1994 (#35) - Norman's demand for Katherine's inheritance and Rex's tragic death

Immediately after the wedding, on his way back from the honeymoon, Norman begins to put his criminal plan into action, informing an enraptured Esther of his desire to create his own family and, therefore, to ask Katherine for an advance on his inheritance in order to build a larger house. At this point it is Esther herself who begins to have doubts about Norman's cons, finding his request extravagant to say the least. After Esther's refusal to ask Katherine for such a thing, it is Norman himself who proposes to come forward. Arriving at Katherine's, already informed by Esther of Noman's bizarre idea, in order to convince her to endorse him a check, the man receives from the woman and from Rex the bitter truth: there has never been a marriage between him and Esther! Feeling framed, Norman runs away before the police officers Pete Connell and Michael Morgan can arrest him. No one, however, expects the tragic event that is about to hit them. Back to take revenge, in fact, Norman is caught by Gina robbing Katherine's safe; Norman pulls out his gun and starts shooting wildly, hitting Rex in the chest, who falls to the ground under Katherine's shocked eyes. The trip to the hospital, unfortunately, is useless, and Rex, after a few days of hanging on by a thread, dies next to a desperate and inconsolable Katherine. Norman's escape lasts for a while and he is soon arrested by Pete himself; little consolation for Katherine, who is consoled by everyone, especially Brock, who has returned on purpose, as well as Danny and Gina, orphaned of their father.

1994 (#34) - Thomas with Ashley, Rick's plan, and Blade's kidnapping

Determined to regain their peace of mind and lost chemistry, Ashley and Blade decide after their reconciliation to spend a vacation together to overcome their problems. Brad, meanwhile, intent more than ever on winning Ashley back, manages to obtain from his secretary, Gloria Capsahw, the destination of Ashley and Blade's trip; a destination that is also overheard by an angry Rick, determined to enact his revenge against Blade. Coincidentally, St. Thomas is also the destination of Jack, whose goal is to come to terms with his own conscience and feelings, being doubtful about a possible relationship with Luan or an attempt at reconciliation with Mari Jo; Mari Jo who in turn, following her man Rick, unaware of his intentions, also finds herself there. Here, Brad waits for the right moment to appear in front of Ashley and convince her to run away with him, also taking advantage of the fact that Ashley herself, in the meantime, doesn't seem to be able to put aside Blade's kiss with Mari Jo and make the disappointment disappear from her face. Instead, it is Blade himself who is kidnapped, bound and gagged by Rick, who then decides to replace the man and assume his identity. Rick as Blade, much more charismatic and charming than his brother despite being his exact copy, immediately succeeds in making peace with Ashley, thanks also to a more fiery attitude than his brother. Disappointed to see Ashley and what he thinks is Blade together again, Brad sadly returns to Genoa City with the goal of forgetting Ashley forever, while Mari Jo, who can no longer find Rick, finds herself with Jack, with whom she spends a magical night of love.

1994 (#33) - Katherine's suspicions and the fake wedding between Esther and Norman

Just when Esther has resigned herself to forgetting Norman, reinforcing her distrust of men, a disappointed Norman shows up at Katherine's house and suddenly pulls out a ring asking romantically for Esther's hand in marriage. The woman, excited and incredulous at Norman's proposal of reconciliation and marriage, enthusiastically accepts the proposal, then embracing her future husband and declaring all her love for him. Katherine, however, continues not to trust Norman at all, catching a glimpse of something strange in his eyes. And, as often happens, Katherine is right. Norman, in fact, is nothing more than a poor con man, interested in nothing more than robbing his rich victims, whom he first marries and then abandons with all their possessions. And so, when he hears Esther tell her dear friend Pamela Mc Cornick, also a maid, that her mistress has mentioned her in her will, Norman's interest in Esther suddenly returns. But Katherine and Rex are anything but foolish. Informed of their suspicions towards their dear friend Raymond King, a retired sergeant, he proposes to pretend to be a minister with the papers to perform marriages, so that Norman really thinks he has married Esther. So the day arrives for the celebration, or rather the staging, unbeknownst to Esther and Norman himself, of their wedding, where they both declare their love in front of Raymond, convinced that their union is about to be sanctioned in the sacred bond of marriage.

1994 (#32) - Rick's desire for revenge and Brad's hopes with Ashley

Having archived the intense but fleeting infatuation with Jack, Mari Jo at the mere sight of Rick immediately rediscovers her dormant feelings towards her former lover. She finds herself smitten with Rick, and knows that Rick's help will be needed to satisfy her desire for revenge. When Ashley sees Mari Jo kissing Rick, she is literally shocked. Not knowing that Rick's twin brother is present, Ashley believes that the person Mari Jo has been kissing is actually her husband, Blade. Completely disappointed and distraught, an enraged Ashley immediately kicks Blade out of the house and, completely unaware of what has happened, desperately asks for an explanation from the woman, who has no intention of listening to the man's justifications. All under the proud and satisfied look of Rick, whose revenge is about to begin. Determined to make a clean and decisive cut with his previous life, meanwhile, Brad as we have seen has refused to return with his ex-wife Traci and to interrupt the passionate but loveless relationship with Lauren. After much reflection, Brad realizes that the only woman he truly loves and is willing to live with for the rest of his life is Ashley. Ashley, meanwhile, is completely shocked by what she saw and believes that her husband Blade is cheating on her with Mari Jo, unaware that the man she saw is actually her twin brother Rick. When a chance encounter occurs between Brad and Ashley, the two confess to each other that they were actually just thinking about each other. Both of them tell each other about their recent events and Brad doesn't hide the fact that he hopes for their reconciliation. Ashley, of the two, is the one least willing to give it all up for Brad, if only because she's committed to a marriage she'd like to make work. Blade, meanwhile, seeks explanations from his wife about his behavior, but she, angry, continues to accuse her husband of disappointing her and of not being able to trust him anymore, without going into the matter. However, in the end, Ashley and Blade agree to give themselves a second chance and decide to try to make their marriage work by focusing on themselves.

1994 (#31) - Paul's proposal to Christine and Phyllis' recriminations

When Paul surprises Christine by asking her to become his wife, the woman, obviously moved, accepts with tears in her eyes for joy. Mary herself, who has always been skeptical that Christine could be the right woman for her son, finally decides to accept Christine into the family, becoming for her a sort of second mother. In short, everything seems to be going well in view of a long-awaited and desired marriage. The only one who isn't at all happy about the news of the upcoming wedding seems to be Danny, who doesn't give up in his battle with Paul to win back Christine's heart. Paul, annoyed by Danny's continuous pressure, urges him to leave his fiancée and future wife alone; a fight almost ensues, interrupted only by the woman, who tries in vain to convince Danny to put his soul at rest. Things are complicated by the arrival in town of Phyllis and her son Daniel, who is determined to get Danny back and make her marriage work, at any cost. A not at all shy Phyllis then appears before Gina, Danny's sister, and Rex, the man's father, to tell her version of the facts and accuse Danny of having abandoned her with his son. Phyllis recriminates her husband and tries in every way to convince two surprised and astonished Gina and Rex, unaware of all the intense events experienced by Danny in New York, to change Danny's mind and make him change his steps. Danny, meanwhile, organizes a romantic dinner for Christine with the aim of bringing back to her mind their many memories together; but Christine, though moved, confirms her will to move on. Christine, then, urges Danny to get rid of Phyllis, considered a dangerous and mentally unstable woman, and to obtain custody of little Daniel, on which to rebuild his life. The dinner ends with a farewell kiss between Christine and Danny, which Paul narrowly misses. In any case, Danny resigns himself to having lost his ex-partner and wishes Paul a long life with Christine, while warning him to always treat her with the utmost respect, since otherwise he will have to deal with him. Phyllis, is overjoyed by Danny's decision to resign himself to Christine's marriage, but is well aware that she still has a lot to do to get her husband back.

1994 (#30) - Drucilla's torments, Neil's desires and Olivia's advice

Shocked by the news of her pregnancy, Drucilla is uncertain about what to do. Her first instinct is to put the whole thing behind her, aborting it and going on with her life as normal; however, inside her, terrible doubts are already starting to creep in. Malcolm, meanwhile, having been informed of the pregnancy, wonders how she could have done such a thing, realizing only now the mistake of having believed that Drucilla really wanted to betray her husband. Malcolm is also convinced that the best thing to do is to have an abortion, but the opposite opinion is held by Olivia, who tries in every way to make her sister understand that the conception of a child must always be welcomed as a gift from God. In any case, everyone agrees on one thing: Neil must never know anything about what happened between Drucilla and Malcolm. When Neil is playing with little Nate and congratulating Nathan and Olivia on the baby, he doesn't hide the fact that he longs for him and Drucilla to start a family soon. Upon hearing these words, Drucilla feels that she can't crush Neil's dreams and that the baby might be hers after all. The decision to keep the baby, then, is finally made by Drucilla when Dr. Will Scott informs her that she is suffering from a slight malformation of the uterus that may prevent her from conceiving again in the future. Drucilla then informs Neil and a satisfied Olivia that she has decided to keep the baby. Consequently, the girl announces to an incredulous and enthusiastic Neil that he will soon become a father. Olivia, meanwhile, tries in every way to keep Malcolm away from his sister; and she does so by introducing the boy to the young Dr. Stephanie Simmons, an intern in her department at the Genoa Memoria Hospital. Stephanie and Malcolm begin to see each other, even though it's more and more evident that the man has only Drucilla and the baby he's expecting in his head, aware that he could be the father.

1994 (#29) - The Jack and Luan' story, the breakup with Mari Jo and the return of Rick

Already put to the test by Jack's discovery of his hidden past with Blade, the relationship between Jack and Mari Jo suffers a new blow, this time decisive to its breakup, due to the reconciliation between Jack and his Vietnamese family, namely Luan and his son Keemo. Mari Jo is evidently not at all happy with the attention Jack is paying to Luan at this time and shows herself to be jealous on several occasions. When Jack, who is still angry with her, refuses her proposal to go skiing in the mountains in order to offer Luan and Keemo a cruise to the Caribbean, she struggles to keep calm and hide her anger. Now deeply in love with Jack, Mari Jo promises herself that she will do anything not to lose him; however, Jack seems to have already forgotten her in order to reunite with his lost love from so many years ago. However, when Mari Jo informs Luan of her relationship with Jack, who is evidently behaving gallantly towards her and Keemo out of a sense of duty and to hide his feelings of guilt, Luan abruptly backs out and cancels his vacation with Jack, who is evidently disappointed and disconcerted by Luan's sudden change of plans. Mari Jo's life, all turned upside down at this moment to win Jack back, is however disrupted when Rick Bladeson shows up in front of her. Rick Bladeson, in front of a shocked Mari Jo, reveals himself to be alive and well, informing her that he has been saved. Rick informs Mari Jo that he intends to take revenge on Blade and begs her not to tell anyone that he is still alive. Mari Jo, excited by the sudden arrival of her former lover, suddenly puts aside her plans to get Jack, who in the meantime reconciles with Luan, with whom she begins a relationship.

1994 (#28) - The birth of Daniel, the wedding with Phyllis and Danny's repentance

As Paul and Christine begin to grow bigger and bigger feelings for each other, on the other side of the United States, on the Atlantic coast, Danny realizes that he has made the biggest mistake of his life in divorcing Christine, with whom he is still in love. Danny decides to return to Genoa City to make up for his many mistakes, but is aware that too many things have changed. In all this period in which he hasn't been seen in the city, in fact, Danny has turned his life upside down. Astonished and shocked to find the man in front of her door, Christine lets Danny in and he reveals all the changes in his life. It turns out that Danny now has a child, Daniel Romalotti, conceived with a woman named Phyllis Summers with whom he spent a night after he found himself drunk, and evidently drugged by Phyllis herself, at the end of his show. Danny then explains to a stunned Christine that when Phyllis blackmailed him by threatening to reveal his story to the tabloids and journalists, Danny knew that this would only end up hurting Christine and so, feeling compelled to take extreme measures to ensure that nothing would happen to her, he married Phyllis. Despite feeling great contempt for his wife, Danny tried to make his marriage work, also to ensure a happy childhood and a future for little Daniel. However, when the situation became impossible for him, Danny decided to sever his relationship with Phyllis and return to the city to set things right. Christine is, to say the least, shocked to hear this absurd story from Danny and makes him understand that he has turned over a new leaf, encouraging him to do the same. Danny, however, seems determined to get his woman back and immediately understands that his biggest obstacle will be to beat the competition of Paul, to whom Christine is now happily engaged.

1994 (#27) - Nicholas and Matt's rivalry, Sharon's rape and affair with Amy

The love and feeling between Nicholas and Sharon, although still immature and despite the young age of the two, is already very solid and strong. However, neither of them suspects the many challenges that they will have to face together. The first obstacle to present itself in front of the two is the gruff, brash and a little 'braggart Matt Clark, Sharon's ex-boyfriend, determined to win back the love of the woman. When Matt, who also attends high school as a multiple repeat student, approaches Sharon to convince her to go out to the dance with him, Matt reacts badly to Sharon's initial refusal. Nicholas then comes to the girl's defense, informing Matt that Sharon is now his girlfriend. Matt then leaves, threatening Nicholas with retribution and that he will soon regret turning against him. Between tears, Sharon informs of Matt's typical brusque ways, then warning her boyfriend to be careful. Nicholas, however, determined and confident as ever, promises his girlfriend that he will defend her and that no one will take her away from him. Matt, meanwhile, begins to have a strong grudge against Nicholas, nicknamed "rich boy", accused of having stolen his girlfriend only thanks to the money and gifts that Matt, evidently, cannot afford to buy for his beloved. When Matt notices the new coat that Nicholas has given to Sharon, the man, full of rage, snatches it from her hand and begins to annoy her. Refusing his less than gallant advances, Sharon soon begins to struggle in vain against the man who, blinded by rage, ends up raping the woman. Visibly shocked and afraid, a devastated Sharon decides not to tell anyone about her experience, neither to Doris nor to Nicholas, who is unable to understand what happened from the simple perception of a Sharon more fragile and tense than usual. As time goes by, Sharon tries, with all due difficulty, to put the rape behind her. However, she is shocked when she sees Matt and Amy going out together. Sharon warns her friend to stay away from Matt, but Matt, who obviously still resents her for stealing Nicholas, appears annoyed by Sharon's words, informing her that they are no longer friends. Sharon then reveals to Amy that she was raped by Matt, but again the girl doesn't believe her, convinced by Matt that Sharon is obviously jealous of their relationship and regrets having let her ex-boyfriend slip away. The rivalry between Matt and Nicholas finally comes to fruition in the prom, where the couple formed by Sharon and Nicholas eventually manages to win against Amy and an indignant Matt, who promises to teach his rival a lesson.

1994 (#26) - Jack's Vietnam War background and Keemo's fatherhood

Released from the hospital, Luan is finally able to return to live in her home where, after some initial resistance, Keemo also moves in. The boy, however, with his rebellious spirit and unwillingness to open up, has difficulty integrating and seems unwilling to accept making acquaintances outside the Vietnamese community. Paul and Christine offer to spend some time with the boy, but he seems to have a strong grudge against Americans. During one of Christine's visits to Luan, he shows her some memories of their previous life in Vietnam. In particular, Christine is shocked to see the only photo of Luan with the American soldier with whom he conceived Keemo. The woman, in fact, recognizes in that young soldier Jack Abbott, a name that Luan is certainly not indifferent to: he is Keemo's father. Paul and Christine, thus, immediately speak with Jack, who admits to having been involved in the Vietnam War as a young man; an experience that was very painful for him. When Christine tells her about a woman named Mai Yun, Jack admits that he knew the girl with whom he had a brief affair, sensing that Christine has something to reveal to her. Eventually, Paul and Christine lead Jack to the home of an incredulous Luan, who has the man meet Keemo by introducing him as his father. The boy, who had always believed that his father had abandoned them, is furious with Jack, accusing him of abandoning them. Keemo considers Nguyen to be his only real father and refuses to accept Jack into his family. However, he slowly manages to make himself accepted by the boy by revealing his experience in Vietnam and the fact that he was forced to flee during a Vietcong attack. Keemo, embittered by what he and Luan were forced to endure, admits to having a deep hatred towards the Americans. However, when Jack shows him all the letters he had sent to him and Luan, letters that never reached their destination, he finally seems to open up. Keemo is forced to change his mind about his father and finally, under the emotional eyes of Paul, Christine and Luan, he reconciles with Jack. Soon, Keemo is introduced to the entire Abbott clan, with John, Ashley and Traci happy to welcome him into the family. Keemo thus radically changes his attitude, deciding to move permanently to the United States and integrating into his new life by embracing the customs and lifestyles of his new country, making friends and even starting to work within Jabot, making his mother Luan proud, who never ceases to thank two very happy Paul and Christine.

1994 (#25) - Victor's doubts about Hope's pregnancy and escape to Kansas

Victor and Hope's wedding starts off under the best auspices. After returning from their honeymoon, the two love-struck newlyweds receive a visit from Nikki, who apologizes for her behavior leading up to the wedding, admitting that she was convinced that Hope could really make her husband happy. However, when Hope discovers to her great surprise that she is pregnant, the woman's happiness is not very reciprocated by Victor, who begins to have serious doubts about the decision to carry a pregnancy, worried that Hope's blindness could be a great limitation for the growth of a child. As always a perfectionist, Victor begins to seriously consider the possibility of terminating the pregnancy, not wanting to give birth to a child without having the possibility to raise it in optimal conditions; and so, the man tries to convince his wife about the risk of taking care of a child in such circumstances. When Victor confides in Douglas, however, he doesn't seem to agree with Victor's decision, while Nikki comes to support him, convinced that Hope could never be a good mother for the baby. As time goes by, meanwhile, Hope begins to enjoy the prospect of becoming a mother; and when she informs the man that she has decided she wants the baby and therefore has no intention of having an abortion, a deep argument ensues with her husband. The two begin to argue furiously, and when Victor forces his wife to get into the car to go to the hospital to see Dr. Andrew Forbes to complete the abortion procedure before it's too late, the woman goes off the grid. Desperate, Hope has in fact fled from Victor and, not knowing what to do, has taken the most natural decision for her: to return to Kansas. After contacting Cliff, who has never stopped loving her in all this time, he runs to her in Genoa City and happily agrees to take her back to his home, the only place she has ever loved and where she plans to give birth and raise her unborn child. When a worried Victor realizes he can't find Hope, his first thought is of a possible kidnapping. As the days go by, however, no ransom offer arrives, and when the phone finally rings, Victor realizes everything, namely that Hope has returned to Kansas. The woman informs her husband that she doesn't want to give up the baby and that it will be born there, in Kansas, where he wants her to grow up. In addition, Hope does not hide from her husband that she needs to think about their future, no longer knowing if their marriage can overcome this division. A grief-stricken Victor, who realizes that he has gone too far and that he can't pretend to manage everyone's lives, unless he hurts the people who love him the most, is consoled as always by his lifelong friend, Douglas, who urges him not to give up, since he is convinced that Hope will come back to him.

1994 (#24) - Esther's engagement and Norman's lies

Esther, the faithful housekeeper of the Chancellor home, has always been looking for a man in her life; the right man who can help her raise her daughter Kate. So when she responds to an ad found in a marriage agency by one Norman Peterson, Esther hopes with all her heart that this is the one. Norman shows up at the first blind date with Esther showing himself to be a serious man, reliable and well-financed, claiming to be a rich banker. Esther, visibly fascinated by the man, but worried that Norman would never be interested in a woman forced to work as a maid to raise her daughter, feeling very uncomfortable lies claiming to be a rich woman widowed by her poor husband. Returning to work, Esther confesses to her boss, friend and confidante, Katherine, that she had invited the man to a dinner at her villa without specifying that Esther only works there. Katherine and Rex, then are disconcerted when Esther asks them to lie and stage, for one evening, that they are the housekeepers of Villa Chancellor. Initially opposed to this charade, Katherine is eventually persuaded by an amused Rex to grant this favor to Esther, who happily thanks them both and promises that she will tell Norman the truth as soon as possible. Upon Norman's arrival, Esther is happy to welcome him into "her" manor, strutting her stuff as the wealthy owner of the entire villa and not shrinking from giving orders and bossing around two bewildered and almost annoyed Rex and Katherine. The following day, Katherine confesses to Rex and Esther that she doesn't like Norman at all, convinced that the man has something to hide; these suspicions are also confirmed by Rex, although a naive and offended Esther believes that the two are only envious of her man. And so, while Rex is dissatisfied with the new maid who should replace Esther, Josephine Gaudioso, in the end, it is Norman himself who reveals himself for what he is, namely a simple liar. Norman, in fact, surprises Esther by revealing that he is not a banker at all, but rather a simple barber and that he did not have the courage to tell the truth when he discovered that the woman is very rich. Esther, incredulous, surprised and amused at the same time, then confesses the whole truth to Norman who, however, does not seem to take it well at all and decides to break off the relationship, leaving Esther alone and bitter.

1994 (#23) - The night with Malcolm and the discovery of Drucilla's pregnancy

In spite of Neil's initial perplexity in accepting to put behind him the antipathy and the bad judgments he has towards his brother Malcolm, very soon every problem and conflict is overcome; and this, as we have said, also thanks to Drucilla's precious intermediation between the two brothers. However, this relationship would undoubtedly and irreparably be compromised if Neil were to discover what is about to happen when he is forced to leave on a business trip. First of all, it must be said that Malcolm, from the first moment he saw Drucilla, who has always fought for him in an attempt to convince Neil to give him a second chance, has developed a deep friendship and understanding with the woman, to the point of falling madly in love with her. Malcolm keeps his feelings to himself, not wanting to interfere with his brother's marriage. However, when Neil goes away on a business trip, Malcolm goes to see Drucilla, who welcomes him home with a very sensual attitude. In reality, Drucilla, who is ill and therefore delirious and confused because of her drug abuse, mistakes Neil for Malcolm, who doesn't realize that the woman's advances are not really meant for him. Unable to resist the woman, Malcolm ends up making love to Drucilla, who only realizes the following morning the incredible mistake she made. Distraught, Drucilla chases Malcolm away, who, mortified, justifies himself by thinking that she was well aware of what she was doing the night before. Desperate, Drucilla and Malcolm eventually decide to put this episode behind them and continue their lives as if nothing ever happened. However, the woman is devastated when she realizes that she is pregnant and doesn't know who the father of the baby is.

1994 (#22) - The works at Villa Abbott and Jill's betrayals with Jed

The various marital turmoil experienced by various couples during this period does not fail to affect even the already discussed and criticized marriage between Jill and John. When the woman expresses her desire to have a second child to increase her family and give Billy a little brother, she tries to convince a skeptical John to conceive again. After several failed attempts, however, John is forced to admit that he is impotent because of the vasectomy. Jill, unaware until now of the surgery her husband underwent, goes on a rampage. This is the first crack in a marriage that has many obstacles and poisonous trails in front of it. The situation precipitates when, at the Abbott's house, work begins on the safety of some buildings used as outbuildings; work entrusted again to Jed. The man, despite his growing interest in Nikki, who is evidently still in love with Victor but at the same time wants to get on with her life, does not go unnoticed by Jill, who obviously suffers from sexual dissatisfaction because of the separation with John. Soon Jill, as always determined to get what she wants, finds her sexual fulfillment with Jed, who obviously cannot resist her. Finally feeling like a woman who is alive and desirable, Jill begins an intense passionate and clandestine relationship with Jed; a relationship that is consummated in the home of an unsuspecting John, who is convinced that his wife's fantasies of a new pregnancy have disappeared or at least been put aside. It is, as always, the careful and watchful housekeeper Mamie, who has never shown any appreciation towards Jill, unworthy according to her to be next to a man like John, who discovers Jill's betrayals, surprising her in bed. It is not long, therefore, before Mamie informs John of what has happened. The news of this relationship obviously shakes many people. On the one hand, Nikki, disgusted by Jed's behavior, chases the man away from the ranch intimating that she doesn't want to see him anymore; on the other hand, John openly declares that he wants to end his marriage, with a belligerent Jill, however, ready to make her case because of John's vasectomy of which she had been unaware. This is just the beginning of a tough legal battle that will see the couple as protagonists.

1994 (#21) - Luan's restaurant and Keemo's research in Vietnam by Paul and Christine

During the delicate period following Christine's divorce, she begins dating Paul. The two spend a lot of time together and not infrequently go out to dinner. Among Christine's favorite restaurants is The Saigon Shack, the Chinese and Vietnamese restaurant right in the center of town. Soon Christine becomes friends with the owner, Luan Volien, whom she admires for her sacrifices and determination. When Luan suffers a robbery, the umpteenth, in which she is wounded by a gunshot, Paul and Christine offer her all their help. Paul sets out to find the evidence and the criminals, while Christine ends up confiding in the woman. Luan, who lives in America with his teenage daughter Mai Volien, suffers greatly from being away from his son Keemo. Luan then explains that during the Vietnam War she became pregnant by an American soldier from whom she conceived and gave birth to Keemo. She later married a man Nguyen Volien from whom she had Mai. When during the civil war, women were separated from the males, she and Mai decided to emigrate to America, and it is at this time that the woman took the name Luan Volien, since she was originally called Mai Yun. Luan thus managed to rebuild her life here in the United States, but she no longer had contact with her husband and Keemo. It was only a few years ago that a letter arrived informing her that Nguyen had died, but there was no trace of Keemo. Concerned that Keemo might be a de facto outcast in his own country, being the son of an American soldier, Luan expressed her desire to re-embrace her son, who today should be in his twenties. Moved by this story, Christine and Paul promise Luan that they will find his son and so, driven by the spirit of adventure and solidarity, they set off for Vietnam and the capital Ho Chi Minh. Having disembarked in a world that was completely new and unknown to them, Paul and Christine began to get to know the traditions, customs and traditions of a country that was only in recent years trying to recover from so many years of war, poverty and suffering. Paul and Christine, however, immediately set out to find Keemo, scouring the streets of Ho Chi Minh and asking around for information. Eventually, Paul manages to locate the boy. Initially, the boy flees, but eventually Christine manages to convince him of their good intentions and they inform him of their mother and their desire to see him again. Eventually, Paul and Christine manage to convince Keemo to return with them and the three of them soon show up at Luan's hospital bed, who can't believe his eyes at seeing his lost son again after so many years. Mai, Keemo and Luan embrace with the joy and happiness of those who had lost each other and were resigned to never seeing each other again. Paul and Christine, moved when they see the scene, are tried by the experience but also satisfied and happy with what they have done. This experience has certainly contributed to unite them and bring them very close, so much so that the two decide to get engaged.

1994 (#20) - Nikki's prejudices for Sharon and operation on paraplegic Doris

When Nicholas informs his parents that he is engaged to the most beautiful girl in the world, Victor and Nikki are excited about their son's first crush and show interest in getting to know the girl. Nikki and Victor's first impression of Sharon's acquaintance, however, is very discordant. While Victor finds the girl pleasant, considering her simple, humble and very mature, Nikki does not like Sharon at all, judging her to be smarter than she wants to show and fearing that the girl, of humble and poor origins, is more interested in the boy's substantial dowry. Noticing Nikki's perplexity, Nicholas consoles Sharon, swearing his love to her and assuring her that one day he will prove to her that she is the sweet girl who made him lose his head. When Nicholas then insists on meeting her family, the girl, not without resistance, admits that she never knew her father Malcolm Burns, now dead, who abandoned her and her mother as soon as she became pregnant with her. In addition, Sharon reveals to Nicholas that her mother, Doris Collins, is a paraplegic due to a car accident she had in the past when she went out looking for the same girl during a snowstorm. Feeling guilty about his mother's condition, Nicholas embraces the girl, realizing more and more what a special person she is; then, he introduces himself to Doris, who is very happy to meet the boy. Informed by the same son of Doris' condition, who would need an operation to cure her disability, Victor offers to pay for the operation, performed by Dr. Howard Bradford and Dr. Susan Randall. Nikki, indignant and not at all in agreement with Victor's decision, confirms her suspicions about Sharon, who, in her opinion, is only interested in Nicholas' financial and patrimonial affairs rather than his feelings. Nicholas, however, silences his mother and warmly thanks his father, before telling Sharon the good news. Sharon, in sincerely thanking Victor, asks him to keep his charitable action a secret, especially from Doris, promising then that she would return every penny.

1994 (#19) - The animosity between Neil and Malcolm and working in the photo studio

Neil and Drucilla's happy marriage is shaken when Neil's half-brother Malcolm Winters arrives in town. Between Neil and Malcolm, who haven't seen each other for years, since the day of their father Ellis Winters' funeral, there has never been good blood; in particular, Neil considers his younger brother a good-for-nothing and a slacker who will never get anything done in his life. Malcolm, too, can't stand his brother's excessive, almost boring seriousness, which he says is incapable of enjoying life. It's Drucilla, knowing the pain that estrangements and family conflicts cause, having experienced them first hand, who tries to calm the animosity between the two, leading Neil to accept his half-brother and start a new relationship with him from scratch, convinced that in this way he can discover a person he didn't think he knew. And so, when Malcolm, thanks to a little help from Drucilla gets a job in Blade's photography studio, the boy shows Neil that he has become a reliable person, leading the man to admit that he had made a bad judgment about him, the relationship between the two takes a positive turn.

1994 (#18) - The flirtation between Jed and Nikki and the Victor and Hope's marriage

This is a very delicate moment for Nikki. Victoria no longer speaks to Nikki since she accuses her of cheating on her with her own husband, and it is Victor, as always, who worries about the woman and makes sure she gets over this unhappy moment. The man, in fact, tries to reconcile Victoria and Nikki, urging them both to clarify and find that unique bond that is proper of the mutual love of a mother and a daughter. Moreover, worried that Nikki might go back into the alcoholic business because of her loneliness, Victor tries to make a virtue out of necessity by contacting Jed for a renovation of the ranch where Nikki is staying. Victor, in fact, asking Jed to work at the ranch, urges him to give his ex-wife some company, trying to keep her away from alcohol. Victor's interest in Nikki's psychological condition certainly doesn't go unnoticed by Hope, who also realizes the special bond that has always bound Victor and Nikki. At the first signs of jealousy, Victor reassures his partner by proposing to her to get married, a gesture that Hope accepts with great joy. While the preparations for Victor and Hope's wedding begin, Nikki finds herself having to reckon with her heart, which, as always, brings her back to Victor. The many kind gestures of the man, in fact, raise as always new hopes in the woman for a possible reconciliation. Fortunately for Victor, however, Jed's presence at the ranch turns out to be more valuable than he might have suspected, as a friendship develops between the man and Nikki that soon evolves into a flirtation. As Hope and Victor's wedding approaches, the situation is very much in flux. On the one hand, there's Hope who is annoyed by Victor's protective attitude towards Nikki; on the other hand, there's Victor who assures his wife, though he doesn't like at all that a sincere feeling could arise between Nikki and Jed. And of course, there is Nikki who, on one side, finds comfort and shelter in Jed's arms, on the other side she finds herself once again emotionally involved with Victor, convinced that Hope is not the right woman for him. Victor's mediating and often contradictory attitude changes radically, however, when Nikki, supported by Douglas himself, very interested in advising his brotherly friend, openly says that Hope, also because of her health condition, will never be able to fully satisfy a man like Victor. The man, at this point, openly comes to the defense of his future wife, whose initial doubts about whether Victor is actually willing to commit to her are dissolved by Victor's heated arguments that he will not accept criticism and doubts about his future wife. Proud to hear Victor speak in such terms, Hope then shows herself convinced of the step she is about to take and, in a moving discussion with Cliff, who has arrived in Genoa City to try to convince her to return with him, dampens the criticism of Victor brought forward by the man, who finally accepts Hope's decision and wishes her a happy marriage. Finally, the long-awaited wedding day between Hope and Victor arrives. Under the eyes of the whole city, he marries Hope in an unforgettable ceremony full of emotions.

1994 (#17) - Brad's decision and the reconciliation between Traci and Steven

Finding herself in front of her hospital bed hoping for Brad's awakening, Traci begins to seriously wonder if marrying Steven was a big mistake. The woman, in fact, realizes that her feelings for Brad have never disappeared and she soon becomes convinced that she wants to get back together with her ex-husband. Not at all happy with Traci's interest is of course Lauren, who also prays for Brad's health and accuses Traci of not being able to come out and enter her man's life at will, receiving the accusation of having almost caused his death. Upon Brad's awakening, both Traci and Lauren are delighted to learn from Dr. Josh North that Brad has now passed the critical stage and is slowly but steadily improving. As a result, the man finds himself coping with his recovery as he watches the two women struggle to please him. Concerned about Brad's health is obviously Victor, who, needing to replace Brad, calls in his place his old enemy and rival Jack, with whom he reconciles and entrusts a delicate role such as the direction of his economic empire. And so, while Brad sees Jack blow his job away, to the point that Victor compliments the man by promising to keep him at the helm of Newman Enterprises even after Brad's recovery, he decides it's time to make a profound change in his life by taking a drastic decision, painful but absolutely necessary. Informing both Traci and Lauren that he has made an important decision about his life, he tells both women that he is not interested in having a relationship with either of them. Traci, disappointed for the umpteenth time by the man, abandons all her dreams and desires to get back with her ex-husband and decides to go back to New York to Steve, wondering how she could have been foolish enough to believe she had a new chance with Brad. But Lauren is also deeply disappointed by her decision with Brad, with whom she definitively breaks all ties and removes him from his role at Fenmore. Left alone, Brad's only goal in life is now to regain his position at Newman Enterprises, which he says was unfairly snatched by Jack, who in the meantime sees his role change from temporary to permanent.

1994 (#16) - Flo's reticence about Nina's paternity and vain hopes about Jed

Having overcome the pain of the miscarriage thanks to the unconditional love of Ryan, with whom she lives a happy and peaceful married life, Nina soon realizes that she feels a great void in her life due to the lack of a father figure. The woman, therefore, returns to insistently ask her mother for information about her father, more determined than ever to search for the man. Flo, however, besides being as reluctant as ever to talk about him, admits once again that she has no idea who the man with whom she conceived her daughter might be, since she was a prostitute at the time. However, under Nina's constant pressure, she admits that she has well-founded suspicions about a man, whose name she does not remember, who had an obvious scar on his neck. This detail immediately comes back to Nina's mind when she comes across a building contractor named Jed Sanders, who, in addition to being of an age compatible with Flo's description, has an obvious scar on his neck. A hopeful Nina, thus, confesses to Ryan her hopes that her search is finally over and that Jed may be her father. Without informing either her mother or the man of her convictions, Nina organizes a family lunch to which she also invites Jed. Nina asks her mother, who is convinced that her daughter is tired of being alone and wants to find him a man to live with, if Jed is her father; however, Nina's hopes are dashed when Flo admits that she has never met Jed before and that he is definitely not her father, having a scar on the wrong side of his neck. It is Ryan, thus, who consoles Nina, trying to distract her from her frantic search for a father she will probably never meet.