Before Sonny
Corinthos saw how the other half lived, he resided in a dark place, on the
wrong side of the tracks. There was only one way to get anything done - by
force. But then he met a woman who would change his life forever. In the hope
of one day living in a world that he could share with Brenda Barrett, Sonny
determined that there was another way to accomplish things - his way.
In 1993, Sonny was
living with his ward, Stone Cates, above the Paradise Lounge strip bar. When he
met pretty teenager Karen Wexler, he dared her to take it all off - and she
did.
Sonny began an
affair with his newest attraction and fought to keep her for himself even as
she descended deeper into the throes of drug addiction. At one point, after
ordering a hit on Karen's estranged boyfriend, Jagger Cates, who wanted to get
her back on the straight and narrow, Sonny even threatened Karen herself.
After the Port
Charles police closed down the Paradise Lounge for employing minors like Karen
and Stone, Sonny became the front man for mobster Frank Smith, Luke Spencer's
longtime nemesis. When Frank was killed, Sonny bluffed his way through a mob
war with Puerto Rican gangster Rivera so beautifully that he wound up taking
over all of Frank's holdings.
At the same time,
romance was blossoming between Sonny and model Brenda Barrett. The unlikely duo
were crazy about one another and even went so far as to move in together. But
Brenda was suspicious of Sonny's mob ties, and in 1995, she agreed to wear a
wire when she investigated her fears. Lily Rivera tipped off her friend, Sonny,
to Brenda's plan, and the couple broke up - each of them feeling betrayed by
the other.
That same year, Sonny was reunited with his
estranged father, Mike Corbin. In 1996, in exchange for Rivera's help in getting
racketeering charges against him dropped, Sonny agreed to marry his confidante,
Lily.
Although Sonny cared
for his new bride, his heart still belonged to Brenda. He was about to break it
to Lily that he was leaving her when she told him that she was pregnant with
his child.
Tragedy struck
shortly thereafter when Lily was killed by a car bomb that her father intended
to blow up Sonny. In his grief and shame, Rivera killed himself, in the
process, making Sonny the new crime boss of Port Charles.
Brenda came to Sonny
in his hour of need, but she was not free to resume their relationship. She had
married suave Australian financier Jax. Sonny didn't trust Jax from the getgo
and endeavored to dig up some dirt on his rival. What he found was Jax's
long-lost wife, Miranda Jameson, whom he brought to disrupt Brenda and Jax's
renewal of their vows ceremony. It worked - to a point. Brenda called off the
event but not the marriage.
In 1997, when Sonny
and Brenda were trapped together in the catacombs beneath Port Charles and
certain they were going to die, they gave in to the passion that had smoldered
beneath their surface feelings for so long and made love.
Sonny and Brenda became a full fledged couple
and planned on getting married. Sonny, however, realized that Brenda would
never be truly safe at his side and made the ultimate sacrifice when he left
her standing at the altar. Sonny then lived in a self imposed exile on his
island in the Carribean.
Sonny returned to Port Charles at the urging
of Jason to settle some unrest within the organization. Once back in town,
Sonny decided to stay and take back control of his business with Jason.
Sonny was taken
aback one day when he met Hannah Scott, a young woman who greatly resembled
Brenda. Sonny quickly entered into a romance with Hannah and was outraged to
discover that she was really an FBI agent assigned to bring him down. Sonny
ended his relationship with Hannah and refused to believe that she had ever
truly loved him. This sent Sonny on a downward emotional spiral which resulted
in him having a one night stand with Carly. Sonny and Jason's friendship was
destroyed by this betrayal and Sonny was further convinced that he only brought
pain to those he cared about.
Sonny soon suspected that Carly was pregnant
with his child and his suspicions were confirmed. Carly and Sonny didn't like
each other one bit, but Sonny made it clear to Carly that he was going to be a
part of his child's life and announced that he was the father of her baby in
front of the Quartermaines.
AJ vowed to make
Carly's life miserable and refused to give her a divorce or leave the mansion
with Michael. Having no one else to turn to, Carly went to Sonny for help.
Sonny contacted Jason who told him about AJ hiring an arsonist to burn down the
coffee warehouse.
Armed with this
information, Sonny confronted AJ and made him sign a document granting Carly a
divorce and full custody of Michael.
Sonny then insisted
that Carly and Michael move in with him at his penthouse. Sonny and Carly were
far from friends, but both were surprised by the easy rapport that developed
between them. After sharing a kiss, Carly and Conny made love.
Sonny then shocked
Carly by insisting they get married before their child was born. Carly refused
to marry Sonny, but eventually accepted his ring.
Carly and Sonny
continued to grieve for their baby, but eventually bonded over their loss.
Carly wanted revenge against AJ, but Sonny stopped her from shooting him at the
Nurses Ball. Carly was falling apart emotionally and Sonny took her and Michael
to his island paradise for some relaxation. The trip worked wonders for Carly
and she and Sonny became lovers again.
Carly was hopeful
for a future with Sonny, but became heartbroken when she overheard Sonny refer
to her and Michael as being obligations. Carly wanted Sonny to be with her
because he wanted to, not because he thought he had to. Sonny and Carly
remained at odds couldn't bring themselves to say what the other wanted to
hear.
During this time,
Mike racked up a huge gambling debt with Sorel and turned to Carly for help.
Sorel contacted Sonny, who agreed to a meeting. Thinking she was doing the
right thing, Carly secretly went to the meeting place and was stunned when
Sonny arrived. The police had also been tipped off and Sonny and Carly were
both arrested!
Alexis got Sonny
released from jail but his problems were far from over. Alexis explained to
Sonny that Carly would be the prosecutions star witness and both Alexis and
Sonny knew that Carly would be a loose cannon on the stand. Sonny was then
shocked when Alexis said he had to marry Carly to prevent her from testifying.
Carly was stunned
when Sonny announced that the only way to keep her off the witness stand was
for them to get married. Carly told Sonny that she couldn't marry without love
and Sonny was unable to admit to Carly that he loved her.
Carly later agreed
to marry Sonny, who promised they would try to make a happy home together.
Carly and Sonny were then married as planned. Sonny and Carly began to warm up
to each other and later shared a passionate kiss.
Sonny and Carly
continued to dance around their true feelings for one another. Slowly, Sonny
and Carly started to make a real connection and when Sonny learned that Mike
was missing, he allowed Carly to help him deal with his pain. Sonny learned
that the
charges against him had been dropped and that
there wouldn't be a trial after all, but he and Carly mutually agreed to stay
married. Sonny, Carly and Michael had actually formed a happy little family!
Sonny and Carly were
happily married and living at the penthouse with Michael. One day, Carly was
grabbed by Sorel's men, but was quickly rescued by Sonny. Mob violence was once
again brewing in Port Charles as Sonny found himself on the brink of a war with
Sorel. Sonny had convinced Zander to testify against Sorel and it was just a
matter of time before Sorel took action.
Sonny warned Carly
that Sorel's threats were increasing but promised to always protect her. Soon
thereafter, Sonny learned that Sorel was plotting to kill him. Sonny kept this
news from Carly and then shocked her by announcing that he was going to Puerto
Rico. Before leaving, Sonny promised Carly that he would be home in time for
Christmas. Carly was beside herself with worry for Sonny and was very relieved
when he returned home. Carly's happiness was shattered, however, when Sonny was
shot by Sorel's men on the steps of the police department as he was escorting
Alexis and Zander out of the building. Alexis told Carly that Sonny had
declared his love for Carly before losing consciousness. Carly stayed by
Sonny's bedside and urged him to live. Carly also told an unconscious Sonny
that she loved him.
While unconscious,
Sonny had an out of body experience and traveled to the other side where he
visited Lily and the children he had lost. An emotional Sonny told Lily that he
was in love with Carly and wasn't ready to stay on the other side with her.
Sonny then returned and made a full recovery.
Sonny and Carly were
more in love than ever and Sonny asked Carly to marry him again in a way that
showed their true feelings for one another.