Nikolas is in the drawing room, he opens a ring box, and pulls out a ruby ring with diamonds on the sides. Stefan comes in and starts to talk about the history of the stones.
Stefan: That was my great-grandmother Katya's engagement ring. It hasn't been worn since the Cassadines lived in Russia. I can't imagine Emily Quartermaine would feel comfortable wearing such a distinctive stone.
Nikolas: It's not your decision, is it?
Stefan: I suppose not. But you must admit it would suit Lydia's hand perfectly.
Lydia comes into the drawing room.
Lydia: Oh. Did I hear someone take my name in vain?
Nikolas: My uncle's starting another lecture on how I should marry you for the good of the Cassadines, and you're welcome to join in, but you'd just be wasting your time.
Lydia: Are you sure, Nikolas? I can be awfully persuasive.
Nikolas: There's nothing either of you can say or do that will convince me to break my commitment to Emily.
Emily pacing in front of the bench at the park, Jason comes in to meet her.
Jason: Hey.
Emily: Hey. Jase, I'm glad you got my message. Where have you been?
Jason: Oh, just so much going on. I'm actually supposed to be in Puerto Rico, but I stayed to look for Carly.
Emily: I'm sorry. I know you have so much going on right now. Have a seat.
Emily motions to the bench and they sit down.
Jason: What's going on with you? I mean, every time I see you, you look sadder. It's like you're trying to hide something. Somebody hurting you?
Emily: No.
Emily blinks back tears.
Jason: Look, I can't -- I can't make you tell me, but you know I want to help.
Emily: Jase -- oh -- um -- I've got breast cancer. I' already had a lumpectomy and they started chemo, but so far only a few people know. I've been keeping it a secret from everyone, especially Zander, which I know is crazy, but I couldn't help thinking that I was going to die. Any why make anyone sad before they had to be. But now, Jase, I'm starting to believe that I can fight this, okay, and I can live. And the first step is telling people, so i started with you, which I know probably isn't fair. But considering everything you're going through right now with Carly's disappearance --
Throughout Emily's speech she caressed his hair and Jason had to blink back tears.
Jason: Look, whatever you need, I'll do.
Emily: You're doing it. Jase.
Jason pulls Emily into a tight hug!
Nikolas and Stefan are in the drawing room. Nikolas is drinking a glass of wine and Stefan is freaking about the Cassadine history. Nikolas is being firm and pointing during his speeches.
Stefan: Without Lydia's inheritance, the Cassadine finances will collapse. Your first duty is to your heritage, to your family.
Nikolas: My first duty is to emily. If the Cassadine fortune is lost because I keep my promise to her, then so be it. If I have to actually go out and find a job and earn a living, I'll survive. Maybe it's a good thing. Maybe the Cassadine legacy of pain and tragedy will finally collapse without the money to hold it up.
Stefan: Uh-huh. How do you think you will feel living off Emily's trust fund?
Nikolas: I won't --
Stefan: Thanking the Quartermaines for any crumbs tossed your way.
Nikolas: I won't take charity. You know that.
Stefan: Pride is expensive, Nikolas, and the only way you can afford yours is by marrying Lydia.
Nikolas: I've made my choice. The subject is closed.
Nikolas' last word is final and it looks like he leaves the room.
Emily and Jason are still on the park bench.
Emily: Nikolas -- he forced me to go to a support group and listen, you know, Jase, like really just listen to other women who are fighting cancer and who are beating it. And slowly I just -- I started to realize, you know, that I could be one of them, that I could live.
Jason: Then I owe a lot to Nikolas for helping you when you couldn't come to me.
Emily: I couldn't exactly push Zander away by claiming to fall in love with my brother.
Both Emily and Jason have a short chuckle. There are tears in both of their eyes and Jason is resting his hand on her shoulder.
Emily: Nikolas was really the only one who could do what I needed.
Jason: I'm just glad you weren't alone.
Emily: Yeah. Oh, you know, I thought -- I thought I was protecting Zander, but mostly I was hiding, you know? I still want to. I know, it's not fair to keep the secret any longer. It's not only hurting Zander and me. It's wrecking something really important for Nikolas. I have to tell Zander the truth. Don't I?
Jason: Sounds like you made up your mind.
Emily: I still want to hear what you think.
Jason: Just do what feels right. Whatever is going to get you through this.
Emily: Okay.
Emily walks into the drawing room, Nikolas is sitting on the edge of the couch thinking. As soon as he sees her, he rushes over to the safe box and reaches for the ring. He rushes to her and prevents her from speaking while he discusses the ring.
Emily: Hi.
Nikolas: Hi. I have something for you. It's a strange day for it, but nothing in our engagement has been that routine, so --
Emily: Nikolas, I need to say something.
Nikolas: It's been in a vault for decades, and I give you my word Helena never touched it, okay? It belonged to my great-great-grandmother Katya, and she was supposed to be somewhat normal, so --
At this moment, Nikolas pops open the box and hands the ring to Emily.
Emily: Oh, my --
Emily looks at the ring and blinks back tears.
Emily: I -- I think I would've liked wearing it. But you need to give that to Lydia. And I need to tell Zander the truth. So that's what we're going to do. I'm officially setting you free.
The look on Nikolas' face is sheer disappointment and utter shock. He didn't expect this.
Nikolas and Emily are still in the drawing room. Nikolas is trying to make sure that she knows waht she wants. Nikolas is playing with the ring and his voice as grown hoarse. He is soooo sad.
Nikolas: You sure this is -- this is what you want? Because, you know, I meant what I said. I'll follow through with the engagement, I'll marry you.
Emily: I can't let you bankrupt your family, Nikolas.
Nikolas sighs.
Nikolas: Emily, I'll either save Cassadine industries or I won't, you know, but I'm not going to turn my back on you to marry a fortune. I'm not going to do that.
Emily moves and walks away around to the back of the chair. She rests her hands lightly on the chair as they talk to each other.
Emily: Look, if we really were in love, and you married me, and the Cassadine businesses collapsed as a result, you'd always blame yourself. You'd beat yourself up for letting your family down. I know you, Nikolas.
Nikolas: No --
Emily: It's the way you think -- duty first.
Nikolas: No, that's not what this is about.
The look on Nikolas' face says it all here. SAD..is an understatement.
Emily: And I admire that about you. It's part of what makes you such a strong person. And I need to be strong, too. Strong enough to do the thing that -- that scares me the most and tell the man I love that I'm sick.
Emily: That's the real reason I can't marry you. I love Zander. And I could never marry one man or stay engaged to him when I -- when I honestly love someone else.
Nikolas: Well, I hope he knows how incredibly fortunate he is.
Emily: You know, I've been acting like an idiot for months. I've been torturing myself and Zander and taking advantage of you.
Nikolas: No, no. No, you didn't take advantage of me. I was honored that you turned to me, Emily.
Emily: I guess I have to get out of this now or -- or I really will fall in love with you. Wouldn't that be a disaster?
Nikolas' head is bowed, he's struggling to save face and not let his feelings show.
Nikolas: Catastrophe.
Nikolas walks over to Emily and grasps her head in his heads. He presses a hard, rough kiss on her forehead. He pulls back but leaves his hands in place.
Nikolas: Be happy. Okay?
Emily: Okay.
Nikolas: That's all I ever wanted for you.
Emily: I know. I know. Thank you.
Nikolas: Bye.
As Emily pulls away and goes to leave, their hands stay linked for a brief moment.
Emily: Bye.
Nikolas is in the drawing room sitting on the desk, contemplating the ring as Lydia walks in. She plops down onto the couch as they talk.
Lydia: Nikolas. You're home. I assumed you'd be out with your fiancee enjoying the wholesome festivities of a Fourth of July picnic. Ingratiating yourself with her family, and -- now that you'll be living off them since you've left us both paupers. Unless, of course, you're more like your brother and you believe that you haven't truly lived until you've been penniless.
Nikolas: Well, in that case, Lydia, you and I are in for a long, joyless life together. Emily broke off our engagement. Which leaves me free to marry you.
In the final scene, GH provided us with a montage. Emily is running through the park to find Zander but stops stock still when she finds Zander and Gia kissing hotly on a blanket as the fireworks go off. The scene fades to Nikolas and Lydia on the couch with Nikolas placing the ring on Lydia's finger. Nikolas face says it all...he wishes he were placing it on Emily's finger.