Last time on 234's lifelines;

Ethan found out about Lexis being engaged from his mother during a heated argument on her knowledge about Lexis being alive. We also found out from Hannah that Ethan was the one who sent the postcard with his and Hera's picture to the Blacks. 

I was going to give two updates yesterday but was tooooooo tired so here it is today. 

Song: I'll Show You - Justin Bieber

"Someone once said; 'It's the good girls who keep diaries. The bad girls never have the time. Me... I just wanna live a life I'm gonna remember. Even if I don't write it down.'" - Brooke Davis -One Tree Hill

***

Two years ago, Lagos Nigeria.

Waking up, E walks to the living room to grab a glass of water when he hears the sound of crying.

Worried and curious, he drops the glass of water he had just poured and goes in search of the source of the tears.

He notices a silhouette in the balcony and approaches it noticing Hera seated curled up with her arms wrapped around her knees that were bent to her chest.

He walks to the glass door and places his hands on the handle to open it but stops as he hears Hera's voice.

"Alexander...Shakespeare called someone else her dad again today. I...How am I supposed to bring up Shakespeare without you? What am I to tell her about you?"

"Lexis how am I supposed to give her the love you alone can? How am I to tell her our story? What part of our story am I to tell her? I'm scared Lexis, scared that one day she'll find out the truth. The truth about us and hate me, If I lose her too I don't think I'll be able to go on. I want to be on the other side with you but I also don't want to leave our baby alone on this evil side of the world,"

E's fist ball by his side.

"I married someone else so she's protected and safe someone with enough power and wealth to do so. But Lexis even though I know he loves and can protect her, I still fear and worry for her safety because he is not you. No one can ever be like you,"

Ethan eyes thin as he turns around and walks to his room. He packs up and leaving a note for Hera that he had to quickly return to D.C , kisses Shakespeare in her sleep and leaves for the airport.

        Arriving Washington D.C, E throws himself into a load of work making sure to stay busy. A week later his assistant walks into the office and hands a file over to him.

"What's this?" E asks glancing at a couple of pictures and documents in the file.

"Reid Spencer, Alexander Blacks fiancee's twin brother,"

"What about him?"

"He went to one of our private labs last week and requested an investigation into the contents of that pill,"

"And why should I care about that?" E asks dropping the file to his side.

"Because It contains Xylex and Dertikloxine,"

"What are those?" E says lackadaisically as he types on his PC.

"Drugs that enforce amnesia,"

E pauses from typing.

"Enforce amnesia?" He says quickly picking the documents back up to look at it.

His face lights up in understanding.

"Christ!" E says as he reads the information on Lexis.

"Is he trying to stop his son from remembering or is he trying to kill him?"

"Probably the former. Considering the type of person Alexander was prior to the accident. I don't see him going out of his way to help his dad the way he has been the past few months. Peter has been taking good advantage of his sons intelligence,"

"Are you sure Peter is his father? Have you thoroughly looked into it?" E asks.

"Positive,"

E sighs getting up, he leans against the desk half sitting on it.

"Can this be treated?" He asks.

"Yes,"

"How?"

"Quinciline,"

"What's that?"

"It's a drug that when added numbs the effects of the other two drugs,"

"Has he been informed about the results of these findings?" E asks.

"Yes, that's why I am here. We don't make it at our London facility,"

"But?" E asks guessing there was a but.

"But we do at the Sheffield facility,"

"Why are we making it? It says here his father has a lab that makes these," E states.

"Reid can't make it in their facility as his father made these pills. Making it there without his father finding out about the change in the ingredients is impossible. He doesn't want him finding out and hence requested we do it in secret. Should we?"

"What does this entail?" E asks.

"A continuous supply for at least a year, maybe longer to fix it,"

"The change in drugs needs to be gradual so each measurement of the three drugs have to be gradually changed. To take full effect and start seeing changes might take a year and a few months. But the Quincilline should totally numb the other two drugs in two years if he starts taking it now.And, even then it's not guaranteed that his memories will return,"

"The manager at our London branch contacted me because to create such a custom pill we need a letter from your father, Dr Robins and your signature for approval,"

E uses his palms to wipe his face and then cups his chin.

The assistant awaits his orders.

He lets out a deep sigh shutting his eyes.

"You may leave," He finally says dismissing him without giving an answer.

The assistant nods and leaves the office.

Once he leaves E slides to the ground placing his face in his hands.

He remains silent as time passes.

"Hera, what should I do?" He finally says out loud in anguish.

        A couple of hours later, he walks out of his office into the living room and notices his cousin Susan, seated outside in the garden. He approaches her sending away the maids.

"Susan," E says placing his head on his cousins shoulder.

Her forehead crinkles in worry.

"What's wrong?" She asks using her hands to smoothen the crease on his forehead.

"I..." He starts stopping unable to go on.

"Is it about Hera?" She asks.

E immediately jumps up from her thighs.

"You knew?" He asks.

"About your marrying Hera, the third 234's virgin or Alexander being alive?" She asks quietly.

"Both," E answers.

She nods smiling sadly.

"I'm so sorry I never meant to hide it from you," E says.

"Hide what, whom Hera was or the fact that Alexander to the best of your knowledge at the time was dead?" She asks.

"Both," He answers.

She nods.

"I'm sorry for not telling you about his being alive either," She says.

"Why didn't you?" He asks.

"At first it was because I was mad you didn't trust me enough to think I could handle the information you withheld from me mixed with revenge for what he did to me. I thought keeping him away from the one whom he claimed to truly love would make me happy and ..." She pauses.

"It didn't?" E guesses.

"It didn't," She confirms.

"So why didn't you tell me after all that?"

"The same reason you never told me about Hera, to protect you," She says.

"To protect me? From what?" He says getting agitated.

"The pain of losing her to him,"

"But I still found out," He says.

"As did I," She replies sadly.

"How am I to be patriarch one day if things are hidden from me?" He asks.

"You don't sincerely believe your pa knows everything do you? He knows a lot, but not everything. You can't know everything E, you're to be a patriarch not God,"

E sighs.

"I'm lost Suz, what should I do?" He asks.

"I can't tell you that. That is something you have to decide for yourself but I'll say this. I have forgiven Lexis,"

"You have?" E says in shock.

"Why does that shock you?" She asks.

"Because he messed with you suz. This guy took your heart and stomped on it and as if that was not enough paraded it before the entire school. As if you were no different than a meal from a hunt,"

"Wow, thanks for the reminder," She says.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean that," He says.

"Yes you did,"She replies.

"Not like that," He retorts.

"E, as much as I'd love to blame him for everything no one forced me to sleep with him,"

"Yes but no one forced him to parade details of your relationship to the entire school or make the decision to sleep with you as part of a game. That was something he made a conscious decision on by himself,"

"True, and it hurt me. It still saddens me to think about it but Ethan, what hurts me more is not that I fell for his trick. What hurts is my stooping as low as he did playing a game with Hera's life,"

"He deserves it,"

"No Ethan. No one deserves to have their heart and life played with. I know it too well, I'm speaking from experience," She says adding,

"I don't want to become that or be responsible for those I love turning out that way. I hate that I became so unrecognizable that you stooped so low for me. I realize as a businessman and a Vanderbilt not everything you do is pure or can be pure but I don't want to be the reason for it,"

"Susan," E says moved by her words.

She smiles and takes his hands in hers.

"Trust is very fragile and one of the most expensive commodities. A rarity that is hard to give, loyalty is even harder to obtain. I don't want you to lose the one you love who trusts you, all for some revenge that I no longer care for. She has lost a lot. Taking more... I can't tell you to do that. So whatever you do, make sure it's something you won't ever regret,"

"Love is hard to find but trust is even harder obtain. Don't make this a never ending circle of revenge," She says squeezing his palms.

"Are you asking me to let her go?"

"I'm asking you to do what's best for her. What do you wish for her?"

"Happiness,"

"Can you confidently tell me with absolute certainty that with you she will have that?"

His mind goes to the night at the balcony.

"It depends on what your definition of happiness is, but I can promise security and stability,"

"But what if what she needs is love not security or stability?"

"I can give her love,"

"But she can't give you love, not the type of love you desire,"

"If there's one thing my Lexis experience taught me, it's that love has to be mutual. It's draining if only one party does all the loving. A love not returned leads to anxiety, which in turn leads to jealousy, fostering resentment as you see her pining for that other person. It'll breed anger which can grow to hate. Hatred for the her who can't look at you and the you who couldn't look at another, the you who never let her go,"

"Also your love won't give her happiness Ethan," Susan says.

"I just want time with her,"

"That's okay. I understand that just don't make the time forever because you and her were not meant for forever,"

"What if she does fall in love with me during that time?"

"Then that's good but Ethan love built on lies is not ascertained to be stable. Until the loose ends with her past are tied neatly, you can never truly face a future together,"

"Playing with the love of others is a Black thing to do not a Reynolds thing - with the exception of my father of course- and you sir while a Vanderbilt are very much a Reynolds. So tell me Ethan Reynolds not Ethan Vanderbilt, what do you plan on doing?"

"I can't just hand her on a silver platter to the Blacks Suz. Alexander has no recollection of his past..."

"What do you mean?" Susan says cutting him off.

E fills her in.

"Wow, his life is worse than I thought,"

"Tell me about it,"

"Are you going to make the antidote?"

E stays silent.

"Alexander is being led by his family on a dark journey the man he is right now is a man I don't want to give Hera to. I need to make sure he at least is close to getting back his memories before throwing her to the unknown,"

"So you'll give him the antidote?" Susan asks.

"Sacrificing yourself for someone else especially when that someone is a Black, is a stupid move, don't you think?"

"Mom!" E says shocked at her arrival.

"When did you return?"

"Is that important?" She replies walking to a seat.

"Have you decided to let her go?" Hannah asks.

"What if I have,"

She stays silent and interlaces her fingers while Susan and E await her reply.

"Then I'll help you,"

"You? Help me?"

"Ethan all I've wanted is for you to be happy and you haven't really been happy or at peace the past few months. If your happiness and peace of mind means letting her go then as your mother I'll support irregardless of my not wanting to let her go,"

"Wait...you don't want to let her go? You? Since when?"

"Since I spent a number of months with her,"

"Why should I trust you?"

"Because you know I don't speak empty words or make empty promises. We might disagree but Vanderbilt's stick together when it matters," She says to which E and Susan glance at each other.

"I've gotten to know her. In your fathers words "the real her not the her written on documents and papers". Throughout your marriage she has never accepted even a cent from you. She's worked in places no Vanderbilt can stoop to, toiling day and night to keep the food on the table for her and her daughter. What I find even more amazing is the fact that she feed and took care of me too while I was there, never asking for a cent in the midst of her lack. Have you ever met anyone so stupid?"

"Mom!"

"Aunt Hannah!"

She rolls her eyes.

"You've all done something for her. You're not the only one who feels bad about lying to her you know. The child deserves a chance at knowing her father. Plus... Peter Black is an eyesore I'd be more than glad to get rid of for the safety of humanity," She says to which Susan and Ethan laugh.

"Then who'll get rid of you?"Ethan asks teasingly.

"I'm not that bad you know," His mother Hannah replies.

"YES YOU ARE!" Ethan and Susan say at the same time laughing.

"I love you, you know that right?" E says to his mother who nods reaching out for his hand and squeezing it.

"So what do you suggest?" E asks.

"First and foremost the important question is are you willing to let her go?"

"I want her to be happy mom,"

"Even if that means your letting her go?"

His mind goes back to the night at the balcony again.

"Yes," He says with deep pain and sadness.

His mother sighs shaking her head.

"First you need to keep the fact that he's alive from her for now,"

"What why?" Hannah asks.

"Do you really think she'll seat still upon finding out all these? She'll be on the next flight to England to fight for him. And the fiancee,"

"Karen?"

"Her, If he loves her then he'll forgive because with true love comes forgiveness. Considering the state Hera left him and the fact that his memories are not back he is more inclined to trust his family than the woman who shows up before him claiming what to him will be total absurdities. Even if she proves Shakespeare is his it doesn't prove they were in love and to be married, anyone can have a child without love and marriage,"

"But didn't her brother personally come seeking an antidote. He should be able and willing to vouch for her," Susan says.

"That he did but when Hera was not in the picture. If he realizes Hera is in the picture can you for sure guarantee he will throw his sister under the bus for her? Not just his sister, his father will be implicated, can you ascertain 100% that he will stick through helping Lexis to the end by giving him the pills?"

"You need to play safe and not stupid,"

"Not just that. I've said it before I don't want Hera having anything to do with that family till I know Alexander is able to fight for her against them. Till I know his memories are no longer numbed and returning. If I tell her and she goes into war with them right now she will be all alone," E says

"But she has you," Susan says.

 "The best way to bring down an empire is internally Susan," Hannah says.

"Know thy enemy first, plant the seed by giving him the pills to make him better. Then lie in wait observing the entire family closely,"

"Wait for what? " Susan asks.

"If you one day woke up and realized you've been living a lie. A false life created for your father and my selfish gains, wants and needs. A life were everyone used you, everyone you ever loved and trusted. People who mind you, you already hated prior to the facade that was created. That you were fed drugs that could potentially kill you, would you seat back without doing anything?"

"No," Susan and Ethan both say.

"Exactly. Let Peter train the snake. A snake will always be a snake. The same snake he trained will be the one to bite him for vengeance and then even if he decides against getting back with Hera, she will have gotten her compensation for what the Blacks did to her,"

"Murdering with a borrowed knife," E says in understanding.

"Using Alexander to get rid of Peter, smart,"

"The only one that can win against his family is Alexander himself. Let him learn the ropes of the business. Really get a foothold in the company and business world,"

"When and if his memories return, not only will he have the means to protect and provide for Hera and his daughter, he'll be so mad at the lies he has been fed he will personally crush his dad,"

"If he chooses to get back with her after that then good for her but if he decides to let her go, then even better for us. She can get the closure she needs and I can get my daughter in law back. Only fools like Peter gets a rare diamond and throws it out for a mere rock,"

Susan turns to look at E.

"You're really going to keep this fact from her?" She asks.

"I have to, at least for now. Hera just recently got the strength to keep going for her daughter. She puts up a strong front but when no one is watching she breaks down in the shadows. She already blames herself for his death. Imagine how much worse she'll feel knowing he was alive but not really living his life. That he was being drugged and led around like a puppet. That Suz is a worse fate than death. Losing who you really are, losing your memories and living a life that isn't truly yours,"

"But she'll still find out,"

"I know that but I can at least buy her the time she needs to get stronger and ready for finding out and what's to come,"

Susan squeeze his hands and he squeezes hers right back smiling sadly. He then lets go and takes out his phone making a call.

"Make the pills," He says to the person on the other end.

***

Sooooooo anyone shocked? Y'all thought Reid was the brain behind the antidote but not knowing it's E. 

So I've seen lots of comments about Peter and Hannah. I'd like to think Peter is the man who'd do anything to separate his son from the love he believes will hurt him. While Hannah is the woman and mother who will do anything to give her son the one he loves and believes will make him happy. At the end of the day they both would do anything for their children. They're one root growing branches in opposite directions.