James Patrick Stuart Previews Valentin’s Next Move on GENERAL HOSPITAL (EXCLUSIVE)

Valentin Cassadine lived his entire life believing himself to be the forgotten bastard son of Mikkos on GENERAL HOSPITAL… only to find out that he was actually the spawn of Helena! “He was devastated when he learned that not only does he have Helena in him, but his daughter has Helena in her,” portrayer James Patrick Stuart said to Soaps In Depth. “And not only could he not do anything about that, but he couldn’t use that anger to hurt Helena because she’s already gone!”

After all that’d transpired with Nina, Valentin’s identity crisis was almost the end of him. “He wandered out onto that ledge,” Stuart reminded. “Charlotte is what kept him from doing it. I just love that he’s trapped. He’s not able to work his way out of this yet.”

He’s also not able to work his way back to Nina — who is already dating Jax. “How rapidly Valentin’s girl moved on,” Stuart sighed. “I don’t think he’ll ever give up trying to win her back, but Valentin’s in penance mode right now.” So what is a devastated, scorned schemer to do with himself? “The dust is settling,” said Stuart, “and in the meantime, it’s time to put some money together.”

And as we’ve seen, Valentin’s ELQ takeover is well underway! “He’s not a really successful human being on a personal level,” noted the actor, “but his business instincts are good. He knew a long time ago that he needed to prepare his next deal. “He has to move fast, before anybody notices what he’s doing,” he added. “And then he’ll worry about what he wants to put together next.”

If we know anything about the Quartermaines, it’s that they won’t go down without a fight! Has the fallen lord of the Cassadine castle bitten off more than he can chew? “I don’t think he has any idea,” the actor concluded, “of what the Quartermaines are capable of!”

For more from your favorite GH stars, keep reading the ABC edition of Soaps In Depth magazine.

This story originally appeared in our print magazine