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 (#13) - The marriage between Ashley and Blade

After a few months of engagement, everything is finally ready for the wedding between Ashley and Blade. The photographer, having overcome the initial resistance of the woman and her family due to his mysterious attitude towards her past, finally convinced everyone of his sincere feelings for the girl, and showed John and Jack his work skills that are invaluable to the company. Happy to see Ashley happy with him, the entire Abbott family rallies around the loving couple and begins preparations for their wedding. All this without anyone, especially Ashley, suspecting anything about Blade's dark past, even though Mari Jo continuously threatens to blackmail the man, who, ignoring the woman's words, continues to organize and plan his life with Ashley. A seemingly calm and serene Blade, thus, arrives at the altar with a very much in love Ashley, with whom he declares his eternal love under the eyes of a proud and moved John, who hopes that his daughter has found her soul mate as he did with Jill and his sister Traci with Steve. Mari Jo, of course, also attends the wedding, watching the two of them exchange their vows, full of anger and petrified; for her, however, this is not a day to forget, since at the ceremony she makes the acquaintance of Jack, the only remaining bachelor of the Abbott family, with whom she begins to flirt.

1994 (#9) - The hiring at Newman Enterprises and Brad's heart attack

What Brad is living in this period is a very delicate moment of his life. Having become a father, but far from his daughter and his ex-wife Traci who has now remarried and lives in New York, Brad now lives with Lauren, with whom he lives very passionate and transgressive moments but who, in the end, he doesn't really love. In a nutshell, Brad still has to figure out what to do with his life, as he doesn't have any strong and lasting sentimental ties that would allow him to look to the future with optimism. Inside, in fact, Brad would like to finally find the right person with whom to form a family, and he almost feels envy towards Traci and Steve, who have realized their dreams. Brad's sudden arrival in New York City surprises Traci, who watches with affection and a touch of regret as Brad plays with their daughter Colleen. Back in Genoa City, more confused than ever, Brad finds Victor in his office, who understands Brad's psychological state and is ready to offer him a prestigious position as CEO of Newman Enterprises, since he is no longer able to manage all of his businesses on his own. Brad, after many refusals, finally accepts the job, convinced that seeing less of Lauren could perhaps change his mind about her and make him really fall in love. And in fact, between Brad and Lauren seems to ignite that feeling of affection and tenderness that serves as a prelude to their falling in love. Besides, the passion between the two is certainly not lacking, on the contrary. When one night, after spending hours and hours of sex with Lauren, Brad suddenly feels ill, Lauren immediately realizes that the man has had a heart attack. Immediately rushed to the hospital by Dr. Michael Hunt, Lauren is distraught about what has happened and prays with all her might to save the man's life. Little does she know, however, that an angry Traci is lashing out at her, accusing her of nearly killing her ex-husband. Lauren realizes that Traci still has deep feelings for the man, and this hurts Steve a lot. Steve, tired of feeling like Traci's escort man, decides to go back to New York alone. Lauren and Traci find themselves watching over the man they both love, waiting for Brad to heal and finally shed some light on his true feelings.

1993 (#8) - Sheila's photos, Lauren's commitment to Scott, and Brad's loneliness

Lauren, seemingly committed to and fulfilled by her marriage to Scott, so much so that she is happy and enthusiastic with him, meanwhile continues to live her second life as Brad's lover, with whom she develops an enviable passionate chemistry, while beginning to feel some guilt. In the meantime, Sheila is eager to see the photos she is developing depicting Lauren's betrayal, satisfied that she has in her hand a very good reason to silence the woman forever. Sheila decides to cut out the incriminating photos and send one piece at a time to Laurenl, turning the images into a puzzle. Lauren, who initially pays no mind to the photos, is soon bewildered to see herself pictured engaged in sex with Brad; and terrified that Scott might discover them, Lauren is appalled to learn that someone has been spying on them and is now threatening them. Although she can't imagine who could have done such a thing, she takes these photos as a warning and decides to immediately break off all relations with Brad to return to devote herself exclusively to her husband Scott, with whom she plans to put to rest any marital misunderstandings, and their son Scotty. Brad, on the other hand, initially does not understand Lauren's motivations; however, when she shows her the photos that were sent to him, he desists from any kind of insistence and pressure, understanding and respecting her decision. On the other hand, however, Brad finds himself alone again after Ashley, tired of being upstaged by the man, who has evidently shown an interest and attachment to work that is at least suspicious, decides to take a break from her relationship with Brad. Brad, then, tries to contact Traci again to have a second chance with her; however, the woman, already alerted by Jack that Brad is joining her in New York, reminds Brad that she is happily married to Steve and has no intention of going back to him. For Brad, certainly, a sentimental period this unfortunate to say the least; although, as he admits, his current loneliness was caused by nothing other than his own mistakes.

1992 (#22) - Brad and Traci's divorce and move to New York with Colleen

The discovery that he has taken too much for granted and the inability to understand how Traci could be interested in a man other than himself, leads Brad to secretly read Traci's novel. The man is so impressed by the feelings and thoughts of the woman; a woman he has never really known. And just as Brad begins to understand the special woman he is lucky enough to have by his side, she is gradually drifting away from him for good. And so, when Brad convinces himself to apologize once and for all to the woman for having caused her so much pain and suffering, the woman does not appear to be angry with Brad but states that she cannot accept to stay married to him anyway, having given him all the love she had and having never received anything in return, apart from Colleen. Traci then announces to Brad that she no longer loves him and wants a divorce. She then announces to the man, completely shocked and helpless, that she wants to move with Steve to New York, where she plans to publish her book, taking Colleen with her. Brad bitterly has to acknowledge that he has behaved in an absolutely mean-spirited way and eventually agrees to let her go, with the promise that he will come to New York often to meet Colleen and still be a part of her life. Brad thus wishes Steve good luck and intimates that he will treat Traci well, much more than he did It is thus the time of farewells for Traci, who says goodbye to John and Ashley, announcing to her that Brad is now a free man and can finally date in the sunlight. A few weeks after her departure, a very happy Traci announces to her family that she has just married Steven, with whom she has started a new life in New York.

1992 (#19) - Steve and Traci's literary chemistry and Brad's jealousy

When Traci's publisher , Steve Connelly , arrives in Genoa City to work closely with the woman to overcome together some problems she is having in finishing her novel, Brad doesn't seem at all concerned, busier and busier in reconnecting with Ashley in a special way. Brad, then, initially doesn't even notice or realize the very strong bond that has been established between Traci and Steve since their first meeting. The two talk and talk for hours about the woman's book and, in reflection, about their lives, their moods, their feelings. Although the two have never met, Traci and Steve feel as if they have known each other for a hundred lifetimes, and each seems able to read the other's mind and heart without needing to utter a single word. One evening, while Steve and Traci are by the fireplace passionately discussing some plot solutions for the novel, Brad comes in and is surprised by his wife's conversationalism and understanding with the man. In a fit of rage, Brad impulsively throws the man out of the house, despite Traci's protests. A violent argument ensues with Traci recriminating her rights to be free to see, professionally and otherwise, anyone; especially since Brad implicitly admits, not denies, that he spent the evening with Ashley. Brad, however, despite being aware of living in a marriage that is now over and in which he is the first to have no interest in keeping it alive, feels and feels for the first time the bitter sting of jealousy towards Traci. Although he doesn't love the woman, in fact, Brad realizes that he is annoyed that she may not have feelings for him. He has, in fact, always taken Traci's love for him for granted; a knowledge that was, after all, a security for him.