- 2 months ago
Scout Exposed! Willow Finally Reveals Who Shot Drew _ General Hospital Spoilers
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00:00Hello everyone, and welcome to my General Hospital official channel. I hope everyone
00:04is having a wonderful day. Before we begin, please hit the subscribe button and give this
00:09video a thumbs up. Willow sat quietly on the hard wooden bench outside the courtroom, her hands
00:15clasped tightly together as if holding on to the last bit of courage she had left.
00:19Her heart pounded in her chest as the courtroom door opened and a bailiff called her name.
00:24Willow Corinthos, you may come in. She rose slowly, her body trembling.
00:30But she knew this was the moment she couldn't run from anymore.
00:33Drew's fate, Scout's future, and her own conscience all rested on what she was about to say.
00:39Inside, everyone was already seated, the judge behind the bench, Carly on one side with Michael
00:44beside her, and Sam sitting rigidly in the gallery with tears already forming in her eyes.
00:49Drew stood at the defense table, his eyes filled with confusion and quiet pain.
00:53The tension in the room was suffocating as Willow made her way to the witness stand.
00:58Every eye followed her, every movement heavy with unspoken questions.
01:03She raised her right hand, swore to tell the truth, and then took a shaky breath before
01:07sitting down. The prosecutor, a stern woman with sharp eyes, leaned forward slightly and
01:12asked, Miss Corinthos, you stated you had something important to disclose regarding the incident
01:17involving Mr. Kane's shooting.
01:18Please proceed.
01:21Willow's throat tightened.
01:24She looked toward Michael, whose face was filled with concern, then to Drew, whose expression
01:28was calm but searching.
01:30I've been keeping something inside, Willow began, her voice trembling slightly but gaining
01:35strength with each word.
01:37Something that's been eating me alive for weeks.
01:39The truth about who shot Drew.
01:42A ripple of whispers spread through the courtroom, Sam clutched her chest, and the judge quickly
01:47banged his gavel to restore order.
01:50Miss Corinthos, the judge said firmly, are you prepared to make a sworn statement on the
01:54record?
01:55Willow nodded.
01:57Yes, your honor.
01:59I can't keep quiet any longer.
02:02Drew deserves the truth.
02:03Carly's jaw clenched, sensing that whatever was about to come out of Willow's mouth would
02:08change everything.
02:10Then tell us, the judge said calmly.
02:13Willow's eyes filled with tears as she turned toward Sam.
02:17It wasn't who everyone thinks.
02:19It wasn't an intruder or a rival.
02:22It wasn't some mob retaliation.
02:25It was Scout.
02:27The courtroom fell silent.
02:30The words hit like an explosion.
02:31Sam's eyes went wide in disbelief, her breath catching as she whispered, no.
02:37Willow, that's not true.
02:40That can't be true.
02:42But Willow's voice didn't waver now.
02:45It is true.
02:46I saw her.
02:48I didn't mean to.
02:50I wasn't supposed to be there that night, but I was.
02:54She wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
02:57I had gone to drop something off at the Quartermain boathouse.
03:00I heard shouting, Drew's voice, angry, frustrated, and then a gunshot.
03:06When I ran inside, I saw Scout standing there, frozen, holding the gun.
03:11Sam covered her mouth, sobbing silently, while Michael reached for Willow's hand, trying to
03:16steady her.
03:17She didn't mean to do it, Willow continued, looking at the judge with desperation.
03:21It was an accident.
03:24She was scared, confused.
03:27She was trying to protect her father, but things went horribly wrong.
03:32The prosecutor frowned.
03:34Ms. Carinthos, are you saying you witnessed the shooting directly?
03:38Willow nodded.
03:40Yes.
03:42Drew was trying to take the gun from her.
03:44She thought someone was coming after him again.
03:47He told her everything was fine, but she panicked.
03:51Carly's voice suddenly rang out.
03:54That's insane.
03:56Scout's a child, how could she even have access to a gun?
04:00Willow turned toward Carly, her tone pleading.
04:04It wasn't supposed to happen.
04:06Drew had the gun locked away, but Scout found it.
04:09She overheard conversations about danger, about protecting the family.
04:15She thought she was helping.
04:17Sam rose to her feet, shaking her head.
04:20No, no, no.
04:23My daughter would never, she's just a little girl, she doesn't even understand what that
04:27kind of thing means.
04:29Her voice broke as Jason, seated behind her, tried to calm her.
04:33Sam, he whispered, let her finish.
04:36Please.
04:37Drew stood, his expression pale but steady.
04:41Willow, he said softly, are you sure?
04:45You're saying you saw Scout pull the trigger?
04:48Willow's eyes filled again.
04:50Yes, Drew.
04:52I saw it.
04:54She didn't mean to hurt you.
04:56She thought she was saving you.
04:59Michael swallowed hard, his voice shaking as he turned to Willow.
05:03Why didn't you say something sooner?
05:05She looked at him, guilt washing over her face.
05:09Because I didn't want to destroy that little girl's life.
05:13I thought maybe it was better to let everyone believe it was an accident caused by an unknown
05:17assailant.
05:18I thought maybe Drew wouldn't remember enough to question it.
05:21But now, now I can't live with myself.
05:25Not when I see Sam suffering, not when Scout is carrying that secret alone.
05:30The judge leaned back, looking both shocked and grave.
05:34This is a serious revelation, Ms. Carinthos.
05:37Are you aware of the legal implications?
05:41Willow nodded slowly.
05:43Yes, your honor.
05:45But the truth needs to come out.
05:48Scout doesn't deserve to carry this burden.
05:51Sam broke down completely, crying into Jason's shoulder as Drew stood frozen, his mind spinning
05:56with disbelief.
05:57When the judge called for a short recess, the courtroom erupted into chaos.
06:03Carly rushed over to Willow.
06:04How could you say that?
06:07Do you realize what you've done?
06:10You just destroyed a family.
06:12Willow's eyes glistened.
06:14No, Carly.
06:16The truth was destroying us already.
06:19This just set it free.
06:22Michael stepped between them, his expression torn.
06:25Mom, stop.
06:27She did the right thing.
06:30You know what secrets do, they rot everything from the inside.
06:33Carly threw up her hands, exasperated.
06:37Right thing?
06:38You think telling the world a little girl shut her own father is the right thing?
06:43Drew finally found his voice.
06:46Enough, he said firmly.
06:48No one's thinking about Scout right now.
06:51We need to protect her.
06:53Sam turned toward him, her face streaked with tears.
06:57Protect her?
06:58From what?
07:00From the truth?
07:02From herself?
07:04She's terrified, Drew.
07:06I thought she was just having nightmares, but now, she broke down again, unable to continue.
07:13Jason put a hand on Drew's shoulder.
07:16She's just a kid, man.
07:18You know she didn't mean it.
07:21Drew nodded slowly.
07:22I know.
07:24I don't blame her.
07:26But we have to deal with this the right way.
07:30Later, when court resumed, Willow remained on the stand as the prosecutor began cross-examining her.
07:36Ms. Corinthos, you claim you witnessed Scout Kane shooting her father.
07:40Did you report this to the authorities at the time?
07:44Willow lowered her eyes.
07:46No, why not?
07:48Because I was afraid.
07:50I didn't want to ruin her life.
07:53She was already traumatized, and Drew was in the hospital fighting for his life.
07:58I thought silence was mercy.
08:00Or guilt, the prosecutor countered coldly.
08:04You do understand that withholding this kind of information constitutes obstruction of justice?
08:09Willow nodded.
08:11I understand.
08:13And I'll accept whatever comes of it.
08:16Drew rose from his seat.
08:18She doesn't deserve punishment, he said quietly.
08:22I don't want charges against her, or against Willow.
08:25The judge looked at him with empathy.
08:28Mr. Kane, you are the victim in this case.
08:32Your opinion carries weight, but the law must be followed.
08:36Drew nodded.
08:37I understand, your honor.
08:40But this was an accident.
08:42A tragedy, yes, but not a crime.
08:46Sam stood again, this time calmer, her voice trembling but determined.
08:50If anyone should take responsibility, it's me.
08:54I should have noticed what was happening with Scout.
08:57I should have protected her from the fear that made her do this.
09:01The judge's expression softened.
09:03Ms. McCall, this isn't about blame, it's about understanding and truth.
09:07As the court adjourned for the day, Drew approached Willow.
09:12You did what you thought was right, he said gently.
09:15I can't be angry at you for that.
09:18Willow shook her head, her voice barely a whisper.
09:21I just wish it didn't hurt so many people.
09:25Drew sighed.
09:27The truth always hurts.
09:29But lies, they destroy.
09:32Sam came over, her eyes red from crying.
09:34I need to take Scout away for a while.
09:38She's been having nightmares for weeks.
09:41Now I understand why.
09:44Drew nodded slowly.
09:46She needs help.
09:48Not punishment.
09:50Outside the courthouse, the press swarmed, hungry for details.
09:53Michael shielded Willow as they hurried toward the car, flashing cameras and shouted questions
09:59trailing behind.
10:00Willow, did you lie under oath before?
10:03Is Scout really the shooter?
10:06Is this some kind of cover-up?
10:08Willow kept her head down, tears spilling freely.
10:12No comment, Michael said firmly, guiding her into the car.
10:16Later that evening, in the quiet of the Corinthos' kitchen, Willow sat at the table,
10:20her hands trembling as she held a cup of tea.
10:24Michael stood across from her, concern written all over his face.
10:28You did the hardest thing imaginable today, he said softly.
10:32Willow looked up at him.
10:34I don't feel brave.
10:36I feel like I just shattered lives.
10:39You told the truth, he replied gently.
10:42That's all anyone can ask.
10:45Meanwhile, across town, Sam sat beside Scout's bed, watching her sleep.
10:49The little girl stirred, murmuring Drew's name in her sleep.
10:54Sam brushed her hair back gently, whispering,
10:57It's okay, baby.
10:59Mommy's here.
11:01Jason stood in the doorway, his expression somber.
11:04She's gonna need therapy, Sam.
11:07This isn't something she can just forget.
11:10Sam nodded.
11:12I know.
11:13I just don't know how to tell her she's safe when I can't even believe it myself.
11:18Drew, alone in his apartment, stared at a framed photo of himself and Scout.
11:23His chest tightened as the memory of that night replayed in his mind, the panic, the confusion,
11:28the flash of light.
11:30For the first time, he allowed himself to accept it.
11:33His little girl hadn't meant to hurt him.
11:37She was just trying to protect the man she loved most.
11:40The next morning, Drew went to Sam's.
11:43Scout ran into his arms, crying.
11:47Daddy, I'm sorry.
11:49I didn't mean to.
11:51I thought someone was going to hurt you.
11:54Drew hugged her tightly, tears filling his eyes.
11:57Shoo, sweetheart, it's okay.
12:00It was an accident.
12:02Daddy's fine now.
12:04Sam watched them, her heart breaking but also mending in ways she couldn't explain.
12:10Later, when Willow visited, Sam approached her cautiously.
12:13You told the truth, she said quietly.
12:16I hated you for it at first.
12:19But now...
12:21I get it.
12:23You saved us all from living a lie.
12:25Willow nodded, her voice choked.
12:28I just wanted Scout to be free.
12:31Sam smiled faintly through tears.
12:34She will be.
12:36With time.
12:37In the end, the court ruled in an accidental discharge with no criminal intent.
12:43Scout would receive counseling, Drew would continue recovery, and the families, broken, shaken, but honest, would try to move forward.
12:51As Willow stood outside the courthouse one last time, she looked up at the sky and whispered,
12:55It's over.
12:57Michael took her hand.
12:58No, he said softly, it's just beginning.
13:02The healing starts now.
13:05And somewhere deep inside, despite the chaos and pain, Willow felt a small flicker of peace.
13:10The truth had set them all free.
13:12In the packed courtroom of Port Charles Superior Court, the air hung heavy with anticipation, the kind that made every breath feel labored and every whisper echo like a shout.
13:21The fluorescent lights buzzed faintly overhead, casting harsh shadows on the wooden benches filled with spectators, reporters scribbling furiously, locals craning their necks for a better view, and a few familiar faces from General Hospital itself, drawn by the drama that had spilled from the hospital corridors into the sterile hall of justice.
13:38At the center of it all sat Judge Evelyn Ramirez, her dark robes a stark contrast to the silver hair pulled tightly into a bun, her expression unreadable behind wire-rimmed glasses.
13:49She had presided over her share of scandals in this town, but nothing quite like the tangled web of lies, love, and betrayal that had unfolded in the case of Drew Cain's shooting.
13:58Willow Tate stood at the witness stand, her hands gripping the wooden rail as if it were the only thing anchoring her to reality.
14:04She was dressed in a simple navy blouse and black skirt, her hair tied back in a ponytail that did little to hide the exhaustion etched into her features.
14:13Dark circles shadowed her eyes, remnants of sleepless nights spent replaying the events in her mind, weighing the cost of silence against the devastation of truth.
14:22Beside her, in the defendant's chair, sat Michael Corinthos, his jaw clenched, his eyes fixed on Willow with a mixture of love and dread.
14:29He knew what was coming, they had discussed it in hushed tones the night before, in the dim light of their living room, with the kids asleep upstairs.
14:37But knowing and hearing it aloud in front of the world were two different beasts.
14:42The prosecutor, a sharp-suited woman named Carla Reyes with a reputation for dismantling alibis like they were made of paper, paced slowly in front of the stand.
14:50Miss Tate, she began, her voice smooth but edged with steel, you've testified that on the night of October 15th, you were at home with your children, and that your husband, Michael Corinthos, was with you the entire evening.
15:02Is that correct?
15:05Willow swallowed hard, her throat dry despite the glass of water trembling in her hand.
15:10She glanced toward the gallery, where Nina Reeves sat rigidly, her manicured nails digging into her palms, and Carly Spencer, Drew's ex and Michael's mother, leaned forward with a glare that could melt steel.
15:21Further back, Elizabeth Weber fidgeted with her nurse's ID badge, and Sonny Corinthos watched impassively, his presence a silent storm.
15:28This wasn't just a trial, it was a family implosion, broadcast for all of Port Charles to dissect.
15:35Yes, Willow said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
15:40The judge leaned forward slightly.
15:43Speak up, Miss Tate.
15:45For the record.
15:47Yes, Willow repeated, louder this time, though it cracked on the edges.
15:52That's what I said.
15:54Reyes nodded, a predator sensing blood.
15:56And yet, we've heard from multiple witnesses that Michael Corinthos had a heated argument with Drew Cain earlier that day at the Quartermain Mansion.
16:05Words were exchanged about business dealings, about family loyalties.
16:10Drew accused Michael of undermining him at ELQ.
16:13Isn't it possible, probable, even, that Michael left your home that night, confronted Drew again, and in a moment of rage.
16:20Objection.
16:22Michael's defense attorney, Diane Miller, shot to her feet, her red hair a fiery contrast to her tailored suit.
16:30Speculation, Your Honor.
16:32Ms. Reyes is testifying now.
16:35Sustained, Judge Ramirez said firmly.
16:38Ms. Reyes, stick to the facts.
16:41Reyes smiled thinly.
16:44Of course.
16:44Ms. Tate, did Michael ever leave the house that night?
16:49After the children were asleep, perhaps?
16:52Willow's heart pounded in her chest, a frantic drumbeat echoing the chaos in her mind.
16:58She had lied to protect him, to protect their family, to shield Wiley and Amelia from the fallout of a father's arrest.
17:04But the evidence was mounting, ballistics reports, anonymous tips, a grainy security camera from the docks showing a figure matching Michael's build.
17:12And then there was Scout.
17:15Sweet, innocent Scout Kane, Drew's daughter with Sam McCall, who had been staying with Dante Falconeri after her mother's tragic death.
17:23Scout, who had seen too much in her young life already.
17:27I?
17:28Willow started, then stopped.
17:31The courtroom seemed to shrink around her, the walls closing in.
17:35She thought of the night it happened, the phone call from the hospital pulling her into the frenzy of saving Drew's life.
17:40She had been there when he coded, when the monitors flatlined, when the paddles brought him back.
17:47And all the while, the secret nodded her.
17:50Reyes pressed on.
17:52Ms. Tate, perjury is a serious offense.
17:56If there's something you're not telling us.
17:58Diane interjected again, but Willow raised a hand subtly, silencing the room with the unexpected gesture.
18:04No, she said, her voice gaining strength.
18:08I need to say this.
18:10I can't.
18:12I won't lie anymore.
18:14A murmur rippled through the crowd.
18:17Michael bolted upright.
18:20Willow, don't.
18:22But she turned to him, tears welling in her eyes.
18:25I'm sorry, Michael.
18:27I have to.
18:29Judge Ramirez banged her gavel once.
18:32Order.
18:34Ms. Tate, proceed carefully.
18:37Willow took a deep breath, the kind that shook her entire frame.
18:41The night Drew was shot, Michael was home with me.
18:44He never left.
18:46He couldn't have shot Drew because, because someone else did.
18:50Reyes's eyebrows shot up.
18:52And who might that be?
18:55Willow's gaze drifted to the back of the room, where a small figure sat flanked by Dante and a social worker.
19:01Scout Kane, no more than ten years old, her dark hair in braids, her eyes wide and haunted.
19:07She wore a pink sweater that seemed too big for her fragile frame, clutching a stuffed dolphin, Sam's old favorite, a relic from better days.
19:14It was Scout, Willow whispered, but the microphone carried it like a thunderclap.
19:20Scout is the one who shot Drew.
19:22Gasps erupted.
19:25Reporters' pens scratched wildly.
19:28Carly stood up, mouth agape, before a bailiff motioned her down.
19:32Sunny's eyes narrowed, calculating.
19:35Nina covered her mouth, shock mingling with something darker, relief, perhaps, that her daughter wasn't implicated further.
19:43Judge Ramirez's gavel cracked repeatedly.
19:46Silence!
19:48Ms. Tate, these are grave allegations.
19:50Explain yourself immediately.
19:54Willow nodded, wiping tears from her cheeks.
19:57It started weeks before the shooting.
20:00Scout had been acting out ever since Sam's death.
20:04She blamed Drew for not being there more, for the dangers of his job with the WSB remnants.
20:08She overheard arguments, Drew and Jason, Drew and Carly.
20:13She found a gun in Drew's bag one day when he was packing for a trip.
20:18It was unloaded, but she hid it.
20:21She didn't know what she was doing, she was angry, scared.
20:25The prosecutor recovered quickly.
20:27And how do you know this, Ms. Tate?
20:30Were you confessing to covering for a child?
20:34No, Willow said firmly.
20:36Scout came to me.
20:38The day after the shooting, she showed up at the gatehouse, crying.
20:42She said she followed Drew to the docks that night.
20:46She wanted to confront him, to make him promise to stay safe like he promised Sam.
20:51But when she got there, she saw him arguing with someone, she couldn't see who in the dark.
20:56She panicked, thought Drew was in danger.
21:00The gun, she had it in her backpack.
21:02She pulled it out to scare the other person away, but it went off.
21:07She didn't mean to hit Drew.
21:09She ran, dropped the gun in the water, and came to me because, because I'm her aunt, in a way.
21:15Drew Michael.
21:17She trusts me.
21:19Michael buried his face in his hands.
21:22Diane whispered urgently in his ear, but he shook her off.
21:26Reyes turned to the judge.
21:28Your Honor, this is hearsay at best, a fabrication to exonerate the defendant.
21:34But Willow wasn't done.
21:36It's not.
21:38Scout told Dante, too, eventually.
21:41He kept it quiet to protect her, but the ballistics match the gun scout described,
21:45a .38 special registered to Drew himself.
21:49And there's more.
21:51Scout had gunshot residue on her sweater that night.
21:54The lab tests came back inconclusive because it was washed,
21:57but traces were there.
21:59I saw the report when I was treating Drew.
22:03Elizabeth Weber stood up in the gallery.
22:06She's telling the truth.
22:08I was on shift when Scout came in for a checkup the next day.
22:12She was shaking, asked me not to tell anyone about the bang she heard.
22:16I thought it was trauma from Sam's death.
22:19Chaos ensued.
22:21The judge called for a recess, but the damage was done.
22:25As bailiffs cleared the room, Scout was escorted forward,
22:28her small voice cutting through the din as Dante knelt beside her.
22:32I'm sorry, Daddy Drew, she sobbed into his shoulder when he was brought in from the hospital
22:36wing for a brief appearance, pale, bandaged, but alive.
22:40I didn't mean to hurt you.
22:43I just wanted you to come home safe.
22:46Drew, wielding under guard, reached out a weak hand to touch her hair.
22:49It's okay, kiddo.
22:53Accidents happen.
22:55We'll get through this.
22:57But the legal ramifications were far from over.
23:00Child services swarmed, debating whether Scout's actions constituted manslaughter or an accidental
23:05discharge in self-perceived defense.
23:08Michael was released on the spot, charges dropped pending investigation, but the family
23:13fractures deepened.
23:15Carly accused Willow of betrayal for keeping the secret, while Nina surprisingly defended
23:19her, seeing parallels to her own hidden truths about Willow's parentage.
23:23In the days that followed, Port Charles buzzed with the revelation.
23:28General Hospital became a hive of whispered consultations.
23:31Franco's old art therapy room repurposed for Scout's sessions with Kevin Collins, who
23:35unraveled the layers of grief and fear that led a child to such desperation.
23:38Jason Morgan, Drew's twin, returned from whatever shadow mission he was on, vowing to protect
23:44his niece at all costs.
23:46Even Valentin Cassidyne slithered into the mix, offering resources that no one trusted.
23:52Willow, meanwhile, grappled with her role.
23:55She had saved Michael but shattered Scout's world.
23:59Late nights found her at the hospital, sitting by Drew's bedside as he recovered.
24:03You did the right thing, he told her one evening, his voice hoarse from the ventilator scars.
24:09Kids make mistakes.
24:11We all do.
24:13Look at me, SEAL training, and I left a loaded gun where she could find it.
24:18But she's just a little girl, Willow replied, tears falling.
24:22She thought she was saving you.
24:25Drew nodded.
24:26And in her mind, she was.
24:29Grief does crazy things.
24:31The trial shifted focus, to juvenile court, to counseling mandates, to a community reckoning
24:36with how violence permeated even the youngest lives in their cursed town.
24:41Scout was placed temporarily with Dante and Rocco, a semblance of normalcy amid the storm.
24:47Sam's absence loomed large, a ghost urging forgiveness.
24:50Michael and Willow rebuilt slowly.
24:53You chose truth, he said one night, holding her as Amelia cooed in the crib.
24:58That's braver than any lie.
25:01Yet the spoilers of Port Charles never ceased.
25:04Whispers emerged of the shadowy figure Scout saw arguing with Drew, could it be a Cassidine
25:09plot?
25:10Or Cyrus Renaud seeking revenge?
25:12The gun in the water was recovered, fingerprints smudged but telling.
25:17And Scout, in therapy, began sketching the silhouette she remembered, a clue that could reignite the
25:22investigation.
25:23In the end, Willow's revelation didn't just free Michael, it exposed the fragility of
25:28secrets in a town where everyone was connected by blood, betrayal, or both.
25:33The courtroom that day became legend, a pivot point where a child's cry for help echoed louder
25:38than any adult's alibi.
25:39And as the judge adjourned for further hearings, one truth lingered, in Port Charles, the line
25:44between victim and perpetrator was as thin as a trigger pull, and redemption came not
25:48in silence, but in the courage to speak.
25:51The fallout rippled outward.
25:53At the Metro Court, Olivia Quartermain hosted a family dinner that dissolved into shouts,
25:58Ned blaming Drew's carelessness, Tracy decrying the softening of justice for children.
26:03The air in the judge's chambers was thick, stale, and heavy with the scent of old leather-bound
26:07law books and unspoken truths.
26:10It was a room designed for deliberation, for the measured application of the law, not for
26:14the raw, gut-wrenching human drama that was currently unfolding within its wood-paneled
26:18walls.
26:19Judge Henry Morrow, a man whose face was a roadmap of a career spent navigating the turbulent
26:24waters of human fallibility, steepled his fingers and looked from one shattered face
26:28to the other.
26:30Willow Tate, pale as the proverbial ghost, her hands trembling so violently she had to
26:34clasp them together in her lap to still them, seemed to draw what little strength she had
26:38left from the solid, unwavering presence of Michael Corinthos beside her.
26:43His arm was around her, a bulwark against the storm she was about to unleash.
26:46Opposite them, Harris and Chase stood, his posture rigid, his own face a mask of anguish
26:52and confusion.
26:54This was a family, but it was a family on the brink of being atomized by a single, terrible
26:58secret.
27:00Miss Tate, Judge Morrow began, his voice a low, calming rumble.
27:05You've requested this emergency hearing, bypassing standard custody procedures.
27:10You stated it was a matter of utmost urgency regarding the welfare of your son, Baby Wiley.
27:15The court is listening.
27:18Please, proceed.
27:20Willow drew a shaky breath that hitched in her throat.
27:24She looked at Michael, who gave a slight, encouraging nod, then at Chase, whose eyes pleaded
27:28with her for some kind of explanation, some reason for this sudden, clandestine meeting.
27:33Your Honor, she started, her voice a fragile thread.
27:36What I'm about to say, it's something I've only recently come to understand myself.
27:42It's a truth so devastating, so destructive, but I've been living in a state of denial,
27:47of pure terror.
27:48But for Wiley, for my son's future and his safety, I can no longer remain silent.
27:54The truth, it has to come out now, in this room, before it destroys everything.
27:59Chase leaned forward, his voice strained.
28:02Willow, what is it?
28:05What could possibly be so bad?
28:07We're a family.
28:09We can handle anything together.
28:12A single, hot tear escaped and traced a path down Willow's cheek.
28:17Can we, Chase?
28:18Can we handle this?
28:21The night Drew Kane was shot, the night that set in motion a chain of events that tore our
28:25city apart.
28:26I know who did it.
28:28The room went preternaturally still.
28:30The humming of the air conditioner seemed to cease.
28:35Judge Morrow's eyebrows lifted slightly.
28:38The shooting of Drew Kane was a pivotal moment in Port Charles's recent history, a violent
28:42act that had fueled corporate wars, personal vendettas, and had nearly resulted in multiple
28:47deaths.
28:48Ms. Tate, the judge said carefully, that is a very serious allegation.
28:52The investigation, as I recall, pointed towards individuals connected to the Pikeman organization,
28:58with Cyrus Renaud ultimately being held responsible for orchestrating the attack.
29:03That's what everyone was meant to believe, Willow whispered, her gaze dropping to her hands.
29:08It was a convenient narrative, one that powerful people had every reason to promote.
29:13But it wasn't the truth.
29:16The person who pulled the trigger, it wasn't a hired Pikeman gunman.
29:20Chase's face was a canvas of dawning horror.
29:24Willow, what are you saying?
29:26She forced herself to meet his eyes, her own swimming with a bottomless ocean of pity and pain.
29:31It was someone we know.
29:34Someone we, love.
29:35Michael tightened his grip on her shoulder.
29:39Just say it, Willow.
29:41It's time.
29:43She turned her tear-filled eyes back to the judge, her voice dropping to a near whisper,
29:47yet every syllable was crystal clear in the silent room.
29:51Your Honor, the person who shot Drew Cain was my mother.
29:55Harmony Miller.
29:57A beat of stunned silence.
29:59Then, Chase let out a short, disbelieving breath.
30:03Harmony?
30:03But, she's, she was unstable, yes, capable of many things, but attempted murder?
30:10Drew?
30:12Why?
30:13That's not the whole truth, Willow interjected,
30:16her voice gaining a sliver of steel as she pushed through the hardest part.
30:20She didn't act alone.
30:22She wasn't the mastermind.
30:24She was a pawn, Your Honor.
30:27A desperate, manipulated pawn following orders.
30:30Judge Morrow leaned back in his high-backed leather chair, his expression inscrutable.
30:36And who, Miss Tate, was giving these orders?
30:39Willow closed her eyes, as if bracing for an impact.
30:43When she opened them, she looked directly at her husband.
30:47It was Nina Reeves.
30:49Chase recoiled as if he'd been struck.
30:52Nina?
30:54My, my mother?
30:56No.
30:57No, Willow, that's impossible.
31:00She wouldn't, she and Drew, they had a past, but she would never.
31:05She did, Willow said, her voice flat with the weight of certainty.
31:09She discovered that Drew had evidence that could have exposed her for her role in keeping
31:13sunny Corinthos away from his family when he had amnesia.
31:16She was terrified of losing Carly, of losing the fragile family she'd built.
31:22She saw Drew as a direct threat to everything she had.
31:25So, she went to my mother.
31:28Harmony was deeply indebted to Nina, emotionally and otherwise.
31:32Nina preyed on that.
31:35She manipulated her, fed her lies, and convinced her that Drew was a danger to me, to Wiley.
31:40She gave Harmony a gun and told her to, scare him.
31:44To make sure he never talked.
31:47The story began to unspull, a tragic tapestry of manipulation and violence.
31:52Willow described, in halting detail, how Harmony, believing she was protecting her daughter,
31:57had lain in wait for Drew.
32:00But things had gone horribly wrong.
32:02It wasn't a scare tactic that went too far, it was a cold, calculated attempt to eliminate
32:07a problem.
32:08Harmony had shot Drew at point-blank range, leaving him for dead, his memory shattered,
32:13his life irrevocably altered.
32:16And how do you know all of this, Ms. Tate?
32:19Judge Morrow asked, his pen poised over a legal pad.
32:23My mother confessed to me, Willow said, a fresh wave of grief washing over her.
32:28On her deathbed.
32:30She was trying to, atone.
32:33To clear her conscience before she faced her judgment.
32:35She told me everything.
32:39How Nina orchestrated it, how she provided the means and the motive.
32:43She gave me proof, your honor.
32:46A recorded confession on her phone, and, financial records.
32:50Payments from accounts Nina controlled, funneled through shell corporations, all tracing back
32:55to her.
32:55Chase had sunk into his chair, his head in his hands.
33:00The foundation of his world, a world he had fought so hard to build with Willow, was crumbling
33:05into dust around him.
33:07His wife was revealing his mother as an attempted murderer.
33:11The betrayal was so profound it was almost incomprehensible.
33:14Why now, Willow, he asked, his voice muffled by his hands.
33:19Why tell the judge like this?
33:22Why not come to me first?
33:24Because this isn't just about us, Chase.
33:28Willow's voice broke with emotion.
33:30This is about Wiley.
33:33Don't you see?
33:35Nina is his grandmother.
33:36By blood, she is connected to him.
33:40And she is a woman who, when backed into a corner, resorts to conspiracy and attempted
33:45murder.
33:46She is a woman who has proven she will destroy anyone who stands in her way.
33:51How can I, in good conscience, allow my son to be anywhere near her?
33:55How can I allow her to have any influence, any access, any claim on him?
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