At Metro Court, Sonny and Carly headed to a private area of the restaurant. Sonny confronted Carly for accepting Jason's help in getting Metro Court back when she had refused Sonny's help. Carly said she had refused Sonny's offer because it had been made out of guilt. Carly accused Sonny of "bailing" on their marriage in early 2022. "I didn't bail on the marriage. You're the one that ended things," Sonny said.

Carly said that she had "hit pause for about five minutes" on her marriage to Sonny, and she added that Sonny had used that time to jump into bed with Nina. "You're rewriting history," Sonny quipped. "You wanted Nina, and you got her. Look at you now," Carly fumed. When Sonny and Carly began to argue over Jason, Sonny yelled that Jason was the person who had tried to kill Sonny.

Carly noted that Jason had prevented the assassin from killing Sonny at the warehouse weeks earlier. Sonny recalled that someone had been targeting him for almost a year. "Jason's been MIA through it all. Why couldn't he pick up a phone?! Why couldn't he pick up a phone and just say, 'Hey. I'm alive. I can't tell you anything, but I'm alive?'" Sonny yelled, and he grew animated.

Carly whispered that Jason would have told Sonny the truth if Jason had been able. Sonny pointed a finger at Carly. "He betrayed me. Jason betrayed me, and you betrayed me," Sonny said as his voice quivered. "Since when are you so quick to think the worst of me? Your family?" Carly countered. When Sonny noted that he only thought the worst of people who had betrayed him, Carly said that Sonny's talk of betrayal sounded like a broken record.

Carly accused Sonny of "cherry-picking history" to line up with his version of events. Carly added that she had destroyed the evidence Michael had obtained of Sonny violating the National Security Act. Carly said that Sonny would be in jail if not for her and Michael. Sonny stood with his arms folded, and his face glared intensely at Carly. "If it wasn't for Michael and you, Dex would never have been planted in my organization to spy on me, and that evidence wouldn't have existed!" Sonny noted.

Sonny and Carly vehemently disagreed over Dex. Carly said that everything Sonny had done recently surprised her. Carly criticized Sonny for having disowned Michael, as well as for having almost killed Dex and for what she said was Sonny's attitude toward Jason. Carly said that she barely recognized Sonny. "Right back at you, Carly," Sonny said without backing down.

Carly posed a question for Sonny. "Is this really how it ends for us, Sonny? After all these years? Everything we've been through? This is it?" Carly asked. "This is it," Sonny said firmly. Carly said that she and Sonny could go their separate ways and focus on their own lives. "Sounds good," Sonny whispered.

Sonny had started to walk away when he turned back to face Carly. "You know, Carly? Out of all the people that I thought would abandon me... never thought you would," Sonny said as his voice filled with emotion. As Sonny left, Carly stood alone and sighed heavily as she contemplated what Sonny had said.

In Jason's room above Bobbie's Diner, Jason was happy to discover Danny in his room. Jason and Danny smiled at one another. Jason added that Danny was always welcome to visit then he admitted that he shouldn't have asked Danny to lie to Sam about Jason's whereabouts at the boathouse when Jason had returned to Port Charles. Danny asked if Jason was sorry that Danny had found Jason. Jason said that he would never be sorry to have spent time with Danny.

Jason was surprised when Danny said that he had also been at Jason's arraignment hearing. Danny said that the only person who had spotted him at the hearing had been Elizabeth, and he added that Elizabeth had agreed not to tell anyone. Danny vented his frustrations that Sam didn't want him to see Jason. Danny vowed that he wouldn't allow Sam to keep him away from Jason.

At Sam and Dante's penthouse, Kristina expressed worry for Sonny to Sam. Sam shared that she had sensed that Sonny was on edge. Kristina noted that Sonny had been pushing people away, including Nina, Carly, and Michael. Kristina added that the only person who Sonny seemed to be close to was Ava. Sam surmised that Kristina disapproved of Ava living with Sonny. Kristina said that something felt amiss with Ava's increasing presence in Sonny's home and in his life.

Kristina added that she believed Sonny was beginning to rely on Ava. Kristina noted that Ava had played a role in Morgan's death years earlier. Sam listened closely as Kristina said that being around Ava caused Kristina to have vivid memories of being at Morgan's funeral. "You know, the dress I'm wearing, the way the flowers smelled. It's like this mental snapshot that I -- I cannot get rid of. And my dad is the one who uncovered that. So, how does he go from loathing someone to totally trusting her?" Kristina asked Sam.

Sam said she didn't disagree that Ava was a "bad influence" on Sonny. Kristina added that she believed Sonny was hurting more than he was letting on over his marriage to Nina, and she added that Sonny was vulnerable, given Jason's mysterious return to Port Charles. Sam was firm when she said that it was Sonny's choice who he allowed into his life.

Just then, Sam heard a knock at the door. Sam grew upset when she opened the door and discovered Danny with Jason. Sam noted that Danny had gone against her explicit wishes by having sought out Jason. Kristina eventually talked Danny into giving Jason and Sam some time alone. Kristina and Danny left to get coffee.

Afterwards, Jason and Sam stood alone in the penthouse. "How could you do this to our son?" Sam asked Jason. Jason reminded Sam that he was Danny's father. Sam began to raise her voice, and she claimed that Danny was exactly like Jason. Sam asked what would happen if Danny found himself in a dangerous situation and was unable to get out of it.

Sam said that it wasn't just the physical danger that Jason found himself in that worried her. "What happens the next time you disappear? And don't say that it's not gonna happen again because it already did. You were here with Danny, and then you were gone," Sam said. Jason said that he couldn't make promises to Sam, who asked how she could allow Danny to invest in Jason. "How do I let him see a future with you when you might not even be around for it?" Sam asked.

Jason paused to ponder Sam's question. Jason said that he would set boundaries with Danny. and he promised to be completely transparent with Sam. Jason said that he would tell Sam the truth and encourage Danny to do so, as well. Sam said that her and Jason's conversation about Danny was over. Jason said that he was sorry their conversation was so difficult. "I'm sorry about a lot of things," Sam said. On his way out of the penthouse, Jason looked back at Sam.

At Perks Coffee, Danny opened up to Kristina about Jason, and he complained about Sam. Kristina said that Sam only wanted to protect Danny, who claimed that he was just like Jason. He said that it was the only reason Sam opposed Danny spending time with Jason. Danny said that Sam wished he was more like Rocco, and he added that Rocco never caused Sam to "freak out." Kristina told Danny that Sam loved him for who he was. Danny vowed that he wouldn't give up on Jason.

At the Savoy, Lois and Maxie prepared for Brook Lynn's bachelorette party. Moments later, Willow and Josslyn entered with party favors. When Josslyn complained to Lois that she'd had a bad day, Lois asked Josslyn to attend Brook Lynn's bachelorette party. Josslyn said that she had made dinner plans with Trina and Stella.

Nearby, Drew entered with a box of party hats. Willow asked for Drew's advice on whether to enroll Amelia in swimming lessons. Drew said that swimming lessons were a great idea. Drew added that he had been spending more time with Nina at Crimson, and he said that Nina had been talking more about wanting to spend time with Willow, Wiley, and Amelia. "I thought maybe you'd like to know," Drew said before leaving. Afterwards, Willow pondered what Drew had said.

At the Crimson office, a distraught Nina asked Madison to call Nina's lawyer. Nina wanted to know if there was a way to void a contract that she had signed under false pretenses. Madison agreed to help. Nina then offered Madison some advice. "When people tell you who they are, believe them. Say someone who's treacherous with an agenda and suddenly becomes your friend, guess what? They still have an agenda. Maybe it gels with yours for the moment, but as soon as it doesn't, said friend... will betray you in a heartbeat," a visibly shaken Nina said.

Madison asked if Nina was okay. Nina said only that Madison could leave. Just then, Ava entered Nina's office. Ava asked if Nina had a minute. "For a 'friend' like you? Always," Nina said bitterly. Nina told Madison to make sure that Nina and Ava weren't disturbed. After Madison left, Ava stammered that she was sorry for Sonny's reaction to Carly celebrating having Metro Court back.

Ava said that she would work to "smooth things" with Sonny, and she said she hoped that Nina understood. "Oh, I understand -- how transparent and manipulative you are. I'm so embarrassed... that I ever believed one word that came out of your mouth. I, of all people, should know better. With our history... all the ways I have admittedly wronged you, the ways that you wronged me. How could I have ever trusted you? That's just not being naïve. That's -- that's borderline deluded," Nina said as she began to confront Ava.

Nina asked how long Ava had had an agenda. "Does it go all the way back to when you told me to turn in Carly and Drew to the SEC?" Nina asked. Ava denied telling Nina to alert the SEC to Drew and Carly committing insider trading. Nina asked how long Ava had been playing Nina for a fool.

Nina wondered what Ava's agenda was, and she said that she'd only been able to think of one answer -- that Ava had wanted Sonny for herself. Ava pushed back on Nina's suggestion, and she added that she was only staying with Sonny because of Avery. "And because, selfishly, I would like to be on good terms with my child's father," Ava said.

Nina disagreed, and she said that Ava genuinely enjoyed being in Sonny's day-to-day life. Nina's voice lowered, and she spoke accusatorially. "You've grown to like being in Sonny's orbit. Drawn into his circle of trust. Feels good, doesn't it? Makes you feel seen. Loved. Like you're the only two people in the whole world. Am I getting close?" Nina asked. Ava said that Nina's notions were "absurd."

Nina scoffed, and she again noted that Ava had encouraged Nina to turn in Carly and Drew to the SEC. "How do you think Sonny's gonna react to that? I'm guessing... not well," Nina said. Ava and Nina stood face to face. Ava said that Sonny would never believe Nina because Sonny considered Nina a traitor. "And he knows that you will say absolutely anything to get him back. That's how desperate you are," Ava whispered in an increasingly mocking tone.

Nina denied that she was desperate, and she said that she was merely hopeful. "Do you even hear yourself? 'I told you. I convinced you.' How about thinking for yourself once in a while, Nina? Then maybe Sonny would have just a little respect for you," Ava said as she gestured with her thumb and forefinger. "Oh, and he has respect for you?" Nina scoffed. Ava said that Sonny not only respected Ava but that he counted on her.

Ava stared at Nina, and she began to gloat. "Face it, Nina. I know and understand Sonny in a way you never could. You don't understand Sonny. You never have... He is a powerful, turbulent, and, yes, violent man. Meanwhile, you want to sit by the fire and grow old with him, dandling grandkids on your knees... If that's the kind of life you want, perhaps don't choose a notorious mob boss to live it with," Ava quipped.

Nina said that Sonny had chosen her, and she insisted that she understood Sonny. Nina added that Sonny had shown her a side of himself that he had never shown anyone before. Ava's grin widened, and she mocked Nina. "Mike from Nixon Falls? Come on, Nina. Mike was never real. You have to face it -- you saw what you wanted to see. And in your defense, he encouraged you. He kept the darkest parts of himself hidden as best he could so that your -- your fantasy could live on. And that's exactly what it was -- a fantasy," Ava said tauntingly.

Ava claimed that Nina had never wanted to know the real Sonny. Ava added that she and Sonny were "similar creatures." Nina then asked what Ava's "end game" was. "I know you. What do you get out of this?" a curious Nina asked. Ava said that she stood to gain a strong relationship with the father of her only living child. Ava added that her and Sonny's alliance had made her more than someone who was merely "tolerated" as a part of Sonny's life. "We help each other. We lean on each other. And it comes naturally because we have a shorthand," Ava added.

Nina noted that Ava was speaking about her and Sonny's ties to organized crime. "We both understand how the world works. And he doesn't have to explain things to me," Ava added. "Like he did with poor, naïve me," Nina said softly. Ava continued. "He doesn't have to hide things from me, either. In simplest terms, Sonny and I are compatible in ways that the two of you never were -- and never could be," Ava said flatly.

Nina stared at Ava. "Well, have at it, Ava," Nina said before she walked to her desk. Nina picked up the copy of her divorce papers, and she signed her name. With a tear in her eye, Nina extended the papers to Ava. "Sonny is all yours," Nina finished. Ava rushed to head out of the office. As Ava left, Nina slowly sank back into her chair with a look of defeat on her face.

As Nina stared at her wedding ring, a sad song about a love gone wrong began to play in the background. Nina flashed back to happier times with Sonny, including the couple's time at the Tan-O in Nixon Falls in 2021, as well as the first time they had made love and their wedding day in Puerto Rico.

"Just a ticking clock, I knew that time would run out for us," a singer's voice sang before Nina reached down and removed her wedding and engagement rings from her hand and dropped them onto her desk. Nina used her phone to call Madison. When Madison appeared, Nina instructed Madison to arrange for the rings to be messengered to "Mr. Corinthos' address." Nina sighed slowly, and she stared off into the distance after Madison had left the office.

• Jason pays Sonny a visit

• Ava and Laura discuss Heather

• Nina tells Drew that they really are made for each other

• Carly warns Kristina that she won't like the answers to certain questions