still a reason.

Eve glanced at the clock that was hung near the leather sofa. It was two o'clock in the morning and she was feeling exhausted. The quests had dispersed around the house, some sleeping in the many guest rooms in the lavish and vast mansion. Only Julian was left, lingering by her side. He looked at her and saw the tired look in her deep brown eyes.

"Come my dear, I'll make you a strong pot of coffee, hopefully it will revive you." Julian said placing his hands on her shoulders and helping Eve stand up.

"I could use a cup of something strong right now, thank you very much!" Eve replied gratefully and the pair headed towards the kitchen. Eve paused and shut off the light as they passed through the doors.

"I do hope he dies!" Julian said as the walked down the hall. Soon their voices faded away and Eve's reply was lost to the ears of the intruder that was lurking in the hall near the entrance to outside. The person was dressed all in black and had just returned from Alistair's office. The intruder now grabbed a pillow from the sofa and walked towards the old man whose breathing had now slowed down and was steady. The figure was dressed all in black with a mask covering his face. Having reached the bedside he picked up the plush pillow and abruptly started smothering Alistair. All you could here was the old man's muffled cries of protest that slowly faded away as he stopped breathing. Behind the mask, the intruder smiled. It was done; he had accomplished part of what he came for. Now to finish what he had started.

"I have gotten my revenge you elderly bastard!" he whispered, his words victorious and laced with venom and hatred for the now deceased Alistair Crane. "Now try to stop me from being happy with her!" he chuckled and proceeded to walk towards the main hall.

"You will never hurt anyone again, especially not my sister!" he hissed, turning on his heel and disappearing into Alistair's office. The murderer had fled and the murder was complete, Alistair Crane was stone cold dead!

Sheridan closed the sliding doors and grabbed a blanket from the armchair to warm herself. She tiptoed to Alistair's side as if she thought being loud would wake her father. She leaned over to check his heartbeat only to find there was none.

"How can you be dead? Eve said you were stable!" Sheridan muttered staring in shock at her father's still figure. She reached out and touched his hand, it was ice cold.

"As cold as your heart, dear father, as cold as your heart!" she whispered dropping his hand and backing away from his body. "You can't hurt me anymore!" she said as he turned to him once more. "Never again will you stop me from being happy!"

Sheridan swallowed the lump in her throat. "Everyone come quickly he's dead!" she cried out. Her words had an instant effect as the guest poured in to confirm their hope. A circle was quickly formed around the deceased man. Whispers and sighs of relief filled the air but were silenced by Fancy's heart wrenching sobs filled the air. She fell to her knees and then wrapped her arms around a shocked Noah who just held her trying to silence her cries. Ivy could only stare at her distressed daughter. Along with everyone else, Ivy could just not understand Fancy's bond with Alistair, maybe it wasn't her place to know.

"So has the old bastard finally croaked?" came a voice from the front entrance. Everyone turned to see a figure all in black, leaning against the wall.

Theresa turned in outrage at the masked figure that had come into her house uninvited. "Who are you and why are you in my house?" she screamed narrowing her eyes at the intruder.

"Well that is not the welcome I expected!" the man said chuckling. "What no hug?" he questioned Theresa. Her eyes widened in shock and tears began to fill her eyes. She ran straight towards the mysterious man and he enveloped her in a hug.

She sobbed into his chest as he murmured comforting words into her ear. "Don't cry little angel!" he whispered. His meaning was lost to everyone but Pilar. Her eyes, just like her daughter's filled to the brim and she walked towards the man and started to mumble something in Spanish. The only thing that the guests could make out was "Luis".

Author's Note: I'm soooo very evil for leaving you with a cliffhanger but that is just me! I would love to read your guesses for who the intruder is when you send in your review. Because I know you will because you love me and want me to update don't you? Thought so! "Affairs of the Heart" will be update ASAP so don't worry! XOXOXOXO