Mark Nicholson
Mark was Phoebe’s father, a rich lawyer who had supported her financially while she pursued her music career. He came to town to meet Phoebe’s boyfriend Kyle and a meal between the three of them seemed to go well until Mark noticed Kyle’s surname on an invoice, having previously believed Kyle was still using his old name, Bennett. He rang someone and asked them to investigate Kyle Braxton.
On learning of Kyle’s criminal record, Mark confronted both him and Phoebe and tried to get them to break up, giving Kyle $50,000 which he refused to take back. When Kyle refused to go along with it, Mark offered to double it and then told him to name his price. Brax tried to warn him off and Kyle told him no amount of money would make him leave Phoebe, throwing the money at his feet. Phoebe then entered and told Mark to leave, giving him the money. Mark responded by convincing the police to search the Braxtons’ home and businesses, but when they found nothing, Phoebe rejected Mark again.
Mark returned to town a few days later, apologising to Kyle and Phoebe. He witnessed Brax arguing with Andy and, not longer after, saw Casey and Kyle having to restrain Brax from attacking Andy, who he believed had fired a shot through their window. Kyle asked Mark to take Phoebe out of town for her safety and Phoebe agreed to go with him but returned after a couple of days.
A week or so later, Phoebe contacted Mark and asked him to investigate Kyle being attacked by an intruder in the house. Mark met with a dodgy acquaintance, Morgan Woodley, telling him he was meant to scare the Braxtons, not attack them, and paid him to leave town. Kyle found out and threatened to tell Phoebe unless Mark left them alone but Mark called his bluff, suspecting he wouldn’t want to break Phoebe’s heart. Brax tracked down the man Mark paid to shoot through their window and threatened to go to the police unless Mark left town. Mark complied and, not long after, Phoebe learned the truth and rang Mark, telling him she wanted nothing more to do with him.