Steven Sullivan is the only child of rodeo champion Roy Sullivan and former equestrian turned businesswoman Esther Saunders. His parents divorced shortly after his birth; while his father settled in Oklahoma, Steven was raised primarily by his mother and extended family on Franklin Farm in Radcliffe, Kentucky. Though Roy remained present in his life, Steven grew especially close to his uncle Peter, who became the most influential male figure in his upbringing.

As an adult, Steven became a veterinarian and moved to Lexington, where he built a life with his ballet dancer wife, Lorraine, and their son, Evan. The marriage eventually ended, prompting Steven to return to Franklin Farm. He later met Courtney Covington in his mother’s office at the stables, and the two developed an attraction despite their significant age difference and their families’ long-standing rivalry. Unaware at first that Courtney was a Covington, Steven felt deeply hurt when she hid the truth from him, especially given Esther’s ongoing efforts to gain Daniel Covington’s share of Franklin Farm Ltd. Despite these tensions, Steven and Courtney grew serious about one another.

Their relationship faced further strain when Lorraine and Evan unexpectedly came to town. Though Steven was happy to spend time with his son, he was nearly caught in Daniel Covington’s scheme to break the couple up by arranging for Lorraine to kiss him in exchange for a ballet audition. Lorraine ultimately warned Steven, but the damage was done when

Courtney learned of the deception and temporarily moved out of Home Farm. Steven later said goodbye to Evan again when Lorraine accepted a teaching position in Orlando, though they remained together despite family opposition. Over the years, Steven proved his reliability and compassion—most notably by delivering his cousin Martha’s baby in the back of his truck during a traffic jam, becoming the child’s godfather. When Lorraine and Evan were later injured in a car accident, Steven traveled to Orlando with Esther, after which Evan came to live with him while Lorraine recovered.

Steven’s life was further complicated by personal loss and family revelations. He was devastated by the sudden death of his uncle Peter, who left him ten percent of the family dairy farm business. Though he initially told Courtney he did not want to remarry, the two ultimately wed on Christmas Eve. Their marriage, however, has been far from easy—strained by Courtney’s demanding role at the Covington Group, her closeness to Jacques Laurent, and the revelation that Emma is Esther’s biological half-sister due to a long-hidden affair. While Courtney felt betrayed by the secrecy, Steven maintained it was not his truth to reveal, a stance that only pushed her closer to Jacques. Adding to the tension, Steven allowed his rebellious teenage son Evan to move in, something Courtney struggled to accept. Despite being unaware of Courtney and Jacques’s kiss in Miami, Steven remains determined—alongside Courtney—to fight for their marriage.