In the heart of Albert Square, where loyalty is sacred and secrets rarely stay buried, Kat Slater has once again found herself tangled in a web of family conflict, forbidden romance, and painful revelations. The iconic EastEnders matriarch thought she could keep a delicate business arrangement under wraps, but when Jean and Mo made an unannounced return to Walford, the truth exploded with the force of a family-defining earthquake—and Kat was left bleeding from a slap no one saw coming.

It all began with what seemed like a cheeky surprise: Kat discovered that her business partner in a new limo venture was none other than Harvey Monroe—her cousin Jean’s ex. The twist? Neither of them had chosen the partnership. A mix-up or a cruel twist of fate, perhaps. But fate rarely makes things easy in Walford. Furious yet cornered, Kat reluctantly agreed to push forward, with Alfie Moon standing loyally by her side, eager to turn lemons into lemonade—and maybe, just maybe, rekindle an old flame.

As the pair worked together on launching the business, including organizing a mock wedding photoshoot to market their services, Alfie began to see it as more than just a promo gimmick. Memories flooded back. Laughter, old promises, second chances. And with that signature Alfie Moon charm, he did the unthinkable—he proposed to Kat for the third time. Kat hesitated, her defences worn thin after years of emotional chaos, but Alfie’s heartfelt plea to grow old together pierced her tough exterior. With a smile and a spark in her eye, she said yes.

But no EastEnders celebration ever comes without drama lurking around the corner.

Champagne flowed and party plans began. Wedding planner Kim Fox, never one to do things halfway, declared a joint stag and hen party to kick things off. It should’ve been the perfect fairytale. But when Jean and Mo Slater stepped into the Queen Vic, their homecoming turned sour in seconds. Hearing about Kat and Alfie’s whirlwind engagement, Jean was stunned—not just because she wasn’t told, but because Harvey already knew.

The puzzle pieces clicked together in Jean’s mind faster than anyone could stop them. Why had Harvey been acting strange? Why was Kat so secretive? The answer was clear and unforgivable: Kat had gone into business with Jean’s ex behind her back. A betrayal too personal to ignore.

Kat tried to defend herself. She didn’t plan it, she didn’t want it. But Jean, still raw from her breakup with Harvey and having just returned from a deeply emotional absence, wasn’t ready for reason. She confronted Kat head-on in front of everyone at the Vic. Words escalated. Old wounds were reopened. And then, in a moment that will echo through Slater history, Jean slapped her cousin across the face.

“You marry Alfie and change your name back to Moon,” Jean growled. “Because as far as I’m concerned, you’re no longer a Slater!”

The Vic fell silent. Kat, known for her sharp tongue and thick skin, stood frozen—shocked, humiliated, and heartbroken. The slap wasn’t just physical—it was symbolic. A rejection of sisterhood, of family, of history. For Jean, this was justice. For Kat, it was devastation.

What comes next is anyone’s guess. Can Kat and Jean find their way back from this breaking point? Or has the Slater legacy been torn in two forever? As Kat prepares for a wedding that should be filled with joy, she may be walking down the aisle with a broken heart and no Slater clan at her side. And Harvey? His role in all this is far from over.

In Walford, the past never stays buried, and forgiveness doesn’t come easy.