Warning: This article contains spoilers from "Empire."

"Empire" Season 1, Episode 7 "Our Dancing Days" debuted Wednesday night, dazzling fans with plenty of surprises.

The episode began with Empire Records' preparation for the IPO, scheduling Courtney Love's character Elle Dallas to be the investor showcase headliner with Lyon brothers Hakeem and Jamal performing a debut of "Money For Nothing." Lucious and Cookie spend a great deal of the episode parenting to keep the brothers rivalry in check for the sake of the family business.

Lucious is hospitalized due to a reaction from the experimental amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) drug administered by his quack doctor. Although he chooses fiancée Anika to ride in the ambulance, Cookie visits the hospital to make sure he is okay.

Meanwhile, Jamal's boyfriend Michael leaves him and his ex-wife dumps his alleged daughter (no DNA test to prove paternity, yet) at the Empire headquarters where she is welcomed by the Lyon family.

Camilla, played by Naomi Campbell, lets Hakeem know she is tired of being his side piece. He agrees to gradually move her into the spotlight as his lady.

The Empire Records brood arrive at the investor showcase venue where Anika slips former drug addict and Empire icon Elle Dallas drugs to ensure that she does not perform and Cookie looks like a failure. Her efforts are successful, and Jamal and Hakeem perform as the headlining act.

Lucious suffers debilitating health symptoms minutes before he has to deliver his hard sell to the investors. He decides that Cookie will give the pivotal speech, which annoys Anika and put everyone else on edge.

Cookie's pitch to investors is not perfect, but it is raw, honest and passionate. Her speech convinces the potential investors to buy in. Backstage, at her moment of triumph, Lucious says, "I love you," to Cookie in earshot of Anika.

The investor showcase closes as a success. Anika bids Lucious farewell as she departs on a business trip to secure new talent. He returns home where he gathers the family to reveal his ALS battle. The news upsets everyone, but Cookie is devastated. Once family members leave, Lucious and Cookie share wine, conversation and unresolved feelings suppressed over the years she was in prison. The simmering tension between the two reaches a boiling point when they kiss. Lucious sweeps Cookie off her feet and carries her to his bedroom.

In the heat of the moment, Anika returns home; likely canceling the business trip in light of Lucious' health concerns. She walks in on Lucious and Cookie -- seeing them in the throes of passion.

The episode ends, leaving fans eagerly awaiting the next installment.

The news of Lucious' ALS surely will intensify the Shakespearean battle between Andre, Jamal and Hakeem, each of whom have sights set on inheriting the empire. One can only guess what will happen in the love triangle between Lucious, Anika and Cookie going forward.

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