Zander and Gia are sitting in Kelly's holding hands over a milkskake.
Zander: I had a great time last night.
Gia: Well, I love fireworks.
Zander: Me, too.
Gia: It took everything for me not to ask you to come up and spend the night.
Zander: Well, why didn't you?
Gia: I think taking time is a good thing.
Zander: Gia, Emily's with Nikolas, and I'm not looking back.
Nikolas and Lucky approaching Kelly's and stopping to stand in front of the doors.
Nikolas: So I asked Lydia to marry me, and she accepted.
Lucky: Are you trying to be funny, because --
Nikolas: No, I'm serious. I'm marrying Lydia.
Lucky: What about Emily?
Lydia pouring a glass of water in the Cassadine drawing room as Emily comes in.
Emily: I'm looking for Nikolas.
Lydia: You mean my fiance? He's not here.
Emily: What did you say?
Emily is a little taken aback.
Lydia: Oh, I assumed you knew. Nikolas proposed last night. It belonged to his great-grandmother.
Emily: Katya.
The camera zooms in on Emily's face as she listens to Lydia talk.
Lydia: Yeah, that's it. Well, aren't you going to offer your congratulations?
Emily and Lydia are still in the drawing room. She raises Lydia's hand to check out the ring.
Emily: So why would you want to be congratulated on a business arrangement? On your wedding day, Nikolas won't look at you and see a woman he wants to marry more than anyone else in the world. He's going to see a girl he has to marry, because he doesn't have any other choice.
(Emily is walking around, pacing a bit) Nikolas is trying to save everything his family has spent centuries building. But what I don't get is why you agreed. Why would your family want you to marry a man who doesn't love you?
Lydia: Actually, arranged marriages have a better track record than love matches do.
(As Lydia is talking Emily turns away and has a sad look, but then turns back to her.) When enormous wealth is involved, it makes marriage a very complicated matter. And the fact that you don't know that shows how naive you really are. But people like Nikolas and I can't afford to be naive. When Nikolas slipped this ring on my finger, he committed his life to me. And I'll be totally committed to him. I believe that marriage is a sacred bond to be honored and cherished. And I know Nikolas feels the same.
Nikolas and Lucky are still outside of Kelly's.
Nikolas: Emily and I haven't been honest.
Lucky: Okay, about what?
Nikolas: Well, I'll let her tell you her side, but I think I've been concentrating on Emily so I wouldn't have to think about how bad my family's financial crisis is.
Lucky: So you're marrying Lydia for money? Well, hey, while you're at it, why don't you just sell your soul, too?
Nikolas: I don't have a choice.
Lucky: Nikolas, I know you. If you marry Lydia, you will honor your vows. She won't feel the same obligation. She's a little brat who will make your life miserable. She'll sleep around, probably on your wedding night.
Nikolas: When did you become such an expert on Lydia?
Lucky: Come on, Lydia isn't hard to figure out. Lydia doesn't give a damn about you. Don't you want to have a wife who's going to love you and respect you?
Lucky is upset with Nikolas and is pacing around as Nikolas just stands there and justifies his position.
Nikolas: It doesn't matter what I want. Lucky, I have to think about the future of my family.
Lucky: What future? What about your future? You got a right to something better than an arranged marriage to a girl you don't even love.
Nikolas: I've already agreed. I can't change it. I'm engaged to Lydia.
As Nikolas says this, Gia and Zander come out of Kelly's just in time to hear the last part.
Lydia is sitting on the drawing room couch as Stefan walks in. Lydia pops up and holds out her hand as he answers. She's all cocky and giddy, pouring herself a drink.
Stefan: Mrs. Lansbury said you wanted to see me.
Lydia: Yes. Congratulate me. Nikolas proposed.
Stefan: As I knew he would.
Lydia: Oh, please. You were scared to death he wouldn't come around.
Stefan: I knew Nikolas would honor his duty to his family.
Lydia: And I knew I would be able to pull it off if you stopped interfering and let me do things my way. Now I've got my inheritance, I've got Nikolas, and together we will be magnificent -- the ultimate power couple. To me.
Stefan: Just don't forget who's in charge.
Lucky: Listen, I still say you're making a huge mistake.
Lucky leaves outside as Kelly's as Zander confronts Nikolas. The camera has continued to zoom in on Gia, she looks worried.
Zander: Did I just hear you say that you're engaged to that rich girl who was at your engagement party?
Nikolas: Her name is Lydia Karenin. And, yes, I'm marrying her.
Zander: Since when?
Nikolas: Since I asked her last night.
Zander: I warned you. I warned you not to take advantage of Emily. This is exactly the kind of thing that could put her back on drugs. But do you even care about that? Huh? Wait a second. How did she take this when you told her?
Nikolas: She doesn't know yet.
Zander: Have you at least broken up with her?
Nikolas: Yes.
Zander: Well, that was very decent of you.
Gia: Where is Emily now?
Nikolas: I don't know. I haven't seen her since yesterday, Gia. You should call her.
Nikolas leaves. Gia is worried.
Zander: I can't believe this guy. I'll be back.
Zander goes into Kelly's as Gia stares after Nikolas. Just then, Emily comes from around the corner and runs into Gia.
Emily: Gia. Hey.
Gia: Nikolas just left.
Emily: Did he say anything?
Gia: He's engaged to someone named Lydia. He didn't give any details, but I'm assuming you're the one who broke it off with him.
Emily: All right, Gia, I'm going to tell Zander the truth.
Gia: Yeah, like I always knew you would.
Lydia is sitting on the park bench, twirling her ring as Lucky approaches.
Lucky: You could just wear it through your nose and be sure no one will miss it.
Lydia: I gather Nikolas told you the good news.
Lucky: Good news? No.
Lydia: Look, you can try all you want. Nothing is going to spoil my perfect day. This ring is a symbol that your brother and I want the same thing, and we are going to be very happy together.
Lucky: No. It's a symbol of what a scared, confused little girl you are.
Gia and Emily are talking outside of Kelly's.
Gia: Zander's inside. He should be out any second --
Emily: Okay.
Gia: But tell me what happened. You owe me that much.
Emily: I know. I just -- I realized that I've been taking advantage of Nikolas, Gia, that I have let things get way out of hand, and I just -- I couldn't keep doing it.
Gia: Who's Lydia?
Emily: She's -- she's a childhood friend of Nikolas'. You'll have to ask him for the details.
Gia: I told you this would happen, and you swore to me that it wouldn't.
Emily: I know. I'm so sorry, Gia. I know I've been completely unfair to everyone.
Gia: No. You're fighting a battle with cancer, which must be hell. I really shouldn't complain about a little heartbreak.
Emily: No, you have every right to complain.
Gia: It's just I opened my heart, you know --
Emily: Yeah.
Gia: Because you swore it would be safe, and I wanted to lighten your burden.
Emily reaches forward and pulls Gia into a hug. I did what you wanted -- I helped zander move on. Now the bottom's dropped out just like I knew it would.
Zander comes out of Kelly's. He stops and stares at Emily.
Zander and Gia are with Emily outside of Kelly's.
Zander: I heard the news about this new girl.
Emily: Yeah, Lydia. I know all about it.
Zander: You all right?
Emily: Yeah. Don't be mad at Nikolas, Zander. The breakup was my idea.
Zander: Why? Was he cheating on you?
Emily: No. I knew both of you would be worried, so I wanted to come here and tell you in person that I'm not going to have a setback over this. I'm okay. And I-- I know this is a little awkward, but I just wanted zander to be clear that just because Nikolas and I have broken up that that doesn't change anything between the two of us. You know, I still want Zander to go on with his own life --
Gia: Emily, stop, please.
Emily: And I want to go on with my own life, too, so --
Gia: Please don't do this.
Zander: Do what?
Gia: It's like I've said all along -- Zander deserves to know the truth. If you don't tell him, I will.
Gia leaves and goes back into Kelly's. She is dejected and sad.
Zander: Tell me what?
Nikolas walks into the drawing room and Stefan is sitting at the desk.
Stefan: Am I allowed to congratulate you?
Nikolas: Lydia told you we're engaged?
Stefan: I had hoped to hear it from you.
Nikolas: Does it make victory any sweeter if I concede in person, uncle? Nikolas plops down on the chair as Stefan gets up to come and talk to Nikolas face to face.
Stefan: Nikolas, I haven't won anything. You have. Lydia's a beautiful woman. She'll make a suitable wife, one who understands your background and your way of life.
Nikolas gets up from the chair and confronts Stefan.
Nikolas: Yeah. You mean Lydia can afford my way of life, which is convenient since I'll be paying the bills with her money exactly the way you planned. You arranged this, didn't you? When you went to Milan, you weren't warning Chloe. You were looking for a new source of capital. When exactly did you decide to fill the family coffers by marrying me off to the Karenin fortune? Huh? Did it ever occur to you to ask me how I felt about it?
Stefan: I knew you would do your duty, and you have.
Nikolas: You are so good at evasion. I've known you all my life, and I think I can count the number of honest answers you've given me on one hand.
Stefan sits on the couch, and starts his speech to Nikolas.
Stefan: You want honesty? All right. Here it is. Your grandmother left this family bankrupt. While everyone was rejoicing in her defeat, I took a look at the books and saw that within two years the Cassadines would collapse. I could have pointed that out to you, Nikolas. I could have come to you and asked you to strategize on a solution, but you were busy. You were busy turning your back on all things Cassadine, pretending to be a Spencer. I obliged you repeatedly, and then I went off and found a solution -- Anton Karenin's fortune, which was about to be given to charity. I went to him and persuaded him to divide it equally between you and Lydia in the event of your marriage.
Nikolas: Even though I was engaged to Gia at the time?
Stefan: I knew you and Gia would never marry. If she hadn't rejected you herself, I would have come to you and explained why you had to be with Lydia.
Nikolas: Oh, yeah -- the way you explained it when I got engaged to Emily.
Nikolas is walking around and telling Stefan off, he is so firm.
Stefan: Well, I hoped I wouldn't have to, that you would come to your senses. And lo and behold, I was right. Your attachment to Emily was as fleeting as I had thought.
Nikolas: My attachment to Emily is the single strongest thing I have in my life. You want to know why? Because out of all the people who have ever claimed to care about me, she's the only one who never lies, the only one who always keeps her promises.
Lydia and Lucky are still in the park, talking.
Lydia: You know, I don't think your brother will appreciate you insulting his fiancee.
Lucky: Yeah, I had you pegged from the moment we first met.
Lydia: Oh, yeah.
Lucky: You're just a spoiled little rich girl searching for love.
Lydia: Love's highly overrated.
Lucky: You know, the ones that say that are the ones that never had it. You've had money your whole life, and getting more isn't going to change anything. But when love comes along, your whole world's going to change.
Lydia: Oh, yeah? Well, the people that say that money can't change anything are the ones who don't have it. You don't know anything about me. You have no idea what I wan--
Just then, Lucky swoops down and stops her with a kiss.
Lucky: Congratulations on your engagement.
Then, he leaves.
Nikolas and Stefan are still talking in the drawing room.
Nikolas: I missed you. I did. I never got a chance to tell you that because the day you get home I walk in the door and find you lying to my brother. Then you turn around and start lying to me about why you came back, why Lydia showed up, the agenda you swore you didn't have. Why is it so impossible for you to be honest with me about anything?S
Stefan: You don't want honesty, Nikolas. You want illusion. You want me to be kind, open, truthful. If I had been, you would be dead or a monster like the rest of the Cassadines you claim to despise. I spent half of my life fighting to protect you from Helena. If you don't approve of my methods, I'm sorry, but they're necessary. They still are. Helena bankrupted you. Marriage to Lydia will save both you and the legacy you've inherited. And before you tell me that you'd be happy to earn your own living, let me remind you, you abhor liars, so don't lie to yourself. You were born and raised to inherit a fortune and carry on the Cassadine legacy.
Nikolas: For someone who claims to love me, you don't have much faith in me, do you?
Stefan: You cannot be other than what you are.
Nikolas: You just described yourself -- your life, your choices. And if you made them out of love, I thank you for your good intentions, but I can't reciprocate. I will not live my life for you, following your instructions, swallowing your lies. I agreed to marry Lydia, but that's where it ends for me. The rest of my life is my own.
Emily and Zander are still outside of Kelly's, Gia is looking on from the window inside of Kelly's.
Emily: Zander, I've been lying to you from the beginning. I did it to protect you, all right, because I love you so much.
Zander: Protect me from what?
Emily: All right, you know, you kept saying that there's something more going on, and you were right.
Zander: Mm-hmm.
Emily: The truth is, you know that those drugs that you found that night? They weren't what you thought. I didn't have a relapse, okay? You jumped to that conclusion, and I let you believe it.
Zander: Well, what were they for?
Emily: It was -- it's an experimental treatment.
Zander: For what?
Emily: I have -- I have breast cancer.
Zander seems to be in shock; he slowly draws Emily forwards and kisses her forehead. Then, he rests his forehead against hers.