1981 (#11) - The sale of shares, the pact with Vanessa and Lance and Lorie's divorce

The end of the separation between Lucas and Leslie, and thus the official renewal of their marriage, soon proved to be more problematic than expected. Leslie is almost exclusively interested in getting a pass for Brooks' custody, while Lucas doesn't hide the fact that he still has feelings for the only woman he's ever loved, Lorie. This one, meanwhile, is very concerned about the revival of the marriage between Leslie and Lucas, convinced that this is an important point in Leslie's favour for the custody of Brooks. In the meantime, it's the turbulent corporate affairs of Prentiss Industries that are complicating matters. Lucas, now more and more convinced of her inadequacy to run the family business, is convinced by Leslie to sell her shares, thus effectively leaving the company. On this point, however, Vanessa vetoes, determined not to let Lance back in as long as he remains married to Lorie. Lance's failure to acquire Lucas' shares would disappoint the man very much; Lorie knows this well, forced to suffer the ever-increasing tensions caused by Lance's nervousness, who senses Vanessa's willingness not to give them to him. In the end, Lorie, ready to do anything to make her husband happy, decides to make a drastic decision by asking Vanessa to allow Lance's return to society. The woman is inflexible, however, and the only condition is that she and Lance divorce. Lorie, tired of seeing Lance so suffering, finally accepts, asking a surprised Lance for a divorce without stating the reasons. Lance tries to oppose, but it's all in vain, since Lorie does everything she can to make her ex-husband hate her, even seducing his brother Lucas, in an attempt to end Leslie's marriage, so that the Leslie would be in trouble claiming for Brook's custody. But it is precisely this gesture that triggers Leslie's wrath, which once again changes the cards on the table: determined not to give Lance her husband Lucas' shares, so as to indirectly hit her sister Lorie, Leslie contacts Victor, who shows great interest in getting the share of Prentiss Industries. Lorie repeatedly begs her sister not to sell her shares to Victor and not to unfairly hurt Lance, also assuring her to give up her claims on Brooks in exchange for selling Lucas' shares to Lance. But it is all in vain; and so, surprising both Vanessa and Lance, it is Victor who takes over the company, provoking the rage of Lorie, who finds herself having put aside her own marriage for nothing: a sacrifice as painful as it is useless. Lance, completely dazed by the loss of everything he had, that is, his marriage to Lorie and his company, gets deeply depressed and seems to have no way out and lets himself go to alcohol and gambling, and starts accumulating a lot of debts.