When EastEnders brought Zoe Slater back into the fold, fans braced for drama — but no one expected it to unravel this fast. After an emotional standoff with Kat, Zoe does the unthinkable: she disappears. But this isn’t just a moment of panic. She flees out the window, steals Alfie’s credit card, and boards a flight to Barcelona.

To those watching, it’s obvious — Zoe’s not just scared. She’s terrified. And whatever she’s running from is much closer to home than she’s letting on.

Alfie and Stacey are left in pieces. They try to piece together her story, but all they find are inconsistencies. Zoe said she was in trouble — but was that just a cover? Did she make up the danger to avoid someone she can’t face? Or is the danger real, and still following her?

Alfie decides to act. Despite Kat’s hopes for a wedding and a settled life, Alfie lies about going to Australia. In truth, he’s tracking Zoe. It’s the ultimate gamble — save the daughter Kat doesn’t know she’s lost again, or destroy the trust he’s barely regained.

Back in Walford, Kat suspects something’s off. Her past with Zoe haunts her, and when Alfie brings it up — reminding her how she once hid Zoe’s true parentage — the wounds are ripped open all over again. Kat’s trying to be a better mother. But can she fix a bond that’s shattered beyond repair?

Alfie’s vow to “bring her home” feels noble, but there’s a ticking clock. If Zoe’s secret — whatever it is — comes to light, it could crush them all. Is she running from guilt? From danger? From family?

Zoe’s return isn’t just a blast from the past — it’s a reckoning. And as Alfie steps into the unknown, EastEnders gears up for one of its most emotionally charged arcs in years.