1981 (#28) - Vanessa's suicide and Lorie's indictmen

Determined to achieve her goal of getting Leslie and Lance back together, Vanessa realizes she doesn't have much time before the disease takes over. Vanessa thus suggests Leslie to tell Lance the truth about the fatherhood, so she has a better chance of getting custody of Brooks and, above all, of living together with Lance, as she should. The woman, however, seems doubtful mainly because Lance, remembering his brother's words before leaving, seems to have convinced himself of Lucas' advice and that is giving Lorie a second chance. Vanessa, at this point, urges an undecided Lorie to tell Lance everything, who has every right to know that Brooks is his son. Lorie, for the first time, appears tempted to follow Vanessa's encouragement, since she would like to start a new relationship with Lance based solely on sincerity and that, if she knew it later, he would never be able to trust her again; however, the fear of losing Lance definitely is too big. Vanessa at this point, not being able to allow Lorie to make a decision about what to do, and feeling even closer to death, decides to take action and make sure that Lance knows the truth. No one, however, could have imagined the tragic and diabolical plan that the woman intends to execute. Vanessa, in fact, writes a letter with Lorie's typewriter addressed to herself, so as to make people believe that the author of the letter is Lorie herself. In the letter, Vanessa reveals the whole truth about little Brooks and makes sure that Lance reads it. Afterwards, she calls Lorie to her terrace, staging a violent argument, shouting, in order to make Lance feel everything, Vanessa tells to an astonished Lorie that the man has the right to know the truth and that he cannot go on living a lie. That being said, Vanessa decides to tragically end her life by throwing herself off the balcony under Lorie's shocked eyes, doing everything to make her believe that it was the same woman who killed her. When the police arrive, in fact, Lorie is accused of murder and taken to prison under the petrified eyes of Lance. A desperate Lorie tries in vain to explain the facts, but is further accused of extortion when the police find out about the financing Vanessa has made on Lorie's account, money that in the letter Lance's late mother describes as money requested to spend time with little Brooks.

1981 (#23) - Vanessa's illness and manipulations with Lance and Lorie

Once the marriage with Leslie was over, Lucas decided to get closer to Lorie, the only woman he has ever loved. It is Vanessa in particular who pushes Lucas into Lorie's arms, so as to avoid a reunion between her and Lance; Lucas declares his love to Lorie and, surprisingly proposes her to become his wife. Lorie, who has meanwhile engaged in an affair with Jean-Paul Vauban, asks the man for time to put his life back in order and reflect on her future. Lorie, in fact, still loves Lance and tries in every way to get in touch with him. When Lance informs her of his return to Paris, therefore, Lorie is over the moon, even though she has no idea that the man will return with his new girlfriend, Simone. The shocking thing is that Simone is Jean-Paul's sister, happy that his sister has also arrived in Genoa City. A sad Lorie, so is compelled for a short time to go out with Jean-Paul and his beloved Lance, in the company of Simone. It is clear, however, that even Lance still has feelings for Lorie, who soon decided to end her relationship with Jean-Paul, also giving up the film in her book. Meanwhile, Vanessa discovers that she is seriously ill. The doctors unfortunately tell her that she is in a terminal phase, with only approximately two months left to live. The woman, however, does not lose heart and decides not to reveal her state of health to anyone by burning her medical records; she then decides to concentrate, in the little time she has left, on achieving her only goal in life, which is to get Lorie away from Lance and, at the same time, to join him and Leslie.First of all, then, Vanessa sets herself the goal of driving Simone away from Lance; she achieves this goal by being friends with Simone and encouraging her to do the only thing that Lance could never have accepted, which is a marriage proposal. In fact, Lance, who has just recently, and painfully, end the marriage with Lorie, the last thing he wants is to commit again to a woman. And so, when Simone talks about a marriage proposal, Lance immediately appears doubtful; this is enough to convince Simone to return to Paris with his brother, who is also disappointed by the break-up with Lorie. Vanessa, at this point, focuses on her second objective, which is to get Lance into Leslie's arms; to do this Vanessa decides that she absolutely must make sure that Lance discovers that he is Brooks' father. Complicating Vanessa's plans, however, is indirectly Lorie. This one, after ending the story with Jean-Paul, understands she doesn't want anymore to lie to herself and decides to be honest with Lucas, telling him she doesn't love him and therefore can't accept his proposal. A heartbroken Lucas reluctantly accepts Lorie's rejection; however, though still caring for the woman's sake, he urges Lance to give his ex-wife a new chance, since it is clear that the two love each other. After that, Lucas decides to leave Genoa City forever to start a new life.

1981 (#14) - Stuart's heart problems and Leslie's tour in Paris

After the divorce with Lorie and the failure to acquire shares in his family business, Lance is going through one of the darkest periods of his life. Leslie, feeling little bit guilty for having favoured the sale of Lucas' shares to Victor, gets very close to Lance, something that both Lucas, married to Leslie, and Lorie, still in love with Lance, are jealous of. Lucas, however, appreciates the ever-growing closeness of Lorie, with whom he is secretly in love, the girl is interested in him because she is determined to break off his marriage with Leslie, always trying to prevent the custody of Brooks assigned to Leslie, which his sister would strongly like to avoid. Leslie, meanwhile, is practicing more and more on the piano, and Master Fautsch is happy to see that Leslie seems to have regained her lost talent, so he decides to offer her a tour in Paris, which Leslie enthusiastically accepts. Lance, happy for the woman, agrees to accompany her in the scheduled concerts, since Lucas cannot be absent from Genoa City; this naturally makes Lorie jealous, who decides to come to Paris too in order to check on bot of them them and to meet a famous director interested in making a film based on her book. Before leaving, it occurs an event that upsets the Brooks family so muchrisks blowing up the trip: Stuart, in fact, discovers he has heart problems following a heart attack. Leslie doesn't want to leave, but her father encourages her to pursue her lifelong passion and decides with Liz to follow her to Paris to attend her performance. Katherine also decides to participate in the trip, interested in meeting some famous plastic surgeons.

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.

1981 (#6) - The breakup of Casey and Lucas, bond with Leslie and rivalry with Jonas

With the possibility given by the judge to spend time with Brooks, Leslie tries to reestablish a relationship with the child without much success, since he does not seem to recognize her. But when Leslie plays a lullaby on the piano that she used to play for Brooks, it is clear that there is a very strong bond between them. Lance meanwhile reveals in a very delicate way to an astonished Leslie the reason why she had decided to leave the city before her memory loss: she had feelings for him. Feeling remorse and a sense of humiliation and shame, Leslie apologizes to Lorie for trying to meddle in her marriage, admitting that she cannot remember whether or not she had a clandestine relationship with the man. Lorie reassures her and reveals that she has never done anything she should regret: she then admits that things between her and Lance are not as good as they used to be and that this whole situation is creating stress and tension between the two of them. Leslie regrets it, but warns Lorie that she doesn't want to give up on Brooks. Meanwhile, one night, while she was sleeping with Brooks, Leslie falls down banging her head from on the bedside table; the trauma brings back memories of the night of passion with Lance when she conceived Brooks, and it is Master Fautsch who reveals that Lance is the real father of Brooks, fact that Lance ignores. Leslie, completely distraught from an emotional point of view, is informed that she is still formally married to Lucas and decides to make a very important decision for her, that is to give her marriage a new chance. Leslie thus informs Jonas that she wants to try to give her marriage to Lucas a new chance. Lucas has meanwhile ended her relationship with Casey.Lucas is happy with Leslie's decision not to end their relationship definitively, since she intends to honor her promise to God to the end; however, she soon finds herself in competition with Jonas, who has no intention of giving up his engagement to Leslie. Vanessa encourages Jonas not to give up and to fight for Leslie, rejecting the idea of a reconciliation between her and Lucas, since Leslie, in her thoughts, is destined to return with Lance, the couple she would have loved to see together. The rivalry between Jonas and Lucas for Leslie's love intensifies more and more, but in the end it is Leslie who interrupts the discussions by choosing to confirm her marriage to Lucas, since only by showing herself a caring wife could convince the court to give her the custody of Brooks.

1981 (#3) - Leslie's memory and the request with Jonas for the custody of Brooks

Determined to put her previous life in Genoa City behind her, including her career as a musician, Leslie, or rather Priscilla, convinces Jonas to close Jona's and leave the city. Soon, however, her mother's instincts are back in tune. In fact, when Brooks, during an argument between Lorie and Vanessa, falls down and is hospitalized, Leslie, miles away, wakes up from a nightmare, feeling inside herself that something has happened to her child. Leslie's fears materialise when she returns to Genoa City and finds Brooks in hospital. Luckily the baby recovers quickly, but it is clear that this was enough to trigger something in Leslie. In any case, before leaving Genoa City again, Leslie accidentally meets Maestro Fautsch at Vanessa's house, who convinces her to play the piano with him. Suddenly, her mind was persuaded and her fingers flew over the keyboard, as if she had never forgotten her career. This event led Leslie to wonder if one day she could bring out all her memories of her previous life, as these were evidently not erased but simply hidden deep in her mind. Leslie thus feels that her place is only Genoa City and she convinces herself to stay in the city, reopening Jona's immediately. As time goes by, the details of her previous life slowly begin to return to Leslie's mind, which is assured by Jonas that the man would help her claim her rights as the mother of little Brooks. Meanwhile, Lance and Lorie are quickly adapting to their parental role and are living really happy moments together; both of them are starting to consider Brooks as their son and they don't want to give him up. Precisely for this reason, the slow but progressive recovery of Leslie's memory worries Lorie, who is soon surprised by a request for custody of little Brooks by Leslie. Brought to court by her sister, Lorie, however, manages to obtain full custody of the child together with Lance, managing to convince the judge that she is the only mother Brooks has ever known. Leslie's disappointment, however, is mitigated by the fact that the court establishes, after Brook's psychiatric consultation that over time, the child would be able to handle the news that Leslie is his birth mother, thus allowing her to spend time with him.

1980 (#22) - The clashes in Santo Domingo and Lucas' meeting with Jonas and Priscilla

The excited days in Genoa City spent with Leslie's research unfortunately lead to no results. In addition to the despair over Leslie's disappearance, there is soon the drama underway in Santo Domingo, where there is absolutely no comforting news. In fact, Sebastian Crown, head of the division of Prentiss Industries in the region, informs Lucas and Vanessa about the civil revolution taking place in the country after the military dictatorship took power. Finding the company in great danger, Lucas, who has previous military experience, decides to leave for the island together with a group of army volunteers to fight to protect the local population and his company. Lucas thus provides the funding and the jet to travel to the island. The call to arms is answered by Jonas, who also has a military background; and Priscilla, eager to follow her beloved to the end of the world, despite Jonas' recommendations, decides to leave and sneaks onto the jet. The fighting in Santo Domingo lasted for over a week, in which everyone in Genoa City was in great apprehension. In the end, the attempted coup was thwarted and the danger hanging over the population and the division of Prentiss Industries was stopped. Back on the jet, Lucas doesn't believe his eyes when he recognizes in Priscilla's face his Leslie; Lucas starts talking to the woman who, despite her different look, is evidently his current wife. But when Priscilla is annoyed by Lucas' insistent questions, it is Jonas who intervenes and tells Lucas to stay away from his woman. Lucas, however, returns to Genoa City convinced that he has found the woman.

1980 (#4) - The flirt in Paris with Monique and the return of Lance with Lorie

The news of Lance's missed departure for Santo Domingo certainly doesn't make Vanessa happy, who from the bottom of her heart hoped to be able to finally separate Lance from Lorie; believing therefore that not even the fact of having Leslie finally free in Genoa City could affect the marriage of her first son to the hated Lorie, Vanessa decides to take the initiative convincing Lucas to reconfirm the assignment of the place in Paris for Lance. This time Lance agrees to leave and, in her heart, it pleases Lorie as well, convinced that having Lance away is a necessary sacrifice to avoid that her marriage could be put in crisis and wreck because of a possible rapprochement with Leslie, now that she is single. However, Lorie does not suspect that Lance, in Paris, may have feelings for a new woman. Disappointed that Lorie let him go to Europe without too much resistance, Lance takes out his frustration on a young Monique Houllier, a young dancer and employee of the French division, who soon makes him lose his head. Between Monique and Lance, arises an unstoppable passion for dancing and the staging of a musical that was a great success. Far from the intrigues in America, Lance thus lives a romantic and intense love story, which however soon proves incapable of facing reality. When time arrives for Lance to return to Genoa City, in fact, the desire not to leave Monique leads him to convince the woman to come with him. However, Lance initially hides the woman's role in his life from everyone; only Vanessa suspects that the woman may represent the turning point in his possible break-up with Lorie. On the other hand Lorie soon makes Lance change his mind when he realizes that Lorie's love is much stronger than an adventure and realizes that bringing Monique to Genoa City was a big mistake. Feeling neglected and abandoned, Monique herself soon decides to leave for Paris.

1979 (#19) - The tensions with Lance and the separation between Leslie and Lucas

Back from Australia, a furious Lucas informs everyone that he has reconsidered the plan to send Lance to Paris and is convinced of the necessity of sending his brother to Santo Domingo, where there are major political and social tensions. Leslie is surprised by the sudden change in Lucas' decision, who defends his choice by justifying it with the need to maintain control in that strategic area for the company. Lance and Lorie, disappointed by Luca's sudden change and convinced that Lucas wants to take revenge in some way for their happiness compared to his marriage problems with Leslie, accuse him of being controlled by their mother Vanessa. The mother, however, assures everyone that the decision is entirely on the initiative of Lucas, obviously enraged by the alleged betrayal of his wife Leslie. By the other hand, Leslie can't understand her husband, not having betrayed Lance and not knowing about his presence in Australia. This episode, however, drives the couple away, despite the fact that in the end Lucas, at the very moment of Lance's departure for Santo Domingo, revokes his decision after Lorie's desperate request to reconsider. As a matter of fact Lance's doesn't leave, this fact however doesn't help the marriage between Lucas and Leslie, as the woman considers their marriage over. Despite the desire to give Brooks a father, in fact, Leslie realizes that she does not love Lucas, and that he feels the same way towards her; and convinced that a fake marriage cannot go on, she informs Lucas that she wants a separation. At the announcement, a still furious Lucas, convinced that Leslie is still in a clandestine relationship with Lance or that she wants to be with him anyway, reacts coldly to the news and accepts without resistance to initiate divorce proceedings.

1979 (#15) - Lucas' guilt, the trips to Australia and suspicions about Lance

Lucas, feeling guilty towards Lance for in some way robbing him of the presidency, nevertheless offers him an important job position in the european division of Prentiss Industries; a destination that would also allow Lucas not to have the man in his way and, therefore, close to Leslie. Lance, however, firmly rejects the offer and indeed decides, in agreement with Lorie, to resign from the company to set up a new company for himself, convinced that with his skills and contacts he will certainly succeed. Lorie is furious with Lucas for having favoured the expulsion of her husband and informs the man that she no longer feels his friend; in a heated discussion, Lucas then admits for the first time that he has feelings for the woman, despite being totally committed to Leslie and her baby. Lorie then convinces Lance to move to a penthouse far away from Vanessa's manipulations. Vanessa, seeing Lucas mortified by Lance's departure from the company, tries to reassure him that things are going exactly as they should, but Lucas is not convinced. Soon he realized he wasn't cut out to be the head of a big company, Lucas decides to take a break and pay a surprise visit to Leslie in Australia, where she's busy for a series of concerts. Taking advantage of the situation to split the couple between Lorie and Lance, Vanessa convinces Lance that Leslie would appreciate a visit to Australia, and Lance decides to leave. Leslie is actually excited to see Lance, and the two go out to dinner where they say they're ready to make their respective marriages work. Lance, moreover, at Leslie's own suggestion, agrees to reconsider Lucas' offer to move to Europe. However, fate lead Lucas to witness from distance, the conversation between the two, assuming the worst. Shocked to see Lance and Leslie together, Lucas immediately returns to Genoa City unnoticed, convinced that there is a secret history between Leslie and Lance.

1979 (#10) - Vanessa's decisions on Prentiss Industries and Lucas' presidency

The joy of Brooks' arrival certainly doesn't lessen tensions in the Prentiss house. As always, it is the manipulator Vanessa who is the director, who decides to play the card of her company in order to favour the divorce between Lorie and Lance. In fact, Lance has always aspired to be the president of Prentiss Industries and everyone recognizes that he is a great businessman and that he has an exceptional ability in the field. For this reason, everyone knows that it will be Lance the successor to Vanessa, as president of Prentiss Industries; and Lucas knows it too, who accepts this fact as a natural consequence of events, since after all he has been away from his family for years and has not contributed at all to the growth of the company; above all, he has never been interested in working a white-collar job. However, the arrival of a sudden marriage and a baby to take care of, as we know, change the situation; and when Vanessa decides to seize the opportunity to name Lucas as president of Prentiss Industries, he clearly shows his astonishment but does not seem disappointed. This decision leaves Lance shocked and disheartened, he cannot believe that their mother has decided to choose the youngest son who, by the way, has never been involved in the family business. And when Lorie comes out against Vanessa, accusing her trying to make her son suffer only to indirectly hurt her, Vanessa replies that the needs of a child, which they do not have yet, must prevail. Perhaps a legitimate motivation, if it were not Vanessa's: both women, in fact, know that Vanessa's intentions are only to create a gap in the marriage between Lorie and Lance, and to make the man realize that his marriage to the woman could damage him. In any case, very soon Lucas, even though he knows he doesn't deserve the job position, is persuaded by Vanessa and especially by Leslie that the opportunity offered to him doesn't happen every day and that it wouldn't be fair to refuse such an important position; after all, only by providing financial security to Brooks and Leslie he could hope to finally form a real family with them.

1979 (#6) - The birth of Brooks in Switzerland and Lucas' commitment to Leslie

While the Prentiss family is excited about the recent marriage between Lucas and Leslie, and the next birth of the child, the woman feels that she is under too much pressure. Lucas is worried about the woman's health and is convinced that time away from Genoa City, Lance and especially Vanessa can only be good for his wife, who in those circumstances can stay focused on her baby. It is the mentor Ernesto Fautsch, who came to visit Leslie, to propose the ideal solution for their needs; in fact, Ernesto, being very attached to Leslie, is happy to offer the couple his property in Switzerland, not far from that of the Prentiss, so that they can live in peace and serenity, and in complete anonymity, the next few weeks, the last weeks of the pregnancy. Lucas and Leslie, and especially the soon to be mom is determined to keep the secret from Lance, gladly accept, and without informing anyone about their final destination, greet Lorie, Lance and Vanessa, reassuring them that they will go to a place where they can live in peace the final days of the pregnancy. In Switzerland, indeed, Lucas and Leslie live really happy moments that allow them to finally find the complicity and intimacy necessary in a marriage; the two soon find themselves very close. After a few weeks, meanwhile, the moment of childbirth suddenly arrives and so Brooks Lucas Prentiss comes to life in the beautiful mountains of Switzerland. Leslie makes her husband so happy by giving the newborn his name, so that Brooks can also have a part of Lucas, even though he is not his biological father. Leslie, however, at this point is very clear telling Lucas that the baby is not an obligation for him; Leslie thus admits that she feels guilty for having put him in this situation, that is, to make assume him the role of father to a baby that is not his. The woman doesn't feel comfortable keeping Lucas next to them and therefore, informs him that he is free to go if he wants to. Lucas, however, confirms with all his heart that he wants to stay and to commit himself to raising a real family with Leslie, hoping that maybe one day the woman will love him as she loved Lance. The two of them kiss and after a few days they return to Genoa City, where a family anxiously awaits them and can't wait to welcome little Brooks.

1979 (#2) - Stuart's perplexities and Lorie's discovery about Leslie’s baby

Back from Seattle, everyone is surprised at the news announced by both Leslie and Lucas that they got married. Lance congratulates the new couple without being able to glimpse in Leslie that veil of sadness that envelops her, while Lorie shows herself very happy, especially as her marriage to Lance has certainly been strengthened in this way. Totally incredulous, however, are the couple's respective parents, Stuart and Vanessa. Stuart asks Leslie is she's sure of the step she has taken, a doubt that comes to mind because of the incredible haste she had in marrying the man; Vanessa, who knows well the motivation of this marriage, is instead the most angry, convinced that Lucas' choice to run after Leslie was one of the worst choices of his life. However, both Leslie and Lucas defend their choices: the woman reassures her father about the validity of her decision, informing him with great joy that she is pregnant, without, of course, revealing that the true father is Lance; Lucas, on the other hand, shuts her mother up, begging her to stop meddling in their lives. Leslie then begs Vanessa to keep her promise not to reveal to anyone the paternity of the child she is carrying, but that is a useless attempt. Vanessa, in fact, first informs Lorie that she is aware of a relevant fact that could determine the end of her marriage to Lance, and then makes Lorie find herself in the shower with her sister, which leads Lorie to reflect on the fact that, in contrast to what Leslie says, the pregnancy is not recent but has been going on for many months. Soon, Lorie realizes that the baby that Leslie is expecting is not really Lucas's but Lance's. Initially shocked by the news, Lorie soon realizes that Leslie has kept the truth hidden for the sake of her marriage to Lance and she convinces herself not to talk about it nor with her sister, acting as if she has bought Leslie's version about the paternity of the baby, and of course, nor with Lance. Afterwards, Lorie informs Vanessa that she knows everything, but that she is absolutely not worried about the implications for her marriage.

1978 (#18) - Leslie's resignation and marriage in Seattle with Lucas

A now resigned and depressed Leslie tries in every way to forget her love Lance, in spite of everything, including the baby she's bearing. Not being able to stand the comparison with the vision of two happy Lance and Lorie, Leslie, not before ordering Vanessa not to reveal anything about the fatherhood of the child, decides to forget the man by dedicating herself to her only real passion that can give her a smile: music. Upon the advice of maestro Ernesto Fautsch, she decided to go on a new concert tour. To follow her, surprisingly, is Lucas, who offers support and encouragement to the girl. During their travels and concerts, the two get to know each other more and more, and they realize that they both feel pain for the reunion of the couple formed by Lance and Lorie: Lucas, in fact, is also in love with Lorie and is forced to forget her. Leslie confirms the man's suspicions about the paternity of the child, and is comforted by Lucas. Feeling closer than ever, and united by the pains of love, Lucas surprisingly proposes to Leslie to create a family for the unborn child and to try to forget, together, their pain. During their stay in Seattle for a series of Leslie's performances, then, the two of them get married without party or guests and without any second thoughts. Both are convinced that it is the right thing for everyone, sure that, sooner or later, and with their commitment, they will fall in love and manage to create a real family not only on the paper

1978 (#15) - Lance's guilt, Leslie's pregnancy and Lorie's forgiveness

As the weeks went by, Lance's guilt over his betrayal in Denver with Leslie grew. And, at Leslie's own suggestion, the man understands that his marriage to Lorie is more important than he thought, and is convinced to try to put the pieces back together again. Lance and Lorie, thus, finally manage to talk and clarify themselves; Lorie, still hurt, cannot stop feeling anger towards her husband, but she cannot but admit to herself that she still loves him. So they try to start over, putting the past behind them. The reunion between Lorie and Lance leaves Leslie strangely disappointed and she slowly begins to understand that what she feels for Lance is not just a normal friendship. Leslie, however, is determined not to meddle in her sister's marriage and tries in every way she can to forget the man by focusing on her career and the precious presence of Brock. On the contrary, it is Leslie herself who incites Lance to fight for his marriage and convince Lorie to forgive her husband: once again, Leslie puts aside her own feelings for the happiness of others. However, Leslie's fragile balance is once again upset when she discovers that she is pregnant, and even more so when she realizes that Lance is the father of the child. The news of the pregnancy makes Vanessa happy, hoping for a reunion between the two. Brock, meanwhile, understands how the situation really is and, assuring Leslie to keep it a secret, understands that maybe it's time to step aside and give Leslie and Lance a chance to start a family together. But while everyone is waiting for Lance to return to Leslie at any moment, Lorie and Lance are surprisingly more united than ever and convinced that they want to continue their marriage. Leslie, who was just waiting for the right moment to give Lance the news, realizes that he has managed to make it up to Lorie and forget the night with her in Denver. She also understands that perhaps it is better to let the two of them live their happiness and so she decides to hide the paternity of the child she is carrying.

1978 (#11) - The night of love between Lance and Leslie

The publication of Lorie's novel inevitably creates numerous problems for the marriage between Lance and Lorie, ending up bringing the man closer to Leslie. Just as Vanessa planned and hoped. Enraged with Lorie, in fact, Lance immediately rushes to comfort Leslie, but she reacts in a seemingly strong way reassuring the man that she can overcome this difficult moment. After being reassured also by Brock who will watch over the woman, Lance decides to leave for the second honeymoon with Lorie, planned for a long time, in the Caribbean and more precisely in Trinidad. The trip turns out to be anything other than idyllic, since the tension in the couple is evident and there are countless discussions about the latest events. When Lance then learns from the newspapers about the constant attacks by journalists on Leslie during her tour, Lance understands that the woman needs him and doesn't think twice about leaving the island and Lorie, to reach Leslie, increasingly anxious and overwhelmed by media questions. Leslie thanks Lance for his presence, and it's clear that the spark between the two has never disappeared that spark that always keeps them together. And so, when in Denver, during a concert, Leslie feels that she is close to a new crisis and a new nervous breakdown, next to her this time there is Lance, who protects her and helps her to overcome that difficult moment. The two of them, passionate, lose themselves and make love. Back in Genoa City, Lance agrees with a guilty Leslie to forget their night of love and to keep everything hidden because it would hurt Lorie too much. So they decide to kiss for the last time, during which they don't realize they are being seen by Lorie's upset look. Lorie shocked at what she witnessed, feels betrayed and a complete fool for never understanding anything and throwing Lance into Leslie's arms. Convinced that Lance doesn't love her, and that she has always been mocked by both of them, Lorie decides she has no reason to stay and look at her marriage fall apart, and on the contrary she convinces herself to take what she can from this situation, thus starting a campaign to publicize the book even more, with the aim of taking revenge on Leslie and, at the same time, make a fortune.

1978 (#8) - The disapproval for the book and the approach between Lorie and Lucas

In spite of the gratitude to Lorie for bringing Lucas back to Genoa City, Vanessa is aware that she can determine the destruction of the woman's marriage to her son Lance. Shortly before the girl brought Lucas back to her, in fact, Vanessa had started the publication of Lorie's second novel, also entitled "Under the shadow of my sister". Vanessa's regret and the extreme attempt to block the publication, even buying one by one all the copies of the book, are worth nothing: the diffusion is now underway. An unsuspecting Lorie is so panicked when she sees her novel in shops and bookstores all over the city and runs to ask the publishing house for explanations. She soon realizes that Vanessa is responsible for everything and gets angry with her, but the damage is already done. The novel is on the way to become a best seller and the increasing number of copies sold only increase the success and the hype of the book. To suffer most of all from this situation is of course Leslie, the evil protagonist of Lorie's book; although the name of the main character of the book is in fact different, everyone understands that the reference is for the successful pianist who goes by the name of Leslie. Stuart and the whole Brooks family take sides against Lorie, who tries in vain to justify herself by blaming Vanessa; Leslie slaps her sister, unable to believe that she has disappointed her again, even though she is aware of the pain she would have inflicted on her. The only one who understands, or in any case does not judge or blame Lorie, is Lucas, who tries to defend his friend and believe her version of events. Between Lucas and Lorie, evidently, there is now a curious understanding that involves above all the man, who is gradually realizing that he has feelings for the woman, married to his brother Lance.

1978 (#2) - Lucas' support and Vanessa's plastic surgery operation

Lucas' return to the Prentiss family is welcomed with great happiness by all, especially Vanessa. The woman knew perfectly well that her son had left voluntarily because of guilt for setting the fire that destroyed their family and Vanessa's face, although unintentionally. In a moving embrace, Lucas asks his mother for forgiveness, confessing that he can no longer hide from shame and that he wants to finally face what happened. It was Vanessa who comforted the son she had not seen for years, marveling at how he had become a man and suggesting that he should forget the past definitively, since Lucas should not feel responsible for what had happened. It is Lucas, then, who understands that the only real way to overcome the sad events that have happened is to remove the scars from Vanessa's face. Initially the woman refuses, also recalling Lorie's accusations of some time before, but in the end she accepts Lucas' prayers, which also convinces his mother to look at Lorie in a different perspective. Indeed, Vanessa knows that she owes her reunion with her son exclusively to the woman, the one who has long been her bitter enemy. The surgical operation goes very well, and everyone is delighted to see Vanessa's new face, who is also amazed at how she has changed; now she no longer needs to hide her face behind a veil, which gives her new security and self-confidence.Vanessa, enthusiastic, thanks both Lucas and Lorie for convincing her to give herself a new life.

1977 (#21) - The publication of Lorie's novel and Lucas' return from Hong Kong

It is an increasingly bitter Vanessa, tired of watching Lorie in the arms of her son, breaking the truce in his rivalry with the woman. So she decides to try everything to get away Lorie out of her life, thus starting the publication of Lorie's second novel, which she had been in possession of for some time. At the same time, a still depressed Lorie, who is struggling to get over the pain of her mother's death, is convinced instead to bury the axe of war with Vanessa for good. Feeling closer to the woman, not justifying but understanding the reasons of a mother who after all only wants to protect her son, she decides to rebuild her relationship with the woman by giving her a special gift. Lorie thus set out in search of Vanessa's second son, Lucas, tracing him back to Hong Kong and bringing him back to Genoa City, convincing the boy to put the past behind him. It turns out, in fact, that the fire that caused Vanessa's injuries was accidentally and inadvertently caused by Lucas who, feeling guilty for what happened, ran away immediately afterwards, making him lose track until today. At the sight of her son, an incredulous Vanessa embraces Lucas in ecstasy, whom she hadn't seen for years. Lance, too, is overjoyed to find his brother, and he never stops thanking Lorie for this miracle.

1977 (#12) - Vanessa's plan to kill Lorie and Lance's injury

Tensions between Vanessa and Lorie, meanwhile, do not diminish. Actually, if Lorie is threatened by Vanessa about her second book, in turn Vanessa is threatened by Lorie because of the lies about her health condition. It is Vanessa, at this point, who is planning a plan to resolve the issue in her own way: to kill Lorie. And so, when Lance is forced to go to Chicago for job-related issues, created on purpose by Vanessa through a stratagem, the situation becomes ideal to accomplish the woman's plan. By getting a revolver without too much trouble, Vanessa intends to simulate a robbery to shoot Lorie and the blame the fact to a simple fatality, thus discharging the responsibility on the fictitious thieves. What the woman did not anticipate is that Lance, at the last moment, gives up leaving, as he has been informed by telephone that there is no reason to go to Chicago and that the whole thing was probably the result of a misunderstanding. When Vanessa hears movement in the house, therefore, she fires two shots convinced she was targeting Lorie; soon, however, she is horrified to see her son on the floor. Taken urgently to the hospital, a desperate Lorie is comforted by the doctors when they tell her that Lance has received no fatal shots and that he will get away with it in a short time. Vanessa, despite her plan having failed, does not give up on her plan and threatens Lorie with publishing her book in case she has not taken responsibility for what happened. Lorie, reluctantly, is forced to accept, in exchange she obtains to catch Vanessa away from their home. Once he regains consciousness, then, a mortified Lorie confesses to Lance that she was the shooter, convinced that there were robbers at home; but even this attempt by Vanessa fails when Lance forgives the woman. However, it is Lance himself who begs the mother to retrace her steps when she confesses to her son that she intends to go and live alone; Lorie is forced by the circumstances to pray to Vanessa to stay too, since she cannot reveal to her husband the agreements made with the woman, and the woman, in the end, gladly accepts Lance's offer. In spite of all the vicissitudes, therefore, neither Vanessa nor Lorie manage to prevail in their fierce struggle that takes place behind the backs of an unaware Lance.