Martin breathed in and smiled as he glanced around at his family. He never thought this day would come, never thought he'd feel this kind of love again. Nothing—absolutely nothing—would ever top this moment.

"Oh, Papa, I wish you had been there tonight to dance with me at my wedding," Theresa sighed. "We would have had so much fun."

Martin smiled softly at her and clasped his hand over hers. "That would have been nice, Theresa . . ." Martin's smile faded.

"What's wrong, Papa?" Theresa's brow creased with worry.

Martin patted her hand. "I'm just afraid I'm not going to be dancing anytime soon."

"Oh, Martin," Pilar gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Is what the doctors predicted true?"

"Yes," Martin affirmed. "I have swelling around my spine. They said it's probably only temporary, but . . . I'm paralyzed from the waist down."

"Oh, mi amor!" Pilar grabbed him in a tight embrace. "We will get through this—just like we've gotten through everything else."

"I know, Pilar," Martin replied, rubbing her back. "Just knowing that I have you with me gives me all the faith I need. I only wish Antonio and Paloma were here."

Theresa wrapped her arms around her father. "We wish that, too, Papa."

Luis noticed Sheridan beginning to tremble—her eyes fixed on Martin's legs. "Come on," he said, kneeling down beside her. "Let me take you out into the hall for a second."


"I'm here to see my sister," Julian told Eve. "She was brought in earlier with a concussion."

"Is Sheridan okay?" Panic rose in Eve's voice. "What about the baby?"

"As far as I know, they're both doing much better," Julian said. "But, Eve, what about you? Where have you been for these past few months?"

"I'm fine, Julian." Eve scrambled to her feet. "But I really can't be seen talking to you. I'll check on Sheridan on my way out."

Julian glanced back at the door, his heart racing. "Eve, no one's stopped by your office the entire time I've been here. The hospital probably doesn't even know that you're back."

"They don't," Eve said. "I haven't told them yet. I just came here to pick up a few things."

Grabbing her purse, Eve started toward the door.

He couldn't let her leave.

"No, Eve—please don't." Julian stopped her.

"I shouldn't be talking to you at all, Julian," Eve insisted. "If TC ever got wind of it, I might never get to see my daughters again."

Pain squeezed Julian's heart. "Surely, TC wouldn't take them away from you."

Eve burst into tears. "You can't guarantee that. Whitney may be legally an adult, but Simone's still a minor. TC is already upset enough to have served me with divorce papers. What's to stop him from taking Simone, too?"

His heart pounding in his chest, Julian gathered her up in his arms. "Eve, even if TC petitions for sole custody, no court on the planet is going to take a daughter away from her mother without a very good reason."

"Maybe so, but I can't take that chance." Eve sobbed harder and buried her head in his shoulder. "I've already lost a son, Julian—I can't lose my daughters, too."


"Sheridan, this is not your fault." Luis knelt down beside her. "I know your father has spent your entire life blaming you for your mother's death and everything else under the sun, but none of that is true—and neither is this. My father chose to fight Alistair; Alistair chose to shoot him. You didn't make either of those decisions."

Sobs overtaking her body, Sheridan gulped for air. "But, Luis . . . your father . . . he never would have been in that position if my father hadn't grabbed me."

"You just said it yourself, Sher. Alistair grabbed you. You are as much as a victim in all of this as my father is." Luis rubbed her back. "Sher, please, you've got to believe me. You've got to stop blaming yourself."

A single tear fell from Luis's eye. "You've got a good heart, Sher." Luis pressed his hand to the valley between her breasts. "A wonderful, kind, and giving heart. You would never hurt anyone on purpose."

The door behind Luis opened.

Miguel stepped out into the hall. "We're going to get going, Luis," he said, glancing back at Ethan and Theresa. "But Papa wants to see you one last time before you and Sheridan head home, too."

Theresa knelt down beside Sheridan's wheelchair. "Sheridan, are you okay?"

"Yes, Theresa . . . I'll be fine." Sheridan wiped some tears from her cheeks. "Just go—enjoy what's left of your night."

Theresa glanced up at Ethan and then back down at Sheridan. "Okay . . . as long as you're sure, Sheridan . . ."

Luis stroked Sheridan's cheek. "It's okay, Theresa. I've got this."

"Okay, Luis." Theresa squeezed her brother's shoulder, her brow creased with worry. "Just call us if you need us."

Luis nodded and frowned—and then turned his attention back to his wife. "Come on, Sheridan. Why don't we say good night to Papa so I can take you home and get you into bed?"

"What if your father never walks again, Luis?"

Luis pulled Sheridan into his arms. "Even if he doesn't, you're not the one at fault here, Sheridan."

Her body shaking, Sheridan buried her head in Luis's neck. "But I am, Luis. I am."


Eve's entire body shook as she sobbed against Julian's shoulder. How had her life come to this? How could it have spiraled so out of control?

She shouldn't have hidden the truth from TC or her daughters. She should have told them about her past with Julian—about the son they'd lost.

And here she was having another moment with Julian—giving herself yet another secret to hide.

Eve's back straightened. She couldn't do this. No matter how much she needed Julian's love and comfort, she couldn't give in to it.

"Eve, what is it?" Julian asked, as she stepped out of his arms.

"I told you—I can't do this." Eve wiped some tears from her eyes.

Julian's voice thickened with emotion. "Have you tried talking to Whitney and Simone?"

"I've been trying that for the past few months." Eve burst into a fresh set of tears. "They won't even answer the phone."

"Maybe you could try to talk to Theresa." Julian's voice filled with desperation. "She and Whitney seem to be as thick as thieves."

"They are." Eve's voice strained. "But, given that Theresa just got married today, I'm sure she has a lot of other things on her mind."

"Ah, yes." Julian's voice quieted. "It's Ethan and Theresa's wedding day. How could I have forgotten?"

Eve's heart constricted. "I'm so sorry, Julian. I shouldn't have brought that up."

"No, no." Julian hung his head. "The fact that I wasn't invited to Ethan's wedding—I have only myself to blame." Julian's voice strained with pain. "I treated him so horribly when Ivy's secret was revealed—I let Father kick him out. No matter whose blood he has, I still raised him as my son—I owed him better than that."

"Dr. Russell?" a bright voice sounded. "Dr. Russell, is that really you?"

Eve's and Julian's attention snapped to the hall.

Theresa waved and hurried across the floor. "Dr. Russell, how have you been? I haven't seen you in so long."

Eve took a deep breath in and steadied herself. "Theresa—I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your wedding. I'm so happy for you."

"You, too, Ethan." Julian bowed his head. "I wish you all the happiness in the world."

"Thank you, Julian," Ethan said stiffly. "I assume you're here to see Sheridan."

"Yes, I am," Julian admitted, fixing his eyes on Ethan. "How is she holding up?"

Ethan studied him for a moment. "Physically, she's all right—but emotionally—she's still a mess."

"I'm sure she's going be okay, though, Ethan." Theresa laid her hand on Ethan's chest. "After the miracle we all got tonight, there have got to be more good things in store for our family."

Eve furrowed her brow and wiped some tears from her eyes. "What miracle are you talking about?"

Theresa beamed as she turned back to Eve and Julian. "Papa—he woke up!"

"Oh, Theresa, that's wonderful," Eve gasped, a genuine smile lighting up her face and heart for the first time in over three months. "Your mother must be over the moon."

"She is," Theresa sighed dreamily. "She's with Papa right now."

Ethan focused his gaze on Julian. "So are Sheridan and Luis if you're looking to find them."

"Thank . . . thank you, Ethan," Julian stammered. "We'll go right away."

Eve embraced Theresa; a tear slipped from her eye. "I'm just so happy for you and your family—that, after all of these years, your mother's prayers have finally been answered."

"Yours will be answered, too, Dr. Russell," Theresa said softly. "I'm working on Whitney—I promise you. You will get your daughters back one of these days—you will get your own miracle."