Ted Is *Finally* Revealed as Eva’s Father — Can His Marriage to Nicole Survive?

Happy Friday! We pick back up at Ted and Nicole’s anniversary party, with Leslie primed to toss the grenade that will destroy their marriage once and for all.

Devouring every last piece of scenery in the country club dining room, she announces that she wants everyone “to know the truth about who this pillar of your community really is.”

It’s at this point that everyone starts to recognize Leslie, or whatever names she used to introduce herself. Nicole insists she’s just “Sherry,” Kat recalls her as “Anna,” and Martin remembers their awkward encounter at the diner. “She came up to us at Orphey Gene’s and said something about Bigfoot!” he says.

Mona clears things up by confirming that Leslie and Eva live together, and that Leslie recommended Eva for the assistant position. “I didn’t know they had hidden motives,” she promises Nicole. “They lied to me too!”

Vernon tries to explain away Leslie’s outburst as a “medical crisis,” dismissing everyone who isn’t immediate family. But his usual bag of tricks aren’t working this time, because Leslie is running this show — and she’s gearing up for the big number.

Hearing Leslie refer to Ted as her “lover,” Nicole breaks down in tears on her mother’s shoulder. And the devastating reveals have only just begun.

Leslie asks Martin if he remembers when Ted used to take him to a local coffee shop, where a really nice waitress always gave him brownies? Surprise! Leslie was the waitress.

The Truth About Eva *Finally* Comes Out!

Then comes the bombshell to end all bombshells: Leslie reveals that when she came to Ted about her pregnancy, Ted sought help from none other than Bill Hamilton, who offered her money to get an abortion and leave town… or else.

Bill allegedly told Leslie that if she didn’t do it, she and her child wouldn’t be safe. “I could pull up to a stoplight and someone in the next car would leap out and grab my baby,” Leslie says. “He said he’d sell my baby to the black market, to the highest bidder.”

Speaking of her child, Leslie finally re-introduces Eva as Ted’s daughter, leaving everyone stunned. Eva is also furious to learn that Leslie lied about aborting her. All this time, Leslie has led Eva to believe that Ted knew he had a daughter but wanted nothing to do with her. This is quite a different story!

Eva begs Ted for forgiveness, but he won’t hear it. “I should have listened to Kat,” he says. “She knew all along that you were up to no good.” And Leslie, furious with Eva for turning on her, isn’t about to offer any comfort: “You made the wrong choice, little girl!”

Once the dust settles, Leslie treats herself to some leftover champagne, imagining an entire conversation with Nicole.

In Leslie’s mind, Nicole tells her that Ted became more “spontaneous” when he met her. “You are vivacious, lively and bold,” she imagines Nicole saying. “Ted needs someone like you in his life.” (Keep dreaming, lady!)

Ted Faces the Music

Furious with his father for “using” him to cover up his affair, Martin lashes out at Ted, pushing him into a couch in the country club.

Ted pulls himself together enough to chase after Nicole, but upon arriving home, she refuses to speak with him. Kat acts as their mediator, demanding that Ted tell her the truth — is Eva really her half-sister?

“I don’t know how much of Dana’s story is true,” he admits. “I didn’t know if she had a baby, or if it was my baby, or if that baby was Eva.” That’s all she needs to hear before storming out of the room, disgusted.

Nicole eventually faces Ted, but we’ll have to wait until Monday to find out what she has to say.

The Duprees Come Together in a Crisis

Vernon and Anita summon the rest of the Duprees to their house for a strategizing meeting, meaning that Dani and Andre have to take a raincheck on their romantic night. For what it’s worth, they do kiss publicly in the dining room before parting ways… but no one is around to see them.

Andre bumps into Eva on his way out of the country club, seizing the opportunity to get answers. “I guess this makes us… cousins?” he says. He also reveals that Ted told him about the affair, and that he talked Ted out of confessing to Nicole.

At Dupree Manor, Naomi is struggling to believe that her father would really make such awful threats to a young woman in trouble. You know, because Bill Hamilton has established himself as a saint until now.

Dani also raises a few very good questions: Do we even know that Eva is Leslie’s daughter? And how did Kat pick up on Eva’s untrustworthiness? Chelsea theorizes that Kat may have sensed they were half-sisters, but Dani won’t hear it. If anything, Kat just sensed that Eva was a “lying little bitch.”

Either way, the family collectively decides that they don’t want to see Leslie ever again… which is unfortunate, because that’s when the woman of the hour shows up at their doorstep, right on cue.

Bill Hamilton, What Have You Done *This* Time?

Coincidentally, Ted’s affair is the topic of conversation at Bill and Hayley’s, despite them having no idea about the drama unfolding at the country club.

Without revealing everything, Bill confirms to Hayley that his firm helped Ted when he cheated on Nicole.

But their quiet night at home is interrupted by a text from Naomi, inquiring about Leslie’s allegations. Hayley keeps him calm, suggesting that he paint himself as a helpful brother in law, just trying to keep Ted and Nicole’s marriage from falling apart. (Yeah, good luck with that defense.)

The McBrides Are Divided Over Ted’s Affair

Over at Garland Memorial, Doug is tending to his poor wife, who’s laid up in a hospital bed after a bad batch of beansprouts. Vanessa looks like she’s on death’s door, but as soon as she gets word about what happened at Nicole’s party, she springs into action.

Doug tries to talk Vanessa down from going postal on Ted, reminding her that they don’t know the whole story. And just to twist the knife a little more, he tells her, “People stray. I don’t think I need to tell you that.” (Ouch!) He says he thought Vanessa had a more “cosmopolitan” view of marriage.

“Some couples have understandings,” she says. “It’s what holds their relationship together.”