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 (#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.

1993 (#27) - Ashley's friendship, Victor and Hope's bond, and Cliff's hopes

Ashley's return to Jabot not only allowed her to reunite with her boyfriend, Blade, at work and put to rest any risk of disagreement in her professional life, but also allowed Ashley to find a great friend. From the very first day of her return, Ashley made the acquaintance of Hope, whose constant presence in the company soon became normal. Hope, in fact, never wants to be away from Victor and, more importantly, wants to find employment since she doesn't know how to stay idle at the ranch. Ashley immediately takes a liking to the woman, appreciating her sunny disposition and her great will of spirit that allows her to face any challenge, despite her blindness. Hope, on the other hand, doesn't see this as a defect or a lack, having never actually lost her sight but simply grown up without seeing. Meanwhile, Cliff Wilson, Hope's former man, arrives in town, bitterly regretting letting Hope go without a fight. Cliff is so intent on getting the woman back and returning with her to Kansas. Cliff soon finds himself allied with Nikki, who obviously pursues the same goal, wanting at all costs to regain Victor's heart. But despite Cliff and Nikki's hopes to regain their respective partners, Victor and Hope don't seem to have any intention to break up, and on the contrary they show themselves to be more in love than ever.

1993 (#21) - The return to the city, Victor's revelation and the clash with Jack

When Victor hears on a radio news report that Jack Abbott has taken the helm of Jabot, as well as Newman Enterprises, the man realizes he must return to reclaim what is his. To do so, he decides to return to Genoa City and devise a plan to do so in the most surprising way possible. Victor, thus, manages to get in touch with his friend and faithful Douglas, who is bewildered and overjoyed to see Victor again; he begs him to keep his silence, at least until he comes back to the city, and he also asks him for information about what happened during this period. Douglas thus updates him on all the events that have taken place since his disappearance, and Victor cannot help but notice that everyone seems to have, in one way or another, moved on with their lives. After that, Victor becomes even more convinced of the need to return to Genoa City to take back what's his, and in doing so he asks Hope to follow him. The woman, by now hopelessly in love with Victor, accepts without a second thought, believing it to be the best thing for Cliff as well, who in this way will be able to forget her more easily and get on with his life. Back in town, Victor rents a tree room and in the meantime begins to send all his loved ones an anonymous invitation to a "meeting of great importance and significance" to be held in the Colonnade Hall, an important convention building. Here, Victor shows up and reveals himself to everyone, much to the dismay of all the guests. Katherine, Rex, Nikki and Victoria run to embrace him, overjoyed to see him in the flesh and thanking the Lord for answering their prayers. Less happy seem to be Jack, John and all the Abbotts, who fear now that they will lose everything and wonder how Victor will react and especially what he will do now that he is back in town. Victor's number one priority is, of course, to take Jack out of all his companies; and having naturally returned in possession of both the Newman Enterprise and Jabot, Victor removes Jack from every position, offering the vacant position to Brad, who is once again forced to refuse since Lauren would not release him from his contract for any reason. When Victor is forced to ask John and Ashley for help, offering them to return to the company, the clash between the Abbotts and Victor is inevitable. John and Ashley, in fact, both refuse Victor's offer, informing the man that as long as Jack is not welcome in his companies, they will refuse to enter, not being interested in any role. Jill herself, moreover, shows her support for John when she resigns due to her pregnancy. The Abbotts, then, are more united than ever in their fight with Victor, who, however, seems determined not to give up, confirming Neil and Blade as key men in the new company structure.

1993 (#19) - Hope's blindness, bonding with Cliff and feelings for Victor

While events in Genoa City continue without him, Victor finds himself living a new period of his existence at the home of Hope Adams, who, as mentioned, runs a group home for the homeless, refugees and people in need. Victor thus makes the acquaintance of the woman, from whom he learns that she is blind from birth and that, just like him, she lived her childhood in an orphanage. Because of this, Hope and Victor find themselves sharing a special bond, with Victor, who reveals nothing about his identity, offering to give the woman a hand in running the home. As he spends time with Hope, Victor comes to appreciate Hope's genuineness, simplicity, generosity, spirituality and goodness of heart, all qualities that make her different from any other woman he has ever known. Hope, in fact, has with her the strength of faith that keeps her going every day, and Victor thus begins to look at the world with a new perspective, giving the right value to the important things in life. It is evident, then, that a relationship is established between Hope and Victor that goes beyond simple friendship; the two live together and share every moment of the day, soon finding themselves harboring feelings for each other. Hope, however, doesn't hide the fact that she has been involved with her neighbor and friend since childhood, Cliff Wilson, a man who has always helped her and knows her better than anyone else. Victor is disappointed when she informs him that she intends to marry Cliff, sooner or later; and Cliff himself, albeit cordially, warns Victor to stay away from Hope as he is the man in her life. Nevertheless, Victor warns that his arrival has triggered a whirlwind of mixed feelings in Hope. Hope loves Cliff and has always loved him, but Victor has been a cyclone in her life lately; a cyclone that has turned things upside down. In tears, Hope informs Cliff that she has come to the conclusion that she cannot marry him because she is starting to have feelings for Victor. Completely angry and disappointed, Cliff finally accepts Hope's words, leaving Victor free to start a relationship with her.