"You have to give credit where credit is due. Marian really has turned over a new leaf with her attempts to be the perfect grandmother to Baby Colby. She sat alone on the hospital sun porch trying desperately to knit a pair of baby booties. Adam strolled into the room and gently teased Marian about her ball of knots. Don't be mistaken; Adam didn't just pop in to comment on Marian's knitting. Adam pulled up a chair across from his sister-in-law and told her that he needed her help in ending Jake's interference in Colby's life. Adam explained that Stuart and Jake were very close friends and that Marian, as Stuart's new bride, could convince Stuart to asked Jake to back off. Marian shrugged her shoulders and informed Adam that Stuart had already announced that he wanted no part of the dispute. Adam turned on his powerful charm, grinning as he reported that he'd been the one who suggested that Colby's middle name be Marian. Stuart appeared in the doorway and yelled at his brother for bothering Marian. Marian spoke up, saying that she agreed with Adam's desire to keep Jake away from Colby. Stuart criticized Adam for once again thinking of only himself. Stuart asked Adam if he'd ever considered that Jake had developed the same feelings for Colby that Adam had. Adam cringed as Stuart noted that it was Jake who'd helped create the child in the first place. "The hell he did," Adam grumbled. The looks on Stuart and Marian's faces quickly made Adam realize that he had a lot of explaining to do. Again, Adam knew just the right thing to say. He stated that while Jake may have given Baby Colby life, he had been one who created a family for the child. Stuart refused to back down from his neutral stance. He said that he was proud of Jake for deciding that he wanted to be a part of Colby's life. "You never were very good at sharing," Stuart snapped. Stuart turned angrily towards Adam and told him that he'd better not go to Marian behind his back ever again. Adam left in a huff. Marian, who had been sitting next to Stuart, rose from her chair and took a seat directly across from her husband. Stuart detected Marian's frustration. Before he could say anything, Marian commented, "For the first time, I don't understand you at all." Elsewhere in the hospital, Adam tracked down Joe to find out if Jake was on duty. Adam claimed that he wanted to talk to Jake so that he could apologize for her outburst. Joe thanked Adam for his thoughtfulness---although it was highly doubtful that he believed Adam was being sincere. The doctor then informed Adam that Jake was meeting with Liza to discuss what "he was going to do." After issuing the comment, Joe returned to his duties. Adam was left by himself to ponder exactly what Jake "was going to do."
The morning papers all heralded Ryan's guilty plea. Advertisers flooded WRCW with calls and concerns about advertising on a television station that had employed a rapist. Liza fielded the calls and did the best she could to keep the advertisers on board. Tad entered the office and told Liza that he didn't understand why Ryan had suddenly changed his story. Liza wasn't as steadfast in her belief for Ryan, but she also found the sudden confession highly peculiar. Tad informed Liza that he was going to go to the police station to get some answers from Ryan, but turned down her request to take a tape recorder to record the conversation. Shortly after Tad left, Jake entered the office and told Liza that he needed to speak to her. Liza pointed to a stack of papers on her desk and politely told Jake that she didn't have time to talk. When Jake announced that he wanted to talk about the baby, Liza suddenly changed her tune. Liza took a few moments to apologize to her friend for Adam's outburst the night before. Smiling, she assured Jake that she still wants him to be the baby's godfather. "I don't want to be the godfather or Uncle Jake," Jake replied in frustration. "I want to be her father." Liza said nothing. Instead, she listened as Jake announced that he wanted his name to appear on Colby Marian Martin's birth certificate. Liza's upper lip quivered as she turned her back to Jake. She reminded him that they had talked about their arrangement in detail before agreeing to proceed. Liza suggested that Jake take a few steps back and take time to consider his feelings. Jake shook his head and paced around the office. He stated that he had already thought about what he wanted to do. He noted that seeing the sonogram image of the baby caused him to develop feelings he never thought he'd have. Liza tried to address Jake's fears about Adam being a part of Colby's life, but nothing she said seemed to change Jake's mind. Jake reminded Liza that Adam had once had Dixie institutionalized in order to get custody of Junior. Liza proclaimed that Adam had changed since then, but Jake refused to believe in the transformation. "I will not sacrifice my child," Jake said sternly, meaning that he would not risk Colby's welfare on the belief that Adam had become one of the good guys. "I talked to Trevor," Jake said with hesitance. The room suddenly grew colder. Jake told Liza that he'd been advised the he has two possible courses of action. The first, he said, was much easier than the second. Liza's eyes welled with tears. That action, Jake said, was getting a notarized statement from Liza that he, not Adam, is the baby's father. He explained that he would then become Colby's legal guardian if anything happened to Liza. Tears stream freely down Liza's face. She said that she wanted Adam to be Colby's father and to assume full care if anything happened to her. Jake told Liza that if she refused, he would have to file a paternity suit in court. Outside, Adam listened closely to the conversation. Liza asked Jake if he would back off if she agreed to sign an affidavit. Jake shook his head. He said that he would never back off as long as Adam was in his daughter's life.
Tad's appearance on the other side of the metal bars didn't please Ryan in the least. He accused Tad of wanting some type of exclusive interview with him. Tad shook his head and explained that he was there for personal reasons. From there, he wasted no time in asking Ryan why he'd confessed to a crime he hadn't committed. Ryan was unprepared to answer Tad's question. When he spoke to Gillian, he knew he could convince her to stop prying by insulting her and talking down their relationship. With Tad, however, Ryan didn't have that type of leverage. Tad told Ryan that he believed that he did not rape Kit Fisher. He reminded the prisoner that he had once looked him in the eyes and sworn that he hadn't assaulted Kit. "You've been had!" Ryan exclaimed. He mustered a vicious laugh and told Tad that he'd been lying all along. Tad still didn't believe Ryan's confession. He deduced that Braden was somehow involved in the confession, but he wasn't sure how. Tad was still fuming over Braden's decision to report Kit's previous false rape charges to the paper. Ryan urged Tad not to stick his nose in places where it didn't belong. Ryan implied that Tad wasn't looking for the truth, he was trying to use him to pay Kit back for what she'd done to him in California. Tad nodded his head and sarcastically told Ryan that he was right on the money. He vowed to walk away from Ryan's case. Before he left, however, he told Ryan that he hopes his need to confess to a crime he hadn't committed is really worth ten years in jail. After Tad left, a police officer appeared before Ryan and jokingly called him "six pack," a reference to his muscled abs. He informed Ryan that his sentencing would take place next week and that immediately afterward he'd go to a cell at Statesville.
At Cortlandt Manor, Adrian walked in on Dixie while she was reading the Bulletin's front page story on---what else---Ryan's confession. Dixie put down the paper and told Adrian that she was glad that he and Tad were starting to get along. That seemed like a bit of an exaggeration to Adrian, who was skeptical that he and Tad would ever be friendly. Still, Adrian promised Dixie that he would remain optimistic and try to develop a friendship with his half-brother. Seconds later, Tad returned to "The Manor" and told Dixie and Adrian that he'd had a visit with Ryan. Tad stated that he remained confident that Ryan was innocent-but Braden was "up to his neck" in the situation.
An article about Cortlandt Electronics in the Wall Street Herald sent Braden into jubilation. Gillian entered the bar at The Valley Inn in a completely opposite emotional state. Braden approached the princess and invited her to join him for a bite to eat. Gillian groused that she wasn't in the mood to eat and added that she was surprised that Braden could even think about food after what he'd done to Ryan. Braden was silent. He had no idea what Gillian was going to say next. The nervous silence only lasted a few minutes, but it seemed like an eternity. Finally Gillian made known her allegations, demanding to know why Braden had dismissed the private investigator that had been hired to find the real rapist. Braden rolled his eyes and denounced the investigator's abilities. He touted the dismissal as a service to Ryan rather than a disservice. Braden then became angry and told Gillian that Ryan would be free if he hadn't screwed up things by confessing. Hayley hovered a few yards away listening intently to the conversation. Gillian had three questions for Braden, and they were biggies. She asked Braden who he was, why he was so interested in Ryan, and followed it up by asking Braden why she should believe anything he says. Hayley chose that moment to pull up a chair and join the conversation. Upon doing so, Hayley said that she was anxious to hear Braden's answers. Gillian spoke up before Braden could answer. She implied that Ryan had pleaded guilty to get away from her. Hayley sighed and told Gillian not to flatter herself. No man, she noted, would take ten-years of hard jail time just to get away from a woman. Palmer strolled over and scolded Braden for not being in proper work attire. He flashed a smile to Hayley and Gillian and asked the women if Braden was harassing them. If he was, Palmer assured them that he'd fire Braden on the spot. Tauntingly, Braden reminded Palmer that his contract would not allow him to be fired for any reason. The arrogance was brought to an abrupt halt when Palmer mentioned the "morals clause" in the contract. Palmer waddled off with a cocky grin planted on his face. Once his employer left, Braden was once again free to speak his mind. He argued that no one should be in jail for Kit's assault because Kit had never been raped. Hayley was puzzled by Braden's remark, but Braden explained that since there was no sign of struggle, he determined that Kit "wanted it." That said, Braden decided to get back to work. Hayley asked Gillian if she knew anything about Braden. Gillian shrugged and stated that Braden and Ryan were long-time friends who had been through a lot of hard times together. Hayley thought deeply for several moments. "This may sound really crazy," she said slowly. "But do you think Ryan is protecting Braden?""
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