Attorney Livia Frye arrived in Pine Valley in 1991 with teenaged son Terrence. She quickly became one of the most successful attorneys in town. After getting a job at the local health club, Terrence was brutally attacked by some racist thugs. He ended up in a coma, leaving Livia terrified. Terrence recovered, and with the help of Livia's brother, Police Officer Derek, the criminals were caught. Livia met handsome health club owner Tom Cudahay and the two began dating. The reappearance of Terrence's father, architect Lucas Barnes, complicated their relationship and Livia found herself torn. Realizing she loved Tom, Livia accepted his marriage proposal and the two wed.

The Cudahays met young runaway Jamal Wilson, who had been bounced from foster home to foster home. Livia and Tom made motions to adopt Jamal. However, Jamal and the Cudahays soon learned that Jamal was the biological son of Alec McIntyre. Upon discovering that he had a son, Alec made legal motions for Jamal to live with him. Jamal didn't want to live with Alec and wanted to stay with Tom and Livia. With their friend Trevor Dillon representing Jamal, the Cudahays supported their foster son when he took Alec to court to divorce his biological father. The judge ruled in Jamal's favor and he was formally adopted by the Cudahays. Some time after, Tom, Livia, and Jamal left Pine Valley.

Livia returned to town in 2003 to defend Kendall Hart in her trial for the murder of Michael Cambias. Reconnecting with old friends, such as colleague Jack Montgomery, Livia and Tom decided to move back to Pine Valley.