Bold & Beautiful fans were shocked and outraged to discover that Grace had lied about Liam’s terminal cancer. But it turns out, the doctor had a very good — if still not good enough — reason for doing so. Here, in a Soaps.com exclusive interview, portrayer Cassandra Creech explains the desperate times that led to such desperate measures.

Why Did Grace Lie About Liam?

The August 4 episode began to shed light on Grace’s predicament when she yelled at someone over the phone to leave her and her daughters the hell alone. She then spoke with Paris and issued a reminder that she’d do anything for her and sister Zoe. So what gives?

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“I’m an opportunist in this situation. I’m fighting to save my girls,” Creech says in character. “And I am using what I know — medicine.

“It’s not the best choice,” she hastens to add, “but I’m using the skills which I have to my advantage.”

How Did the Situation Get So Bad?

“Coming to Los Angeles was a new start for Grace,” Creech reminds. “She came to see Paris, who ironically is now living in Paris, and wound up staying. Grace has been very successful, and yet she hasn’t really got anybody in her corner. She has nobody there to support her, no one she was able to turn to as this situation spiraled out of her control.

“But now she knows that she will do what she has to do,” she continues. “She will do absolutely anything to protect her daughters.”

If that means conning Liam to win a quick payday from Bill, so be it. Of course now there’s going to be hell to pay as colleague Finn forces Grace to come clean with the people she’s wronged.