Liam stood in front of Brookes door, he hesitated, wanting to steady his breathing and gather his thoughts before he went entered. He'd gone straight to his and Hopes home from Steffi's, knowing he couldn't put off talking to his wife any longer, after getting past the waiting paparazzi he headed straight into the privacy their new property, only to find Hopes car not in the garage as it usually was.

He wasn't surprised, he'd immediately thought she was probably at her mother's; where she always went for comfort and validation after she'd done something wrong.

He stifled that bitter thought and checked the house anyway – just in case - but nothing had been moved since they'd left for the Fashion Show yesterday morning. He put the coffee on and decided to have a quick shower and change of clothes while he waited, he didn't want to see his wife and mother-in-law smelling like a brewery, and with rumpled clothes. No, for the confrontation he knew was coming he wanted to be fresh and ready, well, as ready as he could be anyway.

When he was finally ready, he went straight to Brookes, where, once again, a few reporters were hanging around the front gate in hope of a story. Luckily, he still had his automatic gate opener, so he didn't even have to slow much as he drove past them. Once he pulled up in front of Brookes, he was surprised to find that Hopes car wasn't here either.

Still, she won't be far away, he thought with a bitter little smile, every time she was in any kind of trouble she always turned to Brooke, who would in turn support her, and manage to turn everything around until Hope believed she wasn't at fault. He knew the pattern well, because he'd lived it, it had been one of the reasons he'd wanted to shift in the first place, he had needed to break Hope away from her mother's toxic influence, now it was too late.

Taking a deep breath, he knocked then entered, he smiled as he saw his daughter and Brooke on the couch, doing some kind of puzzle together.

"Daddy," squealed Beth in delight as she jumped up and ran to Liam.

He picked her up and kissed her on the forehead. "How's my favourite girl?"

"Grandma Brooke is doing a puzzle with me, but Mummy's not her, she had to go out to go see aunt Steffy. Grandma Brooke says we can have my fourth birthday party here if we want, but I want to have it at Disneyland. I want to be a princess." She says importantly as she jumps from one subject to another with a child's ease.

"Where were you? Mummy and I had a sleep over at Grandma Brookes but you never came. Did you miss me, I missed you."

Liam smiled at his daughter as he put her back down.

"I had to go see your Grandpa Bill and your Uncle Wyatt, we had a lot to talk about and it took a long time, then I was way too tired to drive home so I stayed there, but I hope you had a good time with Grandma Brooke?"

"Oh yes, we had chicken nuggets for dinner, they were yummy," said Beth as she remembered last night's delicious dinner.

"Beth honey, why don't you take your puzzle and go play upstairs, you dad and I need to have a talk."

Beth pouted in annoyance, "but why can't I stay down here? We already have the edges done."

"Beth, Grandma Brooke is right, now I want you to go upstairs and finish your puzzle, then gather all your things and I'll take you home, okay."

"But . . . "

"Now Beth!" said Liam far more sternly than he meant.

Beth ran over and grabbed her puzzle, her bottom lip quivering, then she quickly retreated up the stairs, still upset that her daddy had growled at her.

Liam sighed, he knew he'd over reacted, but he didn't want Beth around to hear what was coming, and at least now she might stay up in her playroom now she was upset with him, and not be tempted to sneak back down.

"Liam, that was harsh, she's just a little girl, there was no need to snap at her," said Brooke looking at him reproachfully.

"She's gone, get it over with." Liam replies, refusing to be put on the back foot from the beginning.

Brooke walked towards him her arms held apart in a pleading gesture.

"What do you mean? Get what over with? Liam, we don't need to squabble, we just need to talk about what happened yesterday. Surely you can see that Hope just made a mistake," seeing the outrage on Liams face she quickly added, "I know, it was tragic, and she feels awful, the last thing she ever wanted to do was to hurt you. She loves you Liam, she needs you! She made a horrible mistake when she was upset and drunk, one that Steffy," she spat venomously, "grew all out of proportion for the press and her little show."

Liam held up his hand, his eyes narrowing on Brooke. "Oh, so it's either mine or Steffi's fault that Hope had sex with Finn and destroyed Steffi's marriage?"

"No, Liam, that's not what I'm saying. You know Hope! You know she isn't like that; she loves you. Please, just talk to her, you'll see. You have a family, they need you, you can get through this, I know you can!" Pleaded Brooke desperately.

Both Liam and Brooke stop talking as the door swings open and Hope steps inside, her face is a mixture of pain and rage as she enters. On seeing Liam she immediately breaks into tears and runs to him, throwing herself into his arms as she starts to sob uncontrollable.

Liam looks over Hopes head at Brooke saying quietly, "Go, help Beth get ready to go home."

Brooke hesitates a moment before leaving the pair alone.

"What happened at Steffi's?" asks Liam quietly as Hope holds him.

She looks up, tears streaming feely down her face. "I tra, tried to explain, to reason with her, bu, but she just attacked me, she never gave me a chance, never listened. Oh god, Liam, it was so . . . so, horrible, it didn't matter what I said, she just wanted to hurt me, to destroy me, both me and my line! And after all the good my line did, after all of those people I helped! It all meant nothing to her." She took in a shuddering breath and raised her tear-streaked face to Liam.

"I tried Liam, I swear, I tried to make amends, but nothing I said mattered to her, she was just filled with so much hate and bitterness."

She collapsed into his arms crying again as a fresh wave of pain and disbelief washed over her.

"Hope, what did you expect?" said Liam totally aghast at her explanation. "You slept with her god-damned husband – AGAIN!" He shouted.

"Not only that, but you betrayed both me and Beth, your own daughter! What the hell is wrong with you? What were you thinking? And DON'T" he raised his finger in the air as he moved away from her to look her squarely in the eyes, "Don't you ever tell me you didn't mean it. YOU SLEPT WITH FINN! YOU BETRAYED ME!" He ended on a yell.

Hope took a step back in shock, she had never seen Liam so angry, so unbelieving of her, she'd never seen him look at her with such . . . disappointment . . . contempt, even, she was rocked.

"Liam, I love you, only you, I was drunk, angry, confused, and if that horrible reporter hadn't been there . . . "

Liam frowns, "what reporter?"

Hope immediately launches into the story of what happened that day then of her fleeing to Bikini Bar, and of her meeting Finn on the beach where they started to share drinks. "I wasn't thinking clearly," she ended on a sob, before continuing. "Thomas had already commented on what he thought about your feelings for Steffy, and then when even Finn said he'd seen it too." She dragged in a shaky breath as Liam frowned in obvious confusion.

"Seen what?"

"The way you look at her!" sobbed Hope.

"Hope, I've never hidden the fact that I love Steffy from you, she's the mother of my children, you know that, and I thought you'd accepted that." Liam said angrily.

"No, not that you love her Liam, I can accept that, what I couldn't accept was that you're still in love with her!"

"Hope . . . "started Liam

"NO," screamed Hope in rage

"This is what you always do, you find a way around it, but everyone . . . EVEN ME! Have seen the way you look at her! It's more than just admiration, it's more than just loving someone you share a child with, you still want her! And do you know what's even more galling? You've never stopped! Do you have any idea of how that makes me feel? Well, do you? Steffy Forrester, the queen of fashion, the one woman that every male on the planet desires and want's to be with – even my own husband!" she spat.

"No! You're trying to turn this around all on me, you're trying to absolve yourself of guilt for what you did, not this time Hope, this time it won't work! Guess what, I'm not buying it! I've done everything in my power to prove to you that I love you. That I'm loyal to you and our family, but no matter what I do it's always thrown back in my face, There's always an excuse, ALWAYS!" he roared, "and it usually begins with Steffy, your usual go to in an attempt to justify whatever you've done! Well guess what Hope, I'm tired, I'm tired of the excuses, I have a son and two daughters to think about now, so I'm taking Beth and I'm going home. What you do, well, that's up to you."

Hopes eyes widen as the implication of what Liam just said sinks in, "A son? You mean . . . "

Liam nods, "yes, the results of Steffi's paternity test came through, Hayes is my son, and I fully intend that he knows his father."

Hope gasps in horror at Liams news, she'd been holding out hope that Sheila had uttered one last lie, just to screw with them, but this, this was horrendous news.

"So, I take it you've already been to Steffi's?" she asked quietly.

"Yes," said Liam with narrowed eyes, "I went this morning, I had to see her, I had to know why she did what she did, but instead she showed me the results. There's no question, Hayes is mine."

Hope shook her head in disbelief, "and tell me Liam, did you ask her to get back with you?"

Liam remained silent as he turned away from her. "TELL ME! She yelled, "did you, or did you not, ask her to get back with you when you found out!"

"Don't you dare try to change the subject Hope, this isn't about me, Steffy or Hayes, this is about you and your infidelity!" replied Liam angrily as he turned back to stare at his wife.

Hope laughed a little hysterically, "Of course it's about Steffy, it's always been about Steffy! All of our time together it's always been about Steffy, and the pull she has on you! Oh my god! You can't even admit to it, can you!"

She turned away from him and walked to the couch where she looks down at a few remaining puzzle pieces that Beth has inadvertently left behind. "What hope have we got Liam? What hope have both Beth and I got when you keep refusing to let her go? And now, now that Finn has left her, now that you've found out that you have a son together, will you abandon Beth and I? Will you abandon us when we need you most?" she cried.

Liam caught his breath; he had no idea of what he was going to do. Steffy had offered him no promises, no commitment should he leave his marriage, he turned back to his wife, just as Beth and Brooke came walking back down the stairs.

"I'm ready daddy," she said holding up her small backpack.

Liam closed his eyes then held out his arms, Beth ran into them and was swept up into a hug.

"Okay honey, lets go." He said on a forced smile.

Beth turned back to Hope who was staring at Liam in horror. "Are you coming with us Mommy?" she asked innocently.

Hope stared at Liam for a moment before saying sadly, "That's up to your daddy Beth, do you want me to come with you?" she asked quietly.

Liam sighed, "He felt backed into a corner, if he said no, then Beth would want to know why, and if he said yes, that might give Hope some reason to believe she'd won, yet again.

As another idea slowly filtered through his overloaded brain he smiled at his daughter and replied, "Mommy can come home whenever she wants, and guess what?" he asked with widened eyes and raised eyebrows.

"What?" breathed Beth now thoroughly intrigued.

"Mummy wants to try out the spare bedroom, to see if it's comfortable, for when you have your friends sleep over."

Hopes face fell as Beth giggled and turned to her mother, "That's great mommy, can Kelly and Hayes come over first? And Hayes can stay in the spare room, cause he's a boy."

"We'll see honey, we'll see." She answered, shocked at Liam's solution to their problems.

With her answer ringing in his ears Liam swept Beth out of the door, leaving Hope alone with her mother.

Brooke turned to Hope, "Honey, he'll see sense, just give it time."

Hope choked back a sob, "This is all Steffi's fault! I'll make her pay for this mom, if it's the last thing I ever do, I'll make her pay!"

Then Hope too grabbed her bag and walked out the door, leaving Brooke alone to face her own problems.