1994 (#15) - Mari Jo's painting, Blade's admissions, and the breakup with Jack

Having met at Ashley and Blade's wedding, neither Jack nor Mari Jo could have imagined that their acquaintance would turn into great passion. Between the two, evidently, there is a great understanding, to the point that the girl for a moment forgets all her problems related to Blade and focuses on the passion and virility of a man like Jack. Back from their honeymoon in Paris, meanwhile, two very much in love Blade and Ashley find themselves unwrapping the last wedding gifts they received. When Ashley notices a beautiful painting, she wonders who could have sent it to her. The painting, signed with the name "Mari-Lyn" is evidently the work of Mari Jo, but a nervous Blade, who immediately recognizes the hand of his ex, denies to Ashley that he understands who it might be. Intrigued by this, Ashley asks Paul for help in tracing the identity of the person who sent him that gift. Meanwhile, Jack and Mari Jo get engaged and the two soon discover they are in love, to the point that the man gives Mari Jo an engagement ring at the culmination of a romantic marriage proposal. The woman, in a mixture of disbelief and ecstasy, accepts the proposal with great joy, which Jack soon makes public to the entire family. Ashley congratulates Jack on the big step, while Blade looks more and more worried and dark in the face. Paul, meanwhile, reveals his findings to Ashley, informing her that the handwriting of "Mari-Lyn" matches that of Mari Jo. It is now clear that Marilyn is none other than Mari Jo, and her suspicions are confirmed when Ashley is able to read the name on Mari Jo's driver's license. When Ashley, in the presence of Blade and Jack, asks Mari Jo why she gave them a painting as a gift without revealing herself, the situation becomes hot. In the end, Mari Jo and Blade, obviously cornered, admit to the two brothers that they have known each other for a long time and that they have had an affair together in the past. The confession upsets Ashley as much as it does Jack. Jack, deeply disappointed by Mari Jo's behavior, who has kept something so important from him, immediately decides to end his relationship with the woman, while Ashley, to say the least, upset and bitter about the discovery, gives a poisoned look to Blade, whose marriage at this point already seems to be shaky.