Alan Spaulding was delighted to welcome his elder sister Alexandra to Springfield after her divorce from self-proclaimed count Baron Von Halkein in Europe. Alex portrayed the adoring sister to the hilt, but in reality she hated Alan. She had never forgiven him for helping their father, Brandon, sabotage her romance with a struggling musician named Eric Luvonaczek, and for pressuring her to give up the baby boy she and Eric had conceived. Alex confided this to Ross Marler, who became her closest confidant, and entreated him to find her son, whom she'd named Brandon after her father.

Before Ross was able to do so, Alex got her revenge on Alan. She discovered -- and revealed -- his conspiracy with Bradley Raines to separate Phillip (his nephew) and Beth Raines. Alan was shocked and saddened to learn that his sister despised him, and he felt guilty when Beth told him that Bradley (her stepfather) had raped her. Alex had become extremely protective of Phillip and Beth, and the resolute Ms. Spaulding had Ross arrest Bradley immediately. Bradley denied the charge until his trial, when Ross extracted his confession. "No one could love Beth like I did," Bradley said in a pathetic attempt to justify his crime. "That's why I had to mark her. I had to make sure no one else would ever want her." Bradley was remanded to a psychiatric hospital, and Beth's mother Lillian divorced him. Now, she and Beth were free of his toxic influence for good.

Further revelations were to strengthen Ross and Alex's alliance against Alan. Floyd Parker won the lottery and stashed his winnings at Company, Tony Reardon's bar. This well-publicized event caught the attention of an enterprising teenage tough named Lujack, leader of a street gang called the Galahads. Lujack stole the money, knocking out Tony in the process, but he later had a change of heart and gave the money back to Floyd. While he was in jail, Lujack overheard a crooked cop tell someone that Alan had hired him to plant cocaine in Ross' car. Lujack hated wealthy, privileged people like the Spauldings, so to spite them he came forward and cleared Ross' name. It soon became evident that Lujack had a soft, tender side, and he was deeply moved when Tony took him under his wing and hired him to work at Company as part of his probation. The head injury Lujack gave Tony aggravated an existing condition that required brain surgery. Lujack became closer to Beth, who began tutoring him in reading (in exchange for teaching her to drive!) in hopes that he would swear off the Galahads. They had met at college when Lujack audited the same English class Beth was enrolled in, being taught by Annabelle, Tony's fiancee. Lujack was further impressed by Beth's courage in calmly testifying against her brutal stepfather. But Darcy, Lujack's jealous girlfriend and fellow gang member, had other ideas. Phillip was a bit jealous as well, but he and Beth still planned to marry. By this time, Lujack had discovered he had feelings for Beth, and he agonized through what he thought was their wedding day moodily playing his guitar, the first inkling of Lujack's considerable musical talent. Enter Mindy, who was pregnant with Phillip's child! At first Rick persuaded her to say that he was the father, and they announced their engagement. When Billy Lewis railed at Ed Bauer (Mindy and Rick's fathers) that Rick had impregnated his little girl, though, Ed set him straight by saying he had evidence that the child was really Phillip's. Feeling foolish, Billy barged in on Rick and Mindy's quickie wedding ceremony and broke it up in his usual straight- forward way: "Why didn't you tell me Phillip Spaulding is the father of your baby?"

Phillip was trapped. He loved Beth but felt he had to marry Mindy so that, unlike himself, his child could be raised by its natural parents. "I love you more than I'll ever love anyone else," Phillip told Beth gently, "but I've asked Mindy to be my wife." Phillip married Mindy, but his heart still belonged to Beth. Meanwhile, Mindy was pining for Rick. Beth was becoming increasingly drawn to Lujack, especially after a fun afternoon picnic and swim at Laurel Falls, resulting in a passionate kiss! They bonded further painting Tony and Annabelle's honeymoon cottage as their present the night before and morning of the wedding. Lujack and Beth were almost late for the ceremony, beaming at each other as they performed their usher and bridesmaid's duties.

A confused Beth went away with a girlfriend on a beach holiday to sort out her feelings for Phillip and Lujack. She confided in her girlfriend that she loved Lujack, just before he called, having received her postcard. "I just had to hear your voice," said a besotted Lujack. From the address on the postcard, he traveled all day and all night on his motorcycle to track down Beth at the beach. She was overjoyed to see him, and Lujack admitted he loved her, and she him. They spent a blissful few days enjoying the sand, surf and each other. But Lujack sensed she wasn't ready to make love; Beth was moved that he cared enough about her to wait. They returned to Springfield together and began dating in earnest. One night they went to a dance together, only for Darcy and the other gang members to crash it. A fight broke out that compromised Lujack's parole.

Alex took over Spaulding Enterprises and offered Ross the position of president. Ironically, this was the honor that the "old" Ross had once craved. Now a reputable public servant, Ross accepted Alex's offer for one reason: to protect the interests of his nephew Phillip. Trish cooled her relationship with Ross once she sensed his growing attraction to Alex, and the two enjoyed a passionate affair. The bond between Ross and Alex was further strengthened when Ross finally located Alex's long-lost son. He was living in Springfield -- and his name was Lujack!

When Alex tearfully told Lujack that they were mother and son, he was horrified. He'd spent his entire life striking out against wealthy autocrats like the Spauldings, only to discover the same blue blood ran in his veins! Nonetheless, Alex was happy that he intended to leave the Galahads for a clean life with Beth. Mean- while, Mindy lost her baby and divorced Phillip. When the Galahads terrorized Mindy and Phillip, Rick brazenly trashed the gang's garage hangout in retaliation. Darcy was running the Galahads now, and Lujack went undercover to infiltrate the gang. He refused to tell Beth why he was back with the gang, leaving her to turn once again to Phillip.  When Darcy caught on to Lujack's plan, she went on a rampage, shooting Lujack and holding Beth and Alex hostage at Cedars Hospital. In some very well written and moving scenes, Lujack, drifting in and out of conscienceness, talked her into giving up the fight, and she was arrested. A few of the other Galahads – Lucky, I.Q. and Gina -- were proud of Lujack's heroics and went straight. Lujack got them jobs at Spaulding; grateful he could help some of his "family."