Matt was a model of discretion and became whatever Sofia needed, from friend to confidant to pretend love interest to scare off Nick Hudson. Eventually Sofia began to see Matt in a new light, and followed her head as opposed to her heart and let Matt become more than her friend. Matt often lost patience with Sofia's indecision, particularly her inability to rid herself of Nick, and he had to be reminded that she was young and vastly inexperienced compared to him.
Matt cut town in early 1997, putting an abrupt end to his relationship with Sofia. When he returned to town that fall, both he and Sofia had moved on.
In 1998, Matthew enlisted Sofia in his new business ventures, and jealous Nick could barely refrain from putting Matt's head through the wall. Sofia slowly found herself falling for Matt again and one day decided he was the guy for her. So she gave Nick his walking papers and took up with the young Cory.
Matt took Sofia as his lover, and she jumped up and down on the bed in glee. She jumped up and down in fury when she learned Matt had impregnated Lila Roberts. He swore he could keep Lila at arm's reach. Sofia believed the silver-tongued devil until she walked in on him proposing to Lila. She ended her relationship with Matt and sulked while he prepared to walk Lila down the aisle.
Weasling his way out of matrimony, Matt wormed his way back into Sofia's life. But Jordan Stark hypnotized him into going through with the marriage. Her heart broken, Sofia packed her bags and moved away.