Shane is discharged and still in pain. Gillian hovers, irritating him, but he defends her when a man taunts her about the Vaughn scandal. He hires a nurse, immediately fires her, and reluctantly asks Gillian to take over. When he presses her about why the smear story upsets her so deeply, she flees, later returning to say she wants to tell him everything but fears he’ll hate her.
On the pier, Kayla tries to reach Steve, hoping their kiss meant something. He pushes her away. She overhears Warren confronting him; Steve overpowers him, returns the emeralds, and rejects the payoff. Kayla demands answers, but Steve insists he’s “one of those people.”
Meanwhile, Adrienne breaks into Steve’s apartment, finds a childhood photo, and hides when he returns. Kayla later admits to Jennifer—and then to Steve—that she’s falling for someone who keeps shutting her out. Steve warns she should be careful what she wishes for.
