Author's Note: Sorry for the delay in getting this chapter up. I moved to a new
house and it took me a while before I get my computer set up so I get this out.
Next chapter should be up next week. Enjoy!
Chapter Seven
Bernoulli's Principle (Action/Reaction)
"Oh my god, Stefano's alive." Marlena said announcing what everyone knew to
be true, the fear that most people in the room had held for years was alive.
Lexie was the first person to recover walking to her father she embraced him.
"Oh father, thank God you're alive. I'd always hoped that somehow you'd
survived." Lexie said as Stefano returned her hug.
"Yes, Alexandra I'm alive. I am sorry for the deception. And for having held
the truth against you for so long. It was the only way I knew how to protect
you, my child." He replied as Brandon walked toward his wife. Releasing
Lexie, Stefano held a hand out for him to shake, which he did warily.
"Oh Father, I have so much to tell you. You have a granddaughter. We, that is
Brandon and I, named her Stephanie … after you." Lexie told her father as she
pulled her husband closer to her.
"Yes, I know, she is beautiful Alexandra." Stefano told her earnestly.
"As much as I hate to break up this tender, family moment, I do believe there
are more pressing matters to be discussed. Such as, why you are alive and not
behind bars as you should be." John said clearly annoyed that Stefano was
alive.
"I'd like some answers myself, Dad. Starting off with, how in the world Chloe
could be your granddaughter. You'll forgive me if I'm not inclined to believe
you," Brady remarked looking pointedly at Stefano. "Or her husband, which I
don't believe for a second that you are," he sneered at Philip.
"Yes, Father please explain how you're so sure Chloe is Tony's daughter."
Lexie added wanting some answers herself. "If Tony and Andre are identical
then how come Nancy never said anything about him being the father of
Chloe?" She asked.
"Lexie's right, Tony can't be Chloe's biological father or Nancy would have said
something by now. And I'm sure Chloe's marriage isn't legit either so––," Belle
started only to be interrupted by Nancy.
"I was raped by Chloe's natural father and––," Nancy started to explain clearly
shaken by all of the recent revelations that had come to light. But, it was
Chloe instead of Craig who stepped in for her. Pressing a gentle hand on her
shoulder. Nancy's eyes glimmered with unshed tears when her eyes met
Chloe's. Her hand twined with her daughter's.
"First of all, my mother owes no one in this room any explanations and least of
all you, Belle. As for my marriage, well this might surprise you but it is indeed
as real. It is as real as anyone else's marriage here. But, even if it wasn't, my
marriage, my life is none of your damn business. This marriage is between
Philip and I, that's all you need to know. But, for the record, Stefano is my
grandfather and Philip is my husband. And neither of them owes any of you
any explanations." Chloe replied to Belle but speaking to everyone in the
room.
"Chloe I don't know what Philip has done, how he blackmailed you into
marrying him but I will help you out in anyway I can. I'll help you get a divorce
and take Lily far, far away from him. I sincerely doubt that you want her
anywhere Philip or Stefano for that matter." Brady told Chloe.
"Now you just wait a minute Brady Black. You have no right––,"Lexie started.
"Lexie why don't you take Stefano and go somewhere to catch up. I'm sure
you both have a lot of talking to do. Chloe and I," Philip glanced down proudly
at his wife. "Can handle everything from here on out."
When Lexie started to interrupt again Brandon intervened. "Lexie, he's right,
you need some time to reacquaint yourself with your father in private. Come
on, I know the perfect place." Brandon said as he ushered his wife, cousin-in-
law and father-in-law out of the dining room and into the private space Stefano
had appeared from.
"What the hell is going on here Philip? Why did you bring Stefano Dimera here
to destroy us?" Bo asked the anger clearly evident in his voice.
"How could you Philip? We're your family and you're helping the enemy."
Belle said accusingly as she turned toward Shawn.
"Do you have any idea what you've done you idiot?" John asked angrily.
"You son of a bitch how could you let this … this man into our lives. Don't you
even think? No of course you don't. You don't care about anyone but yourself
and you. I hope that Stefano turns on you as well. You've put everyone in
danger, EVERYONE, in jeopardy all because of your need for revenge. You will
pay for this." Brady said.
"Now, hold on everybody, lets not jump to conclusions. Philip may have a
perfectly good explanation." Bo replied now calmly trying to take control of
the situation.
"Oh come on Bo, you heard your brother admit he brought Stefano back to
Salem to destroy all of us." John interrupted disbelievingly.
"My father is right, Philip did this to have us atone for some unknown crime
we're supposed to have committed against him. This is all for some sort of
revenge for him and he's forced Chloe and her daughter in on it as well."
Brady started.
"Stop it!" Bo yelled attempting yet again to get some order. "Look neither
you nor John," he moved into the anger faces of the Black men. "Know
anything about my brother or his reasoning for bringing Stefano here. And
before you condemn him you should give him the chance to tell us why." Bo
said hoping to find out that Philip hadn' t betrayed him in the worst way by
helping Dimera.
"First of all, Bo I really don't owe you or anyone else in this room excluding my
wife any explanations."
"Now, you see what I'm talking about Bo, your precious brother here, is in
cahoots with Stefano to destroy us." John interrupted again.
"However, I will, just this once explain." Philip started again this time his
sliver eyes bright like lightening. "My father always told me that family was
important. You take the good with the bad you don't discriminate. Although,
with this family, you'd never know that because you don't allow anyone in who
isn't "good". But, anyway, being my father's son family is important to me
also most especially for my daughter." He looked at Brady to see him clench
his teeth together in anger. "Liliana Jade, LJ, doesn't have a grandfather
anymore. But, she can have a great-grandfather. I won't deny my daughter
the chance to get to know him. She has a right to a family, be a member good,
bad, innocent or evil – whatever. Discriminates are of no consequence, she
deserves it so she will have it. Stefano Dimera is my wife's grandfather; he is
apart of my family. If you can't accept Stefano as apart of my family then so
be it. But, don't expect me to deny my daughter the right to have a family."
"Philip, I'm sure we all understand your position. But, the fact of the matter is
Stefano Dimera is a monster. He has tried to destroy our family for years.
While, I know you want the best for your daughter, you have to know that he's
not it." Bo looked at his wife and sons. "If you allow this - this criminal into
this family you'll do it without me. I have to protect my family; I will not allow
him to hurt them again. I'm sorry, Philip, but I won't put my family in danger
just so your daughter can have a grandfather." He took Hope's hand and
together they started to leave.
"I'm sorry Philip but I have to agree with my father on this." Shawn said
following his parent's footsteps with Belle. John and Marlena soon followed
them. Brady was the last to start to leave but he stepped in front of Philip and
Chloe.
"You're making a big mistake and someone is going to get hurt. And I just hope
to God it's not you or Lily." Brady warned Chloe, and then sparing an angered
glance at Philip he too left.
Just as everyone started to leave Philip turned toward them. "Since everyone
is clearly going to leave I might as well make my last announcement." The
Blacks and Brady's alike turned to hear what he had to say. Even Chloe looked
on in slight surprise she hadn't known that Philip had anything left to tell
them. "My original reason for finally returning to Salem wasn't my father's
untimely demise. No, I had plans to come back anyway to find out which of my
wonderful family members is a thief. One of you or maybe a handful of you has
been stealing money from Titan for over five years now. My father was aware
of this before he died and had already set plans in action to find the culprit.
Like my father I intend to find out which one of you imbeciles would dare steal
from a Kiriakis. When I do you will be ruined in two fold, for father had the
insight to call in aid of my illustrious new grandfather-in-law." He smiled upon
the pronouncement of his final announcement as he noted everyone's paled
surprised expressions. "You can leave. My family and I would like to spend
sometime with one another in private." And with that Philip turned around
and placing his hand on the small of Chloe's back he directed her toward one of
the table in the dining hall. Meanwhile, both the Brady's and the Blacks
headed out of the room. But, not before Chloe and Brady could make eye
contact.
Chloe watched as Brady left the room, and then she turned to Philip as he
headed her toward her parents. "Philip wait," she stopped and grasped his
arm to hold him in place. "I need to go talk to Brady." This was all she said
before she turned and went after her ex-fiancé. He watched her leave in
silence.
Nancy and Craig appeared by his side seconds later. Craig waited for Philip to
turn around before he said anything. "Philip, I guess congratulations are in
order." He offered his hand to Philip and he shook it. "If you hurt her or my
granddaughter I'll see that you feel the full extent of my anger." Craig said as
Mimi, Gene, and the Dimeras appeared.
Philip nodded. "Fair enough," He turned to Stefano. "Stefano, Lexie let me
introduce––,"
"I know Dr. and Mrs. Wesley, Philip we hardly need the introduction." Lexie
interrupted sternly. "Let me be the first to welcome you into the family." She
held out her hand for Nancy to shake. To which Nancy didn't hesitate to take,
thus uniting two families, the Wesley's and the Dimeras.
Philip moved back slightly to allow Chloe's family to come together. Mimi
walked over to him still observing everything.
"So how did it go?" She asked not wanting everyone to know what she was
talking about.
"About as well as could be expected, Chloe knows about the extortion going on
at Titan and I'm pretty sure she's knows who we think it is. She certainly
couldn't wait to get out of here to go talk to him when she found out. Then
again he's who she always runs to." There was a flicker of hurt reflected in his
eyes. Too quickly though, it disappeared, returning to its normal stormy blue
gray. "I need a drink." He walked away toward the bar leaving Mimi and the
others.
After watching Philip leave to get a drink, Mimi decided it wouldn't be too
much to see exactly what Chloe was up to with her ex and she followed the
same path Chloe had out of the room.
Chloe went after Brady for two reasons. The first being to return his ring and
the second to find out what he knew about the money that had been stole from
Titan. She caught up with him just as he was about to enter the elevator with
Shawn and Belle.
"Brady, wait please I need to talk to you."
Belle looked at her and immediately pulled at Brady to come into the elevator.
"Brady, I think you should come with us. Chloe's done enough damage for one
day." But Brady wouldn't listen to her he resisted her pull.
"No Belle, I want to talk to her. You and Shawn go ahead."
"Alright, if that's the way you want it." Belle and Shawn boarded the elevator
and the doors shut. Brady turned to Chloe to see her pull something out of her
purse.
She took out the ring he had given her for their engagement and held it out for
him to take. "Here Brady, take it. It's yours."
He took the ring from her and stared quietly at the solitary diamond ring. "Tell
me why," he looked up at her. "Why did you marry Philip?"
"I'm sorry, Brady."
"No, I don't want your damn apology. I want to know why Chloe. Why did you
marry him? You at least owe me that much."
Chloe was silent for a moment as if she was trying to decide what to say. "I
could tell you he blackmailed me into it. Or that I did it so Lily could know her
father. I could tell you lots of things. But, the truth of the matter is that I
love Philip. I always have and always will."
Brady knew all along that Chloe had loved Philip, strike that still loved Philip.
But he wanted to marry her anyways because he thought he loved her enough
for the both of them. "Then why did you agree to marry me?"
"I-I don't know. I thought that if I married you then I would forget about
Philip. I hoped against hope that my love for him would just go away as the
years went by. But, I was wrong and I'm sorry for that. Love just doesn't work
that way." Chloe replied.
Brady was unmoved by her response. He knew that she had feelings for him;
he'd always known that. But, whenever Philip was involved he would be
second best in her heart. "Unless there is anything you wanted to talk to me
about, I'm leaving." He pushed the button for the elevator down and started
to leave. When it didn't arrive soon enough he turned and headed to the
staircase. He stopped on his way and looked back, "Tell Lily that I … that I'll
see her later." And with those parting words he left.
Chloe stood for a few moments after he left and then began her own trail back
to her husband, the love of her life, Philip. She was so immersed in her
thoughts she didn't see Mimi standing at the opposite end of the hall.
Mimi waited for Chloe to leave then she took the elevator down hoping to catch
Brady before he left the restaurant.
Brady was walking to the sliding doors of the restaurant when her heard
someone calling his name from the background. He stopped and turned half-
expecting to see Chloe. But, it wasn't her it was Mimi now strolling toward
him.
"Brady wait up," she called out as she neared him.
"What do you want Mimi?" He asked no longer having the patience to deal with
anyone else. "What are you here to rub in my failed engagement or, are you
here to tell me I told you so because if you are I don't want to hear it. I've
think you've done enough today to me and to my whole family."
Mimi was taken back by Brady's anger toward her. "Why are you coming down
on me, Brady? I've done nothing wrong. The only thing I've done is stay true
to a friend. I'm sorry Chloe broke off your engagement but—,"
"Oh so you're sorry Chloe dumped me to marry Philip. Somehow I doubt that.
Look I really have nothing left to say to you. But there is one thing I want to
know before I go?" He paused waiting for her acknowledgement to continue.
"Tell me are you sleeping with Philip too now, are you spending your nights
opening your legs –-," Brady was silenced as Mimi slapped him across the face.
Mimi stepped back, not believing that she had actually slapped him. Her eyes
filled with tears as she looked up at him. "I came down here to tell you that
I'm sorry and that I was heading up the investigation at Titan so you wouldn't
be targeted. But, I can see that Philip was obviously right about you. You
can't seem to let the past go. I made a mistake and I've paid for it. But, are
just going to keep on punishing me for it aren't you?" When Brady didn't
answer she continued. "Now, I'm sorry Chloe married Philip and that he is
Lily's father. But, that doesn't mean I'm going to let you blame everything on
me." She turned and ran away from him to the elevator to go up.
Brady watched as the doors closed on her tearstained face. "God damn it!"
He hadn't meant to make her think about the mistake that they'd made
together all those years before. The mistake that had forever changed their
lives. He swore as punched his own hand. "I'm sorry Mimi."
Please tell me what you think good or bad.