Warning: Episode may contain strong language, violence and sexual content. Reader discretion is advised.

PREVIOUSLY…

• Nick and Jasmine purchased ancestry DNA tests and received a notification that their matches were ready.
• Julia was horrified to discover that Emma was in fact Emily, the ex-girlfriend of her deceased brother, Michael, and the biological mother of Julia’s son, Nick.
• Having overheard a discussion between Julia, Judith, and James regarding Nick’s biological parents, Natalie blackmailed Julia for £100,000 in order to keep the truth from an unsuspecting Nick.
• Natalie began an affair with her boss, James, despite him being married to Julia.
• Having hired a P.I. to dig up dirt on Emma, Julia was shocked to learn that she had in fact conducted an affair with Paul, the man married to her husband’s sister.
• Jack discovered that Lee was using Grindr for casual hookups as well as conducting an affair with someone called T. Lee refused to divulge T’s identity to his husband, choosing instead to protect his lover, Tom.

Addison Road,
Holland Park, London

The weather across England had turned. In the space of just a few days, things had shifted dramatically, and the glorious August warmth had been replaced with the dark skies of summer storms.

In the affluent London locale of Holland Park, Victoria Halifax nodded a silent yet polite farewell to Berna – the Polish maid who held the front door open for her – and descended the stone steps of her grand eight-bedroom Victorian mansion. Her voluminous golden curls were perfectly styled, and, as she emerged from the ornate building, an ominous breeze teased the edges of her embellished blue Celia Kritharioti cape gown. The gravel of the driveway crunched under her Louboutin heels, and as she moved to the end, Victoria froze in surprise.

Javier, their chauffeur, was supposed to be waiting for her at the curb, where he always stood ready with the car door open. But instead, behind the wheel of their sleek onyx Bentley Flying Spur, sat her husband, Paul.

“Where is Javier?” Victoria asked in confusion as she approached the luxury car and slid into the plush leather passenger’s seat.

Paul turned to her with a faint smile. “I gave him the weekend off,” he replied casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world for him to be behind the wheel.

Victoria pulled her lips into a tight line and buckled herself in. “Oh, how generous of you,” she replied sarcastically.

“I’m more than capable of driving us.”

“Well, I hope he doesn’t anticipate receiving payment for this weekend.”

The predictable response from his wife, laced with the same caustic tone inherited from her mother, caused Paul to involuntarily roll his eyes. He started the engine, and the Bentley purred with power.

As the car moved off, Victoria’s brow furrowed with concern. “Wait! Have I got everything?”

Paul stopped the car suddenly, and the jolt caused them both to lurch forward in their seats. He glanced over at his wife with a smirk. “I don’t know, do you?”

Victoria reached into the back and snatched her limited-edition oversized Birkin bag from the backseat before frantically searching through its contents. “I don’t know! That’s why I’m asking you!”

“Well, how would I know?”

Victoria sighed with irritation. “I just don’t want to get there and realise we’ve forgotten something. There’s nothing in that bloody village besides the pub, the café, and that shitty corner store.”

Paul felt the need to defend Glendale. “It’s quaint.”

“It’s shit.”

“You grew up there!”

“And there’s a reason I left.” Victoria had reluctantly agreed to Paul’s suggestion of staying the night at her mother’s lavish residence in Glendale instead of driving back to London after the engagement party, but with each passing minute she was regretting her decision more and more. After a brief silence, Victoria sighed and conceded defeat. “You know, fuck it. I’m sure I packed everything, and what I didn’t, Berna would’ve packed for me.”

“So, we’re good to go?” Paul asked, ready to move past the conversation.

“Yes. Go. Drive. Go,” Victoria urged with a flick of her wrist.

Paul pulled out onto the road, and they drove in silence for a while, weaving their way through London’s busy streets as they headed for the motorway. Victoria stared out the window, lost in her thoughts of her home village. She had left Glendale at the earliest opportunity, suffocated by the overbearing nature of her mother, Hazel, and feeling unable to live up to the expectations placed upon her as a member of the Harrington-Jones family. Her brother, James, was the golden child, the one who could do no wrong in the eyes of their mother, and the youngest, Charlotte, was the forgotten one who could do as she pleased, whereas Victoria was always deemed to be difficult and a problem, something that caused her to develop a slight resentment towards her family, although she wouldn’t dare say it. Victoria absentmindedly began rummaging through her handbag again. Paul noticed and broke the silence.

“Everything okay?”

“I think I forgot my moisturiser.”

“We can get some there,” Paul suggested optimistically, his eyes flicking from the road ahead to his wife and back again.

“It’s La Prairie, Paul!” Victoria turned to him incredulously. “I don’t think they’re going to stock La Prairie in fucking Glendale.”

“Okay, we’ll go back.”

“No, it’s fine. I found it. Keep going,” Victoria dismissed the idea, closing her bag with finality and returning to gazing out the window.

Minutes passed in silence before Victoria’s phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID.

“Mama,” she muttered under her breath, preparing herself for the inevitable conversation. With a deep breath, she answered. “Mama, what is it?”

“Victoria, it’s your mother,” came Hazel Harrington-Jones’ cut-glass voice from the other end.

Victoria stiffened and fought the urge to let out a deep, irritated sigh. “Yes, I know; that’s why I said ‘Mama’ when I answered the call. What is it? What’s wrong?”

“Are you on your way?”

“Yes, we’ve just left.”

“Only now?” Hazel sounded incredulous.

“Yes, we’ll be there with plenty of time for the party. Don’t worry.”

“With London traffic? No, I don’t think so. You should have left an hour ago.”

Victoria’s irritation grew. “Well, I can’t change that now, can I, mama?” she said through gritted teeth. “It will be fine. Trust me. Paul is driving, and we’ll be there with plenty of time.”

“Paul is driving?” Hazel’s voice rose in surprise.

Victoria glanced at her husband. “Yes.”

“Where’s Javier?”

“Paul gave him the weekend off.”

Paul’s cheeks flushed as he imagined the sheer indignation Hazel must have felt, sitting in her parlour and clutching her pearls.

“This weekend!” Hazel exclaimed.

“Yes, obviously this weekend!”

“Was that wise?”

“Mama, it’s fine. Seriously. Was that it, or…?” Victoria trailed off.

“I just wanted to check that you are on your way,” Hazel replied curtly.

“Yes, we are on our way.”

“And are the children with you?”

Victoria rolled her eyes and sighed. The fact that Hazel still referred to William and Ashley as children despite the fact they were both well into their twenties irritated her beyond belief. “No, as I said yesterday, Ashley is back at Oxford for the weekend and William is still in Australia. Where he has been for the last six weeks,” Victoria clarified, her patience wearing thin.

“I don’t think I appreciate your tone, Victoria,” Hazel chided.

Victoria gritted her teeth tighter. “Mama, we’re on our way, but we’re heading into a tunnel, so… I… ju… lo… you…”

She ended the call abruptly and sighed deeply. Paul offered a reassuring smile and kissed his wife’s hand, his attention remaining firmly focused on the road.

“She’s harmless.”

“She’s a pain in the arse,” Victoria replied, shooting her husband a glare.

“You did hang up, right?”

Victoria’s heart leapt into her mouth, and, with fear ricocheting through her body, she checked her phone before nodding in relief. “Yes.”

They settled back into an uneasy silence, each lost in their thoughts as they stared out opposite windows.

“Pull in here,” Victoria suddenly instructed as they approached a Shell Service Station.

“What for?” Paul asked puzzled as fat drops of rain began to tumble down.

“It has a Little Waitrose, Paul! If I’m being dragged back to Glendale kicking and screaming, I at least want to do it with some high-quality snacks!”

–  G L E N D A L E  –

Ashbourne House,
Glendale

Under heavy storm clouds that threatened to break at any moment, the manicured gardens of Ashbourne House gleamed under the glow of twinkling fairy lights and lanterns. Inside, the ballroom was transformed into a spectacle of opulence, adorned with cascading floral arrangements suspended from the ceiling and tables laden with crystal and silver.

Julia Harrington-Jones, resplendent in a one-of-a-kind midnight blue long-sleeve Alexander McQueen gown, glided through the room with the grace of a queen. Her smile was radiant and her movements effortless as she greeted guests. She was in her element and revelled in every moment of it.

“Winnie! It is so lovely to see you.” Julia greeted the matriarch of the Atkins family warmly, who stood beside an elaborate ice sculpture, admiring it.

“You have a beautiful house, Julia,” Winnie Atkins remarked in a thick Caribbean accent. Her eyes twinkled in wonder, and her costume jewellery, while cheap in Julia’s eyes but utterly priceless to Winnie, sparkled.

Born in Trinidad, Winnie had emigrated to England in the 1960s with her husband, Winston. They settled in Bow in east London, where they raised Ed and their daughter, Yvonne. Winston worked at the docks, while Winnie helped make ends meet as a cleaner. It wasn’t an easy life, but they made it work, and they quickly found themselves heavily involved in the community and local church. Following Winston’s passing in 2018, Winnie couldn’t face living in the house they had made a home together, so she sold up and moved into a plush retirement village in Battersea.

“Thank you, Winnie. Now that we’re family, you’re welcome to come and stay any time you like,” Julia offered graciously.

“Stay here? Oh, no, I couldn’t.”

“Please, I insist. We would love to have you.”

“You’re too kind,” Winnie replied, genuinely touched, before excusing herself to join her daughter-in-law, Marion, who was beckoning her over.

Julia’s mother, Judith Bancroft, sidled up beside her with an expression that was tinged with disapproval as she observed the exchange. “You don’t mean that,” she remarked, her tone carrying a hint of accusation as she nursed a flute of champagne.

A frown settled over Julia’s brow as she turned her gaze from following Winnie to her mother. “Of course I do.”

“You give someone like that an inch, and they’ll take a mile.”

Julia’s face dropped. She couldn’t tell if her mother was making a racist comment, being elitist, or just being incredibly ignorant, but whatever it was, it left a horribly bitter taste in her mouth. “Someone like that?”

“Oh, you know what I mean,” Judith said dismissively. “Don’t make that out to be bigger than it is.”

Julia cooled considerably as she realised her mother was being all three things at once. “Yes, I know what you meant, and it is repugnant and vile.”

Judith recoiled, her eyes widening in shock. “What? Julia, I wasn’t talking about… I am not racist! I meant that she’s not used to this lifestyle. If you invite her in again, you won’t get rid of her!”

“Sometimes I wonder how someone can be so pretty on the outside and so utterly ugly on the inside,” Julia snapped, her voice heavy with disappointment. And with that, she turned gracefully on her heel and walked away, leaving Judith standing alone and nursing her hurt pride.

-:-

Jasmine Atkins, dressed in an elegant vintage-inspired white gown enhanced by diamante embellishments that shimmered under the soft glow of chandeliers, weaved her way through the growing crowd, smiling politely at people she didn’t recognise, until she found her brother, Lee Campbell, standing near a lavish display of hors d’oeuvres.

“Here he is, looking dapper as always,” she greeted warmly, kissing her brother on the cheek and admiring his well-put-together outfit of white chino pants, a pale blue shirt, and a navy double-breasted suit jacket. She straightened the dusty rose-coloured pocket square that matched his tie. “Where’s Jack? I thought he’d be here by now.”

Lee’s expression faltered slightly at the mention of his now estranged husband. He glanced around the room, pretending to search for any sign of his husband. “Um, he’s… he’s running a bit late,” Lee replied vaguely, his eyes avoiding his sister’s.

Jasmine arched an eyebrow. She always knew when her brother was lying. “Is everything okay between you two?”

Lee snatched a flute of champagne from a gold tray as a young waiter passed by. “Hmm?”

“You and Jack,” Jasmine pushed again. “Is everything okay between you?”

Lee sighed, knowing he couldn’t play dumb forever. His thoughts drifted to the unravelling of his marriage, caused by his own mistakes and infidelities. “Actually, Jaz, the thing is—”

“Sorry I’m late.”

Taken by surprise, Jasmine and Lee turned in unison to see Jack standing behind them, champagne in hand, looking swoon-worthily handsome in his tailored black Canali suit.

Lee’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. He hadn’t expected Jack to come, not after everything that had transpired between them over the past few days.

“Ah, here he is,” Jasmine enthused, greeting Jack with a bright smile, a friendly hug, and a welcoming kiss on the cheek. “My favourite brother-in-law!”

“Your only brother-in-law!” Jack returned her embrace. “You look stunning!” he replied, ushering his sister-in-law into a twirl to inspect her gown. He glanced briefly at Lee. A silent exchange of unspoken words and emotions passed between them.

Lee watched Jack and Jasmine interact as guilt gnawed at him. He had betrayed his husband’s trust, shattered their marriage with his own indiscretions, and now, seeing Jack play along for Jasmine’s sake, he felt the sharp sting of remorse.

-:-

Outside, a deep rumble of thunder in the distance warned of the approaching storm. Meanwhile, in a quiet corner of the ballroom, away from the bustling dance floor, Marion Atkins, her husband, Ed, and his mother, Winnie, were huddled together deep in conversation. There was a thick tension between Marion and Ed that Winnie struggled to ignore.

“Jazzie looks gorgeous tonight,” Winnie remarked, trying to lighten the mood between the feuding couple while pride swelled within her as she watched her granddaughter mingle amongst the guests with ease.

Nursing a flute of champagne, Marion nodded in agreement as her golden 1940s silhouette-inspired gown, embellished with crystals, twinkled under the soft lighting. “Yes, she really does.”

Ed agreed, but his attention seemed divided. Just then, his phone vibrated discreetly in his pocket. Removing the device from his trousers, he glanced down at the screen, and his expression shifted. “Sorry, I’ve got to take this.”

As Ed exited the ballroom to take the call, Marion felt the familiar pang of doubt and distrust creep into her mind. She still hadn’t forgiven Ed for lying to her about starting a new law firm with Rebecca Williams and buying the old haberdashery shop in the village to turn into an office. Marion had hoped that time would have started to heal the wounds scorched across her heart, but if anything, it was just making them worse.

Winnie couldn’t help but notice the tension that lingered after her son’s departure. “He seems busy,” she said gently, hoping she was reading the situation wrong, though her intuition said otherwise.

“Yes. It seems to be the norm nowadays.”

From her vantage point, Marion watched through the window as Ed stood outside in the colonnade. He paced back and forth and held the phone to his ear. The tension in his body was plain to see. Ed jerked an arm out as if emphasising a point. He stopped and listened for what seemed like an eternity. Whatever he had heard seemed to trouble him as his free hand clenched into a fist at his side.

Back inside, Marion took a silent sip of her champagne as her eyes narrowed. There was no doubt about it; Ed was still hiding something else from her.

“Trust your instincts,” Winnie said, bringing Marion’s attention back into the room as she studied her daughter-in-law thoughtfully.

Marion frowned, caught off guard by her mother-in-law’s instructions. “Sorry?”

“Edwin is my son, and I love him dearly, but listen to your heart, Marion, and trust in God and his wisdom,” Winnie said, placing a comforting hand on her daughter-in-law’s forearm. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James, chapter one, verse five.”

Marion felt the unfamiliar burn of tears at the backs of her eyes. To have some sort of validation of her thoughts and feelings was a relief, although it raised more questions within that needed to be answered.

“You’re a good, kind woman, Marion,” Winnie added with a supportive smile. “Trust your instincts.”

-:-

Into the scene of opulence arrived 78-year-old Hazel Harrington-Jones, Nick’s formidable grandmother. She swept into the ballroom with a regal gravitas that ensured all eyes were on her as her lavender silk gown trailed elegantly behind. Her silver locks, hidden underneath her trademark bottle blonde hue, were styled in a tight chignon bun that helped provide a natural tightness to her unnatural face. Diamonds sparkled at her ears and wrists, catching the light and adding to her imposing presence.

“Hello darling. Julia,” Hazel greeted with a nod of superiority, acknowledging her son and daughter-in-law in turn as if they were loyal subjects awaiting her approval.

James Harrington-Jones stepped forward to kiss his mother’s cheek. “Mama, how wonderful to see you. You look stunning.”

Hazel forced a dampened smile as her eyes scanned Julia’s attire. “Well, at least some of us made an effort.”

Julia sucked in her lips, determined not to give her mother-in-law the satisfaction of a rise.

Hazel surveyed the ballroom with a discerning eye, and as her gaze swept over the lavish decorations, a faint trace of amusement played on her lips. “Wisteria? In August?” She turned her attention back to Julia. “Elegance is an art, my dear, and one must tread carefully to avoid crossing the line into ostentation.”

Julia felt her hands instinctively curl into fists at her sides.

James attempted to steer the conversation away from potentially volatile territory. “The decorations were chosen by Jasmine, Mama. She wanted everything to be perfect.”

Hazel’s eyebrows lifted ever so slightly. “Ah. Well, one would expect nothing less from someone named after a cartoon character.” She turned her attention back to the room, her critical eye not missing a single detail. “At least the glare from the abundance of crystal has reminded me that I really must make an optometrist appointment.”

An involuntary humph escaped Julia’s lips. She had endured a lifetime of Hazel’s snide comments and disapproval and was determined not to let it ruin such a special night. “I need to be anywhere but here,” she said before kissing James on the cheek and disappearing into the crowd of guests as quickly as she could.

James cleared his throat delicately. “I think Jasmine wanted to create a memorable atmosphere.”

“Well, that she has achieved. Though one must always remember, darling, that true sophistication lies in restraint.”

With that, Hazel gracefully moved deeper into the ballroom.

-:-

Nick Harrington-Jones fixed a smile to his face as he greeted guests, nodded at people he didn’t know, and accepted congratulations and well wishes from others he barely remembered. Out the corner of his eye, he caught sight of something that made him do a double-take.

There, at the bar, stood his usually composed and regal mother, Julia, knocking back a stiff gin. She downed the drink in one gulp and nodded to the bartender for another. Nick chuckled to himself. This was definitely not a good sign.

“What’s got you so amused?” Jasmine asked with a smile that could’ve lit up London as she approached her fiancé and kissed him on the lips.

Nick nodded towards his mother at the bar. “That gin is her ‘I can’t deal with Hazel’s shit’ drink.”

Jasmine followed his gaze and chuckled. “Ah, the infamous Grandmama Hazel. Should I be worried?”

“Just brace yourself for a lot of fake smiles and backhanded compliments about the decorations.”

Sure enough, as if on cue, Nick’s grandmother appeared at their side. Her face, impeccably made up, broke into a smile that didn’t quite seem genuine. “Nicky, darling!” she exclaimed in a voice that carried across the room. She greeted Nick with an air kiss and turned her attention to his fiancée. “And you must be Jasmine. What a beautiful name, and what a splendid affair you’ve orchestrated! The decorations are… charming.”

Nick exchanged a glance with Jasmine, who raised an eyebrow knowingly. He had to hand it to Grandmama Hazel, she could spin a complaint into a compliment, even when she clearly despised the floral arrangements.

“You must let me know who your party planner is,” Hazel continued, patting Jasmine’s arm with a gloved hand. “They’ve certainly made some interesting choices.”

Nick pulled his lips tight, knowing full well that his grandmother’s idea of ‘interesting’ usually translated to ‘tasteless’.

“I decided on the decorations and theme,” Jasmine replied.

Hazel looked the future of the Harrington-Jones dynasty up and down with her crystal blue eyes as a tight smile forced upon her lips. “Well, it is charming,” she replied in a tone that a doctor would use on a dying patient. “You certainly have a unique take on style.”

Before World War Three could break out, or Hazel could launch into a critique of the hors d’oeuvres, Jasmine politely excused herself and headed across the ballroom to the bar.

Sensing Jasmine’s appearance at her side, Julia slid a recently filled glass of gin along the bartop to her future daughter-in-law. “You’re going to need it,” she said with a wink. “Trust me.”

-:-

As the party continued around them, Lee and Jack exchanged polite small talk, their words carefully chosen to maintain the façade of amicability.

“I’m glad you could make it,” Lee said from behind a forced smile.

Jack nodded, casting his gaze across the party guests as he took a sip of champagne, refusing to look in his husband’s direction. “Wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

Lee rolled his lips and picked at the base of his near-empty champagne flute. Conversation used to flow so easily, but the stilted awkwardness that now filled the space between them was almost too much to bear. “How is it staying at Queenie’s?” he asked, desperately trying to fill the silence.

After discovering Lee’s infidelities, Jack had packed a bag and gone to stay in the elderly woman’s spare room until he could sort things out with his husband, although that currently felt like an impossible mission. “It’s fine,” Jack replied coldly, shooting a glare Lee’s way out the corner of his eye. “Although Missus Granger will be moving in soon, so I’ll need to go to a hotel or a B&B.”

A silence settled over them, and Lee finished his champagne with a final uncomfortable gulp. He didn’t know what to say, as he knew Jack’s predicament was his doing.

“Who is ‘T’?”

The question caught Lee off guard, and he tried to hide the shock from his face as he looked back at his husband. Since Jack had seen the explicit messages on his phone from “T,” Lee had refused to answer any questions or reveal the man’s identity. “We’re not doing this tonight,” he replied, shifting uncomfortably and looking for a spot to leave his empty flute. “Not now. Not here.”

Jack sucked in a deep breath before exhaling slowly. The hurt he felt at the realisation that Lee would sooner protect his secret lover than admit the truth and fight for their marriage cut deeply. “Fine,” he mumbled before draining his glass in one gulp. “But if you had any love for me at all, Lee, the least you would do is tell me.”

“Can we please not do this tonight?”

Jack looked at his husband with a glare. “I will find out who it is. Mark my words.”

-:-

As Charlotte Sinclair, her husband Mark, and Mark’s 19-year-old daughter Natalie arrived at the elegant engagement party, she felt a knot tighten in her stomach when she noticed her mother, Hazel, standing across the ballroom. As if on cue, the matriarch turned and looked her youngest child up and down. She drank in every detail of Charlotte’s shimmering gold lamé gown before her mouth tightened into a straight line and she crossed the room towards them.

“That’s my cue to leave,” Mark said as he quickly kissed his wife on the cheek and made a beeline to join Julia at the bar, leaving Charlotte to face the full force of her mother’s disapproval.

“Lottie,” Hazel said as she sauntered across the ballroom, her lavender silk gown swishing behind her, and greeted her daughter with a double air kiss before holding her at arm’s length to inspect her choice of dress in greater detail. “I see you’ve opted for a new style. It’s certainly… adventurous.”

Natalie let out an audible groan and snatched a flute of champagne from a tray as it floated by, carried by a smartly dressed waiter. If there was one person she despised more than Julia, it would be Hazel.

Charlotte forced a tight-lipped smile, trying to maintain her composure. “Well, I thought I’d try something different for the occasion.”

Hazel’s lips twitched. “Well, it is certainly that,” she remarked with a tone that would curdle milk. “That colour does nothing for you, and the cut… goodness, who advised you on this?”

Charlotte’s face flushed. “I picked it out myself.” Her voice quivered slightly. “I thought it was quite nice.”

Before Hazel could fire off another cruel insult, Natalie stepped in with a smirk, seizing the chance to engage in a tense back and forth with the witch that was, for all intents and purposes, her step grandmother. “Actually, I think it’s really cute. She looks beautiful,” Natalie said, standing up for her stepmother in a rare move that left Charlotte simultaneously speechless, thankful, and wondering if hell had frozen over.

Hazel turned her icy gaze to the raven-haired teenager who she had met only a handful of times prior. There was something about Natalie, a reckless confidence and menacing coolness, that unnerved the Harrington-Jones matriarch slightly. “Ah, young Natalie. Still as classless as ever I see.” Her cold blue eyes rolled over Natalie’s somewhat gaudy floral Zimmerman minidress, and a “tsk” escaped her lips. “Your outfit is rather loud for a formal evening, don’t you think?”

“It’s called having a personality, Hazel. You might want to try it sometime.”

“A personality? Is that what you call it? Or is it just an excuse for a lack of refinement?”

Natalie’s smirk widened. She was enjoying the back and forth far too much. “If being refined means being as cold and cruel as you, I’ll take ‘loud’ any day. With an emotionally stunted and hate-filled mother like you, no wonder all your children ended up the way they did. No offence, Charlotte.”

Tension crackled in the air, and as Charlotte stood between her mother’s harshness and her stepdaughter’s defiance, she longed for the refuge of the bar herself.

-:-

“Mind if I join you?” Mark asked as he approached Julia, who was nursing another gin and seemed lost in her thoughts.

Julia straightened and fixed a smile to her face, one that wasn’t genuine. “Of course.”

In-laws through marriage, Mark and Julia had a frosty relationship at best. After seventeen years, Mark still couldn’t forgive or make peace with the fact that Julia’s brother, Michael, had killed his first wife, Jennifer, in a horrific car accident. Although they say time heals all wounds, that hadn’t been the case for Mark. His wounds were fresh and bloody, and he couldn’t find a way to move forward. When he married Charlotte, knowing he would be related to Julia through marriage was a bitter pill to swallow, but one he did anyway. With the anniversary of the accident just days away, Mark’s pain was more acute than ever, and following his conversation with Judith, his mind was in a state of flux.

He signalled for the bar tender and ordered a whisky on the rocks. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you actually.”

A frown laced with confusion settled across Julia’s brow as she turned her head to meet Mark’s gaze. “Me? What about?”

“Natalie. Your mother came to see me the other day and said that she’s been blackmailing you. Is that true?”

Julia faltered as she scrambled for an answer. If she confirmed it, she knew that the next question would be, ‘What about?’ and that would involve her telling her brother-in-law about Nick’s biological parents – something Julia refused to divulge to someone she didn’t trust and someone who still held such hatred in his heart towards her dead brother.

“No,” she lied and forced a chuckle that Mark instantly recognised was fake. “Why would Natalie be blackmailing me? My mother obviously got confused about something else. I can assure you, Mark, that your daughter isn’t blackmailing me. Natalie is a wonderful young woman, and we’re lucky to have her working for us.”

From Julia’s curled lips and the look on her face as if she were holding back vomit, Mark knew she was lying. Judith had shown him the bank transfer, and, while she hadn’t divulged what Natalie was blackmailing Julia about, Mark knew it was something serious if Julia was willing to keep quiet.

-:-

Jasmine glanced out of the ballroom’s expansive windows, and her eyes were drawn to the colonnade where Jack stood alone. The storm had intensified significantly, and rain cascaded in sheets that blurred the lines between mansion and garden while lightning crackled across the sky. Concern crossed Jasmine’s face, and she excused herself from a conversation with her grandmother.

“Jack?” She said as she approached her brother-in-law outside with a gentle smile and a champagne flute in hand as thunder rumbled in the distance. “Are you okay? You seem a bit… off.”

Jack blinked several times in quick succession as he turned to face Jasmine. “Oh, hey, lovely,” he replied with a lopsided smile and his words slightly slurred. “Yeah, just enjoying the light show, you know.”

Jasmine studied her brother-in-law intently, noting his flushed cheeks and glassy eyes. “Have you had a bit too much champagne?”

Jack chuckled and nodded softly. “Maybe just a tad,” he admitted with a wink and a misguided tap of his nose that ended up on his cheek. “But hey, it’s a celebration, right?”

“If something is wrong, you can talk to me.”

Jack hesitated, his guard momentarily slipping under the influence of alcohol. “Jaz,” he began slowly, his voice lowering to a more serious tone. “You’re so kind to me. I love you. You’re a sister to me, and I’ll always love you like one. You know that, right?”

“Of course.” Jasmine’s concern grew, but she smiled and rubbed Jack’s arm in support.

Jack swallowed nervously as his eyes began misty. “I… I think you should know the truth…”

“Know what? What’s going on?”

“Lee, he… he cheated on me, Jaz.”

Jasmine’s eyes widened in shock, and her hand instinctively flew to her mouth in disbelief. “What?” she gasped. “Lee cheated on you?”

Jack nodded as his gaze dropped to the floor. “Multiple times. I found out about a week ago,” he admitted, his voice cracking as he struggled to keep hold of his emotions. “I didn’t want to ruin tonight for you, but now I probably have. I’m sorry, Jaz.”

Jasmine shook her head, unable to comprehend the magnitude of what Jack was telling her. “I… I had no idea.”

“That makes two of us.” Jack managed a weak smile despite the tear that rolled down his cheek.

Jasmine reached out to her brother-in-law, pulling him into a gentle embrace. “I’m so sorry, Jack,” she whispered as she stroked the back of his dark hair. “I can’t believe Lee would do something like that to you.”

“It’s okay, I’ll be fine,” he said softly, as if trying to convince himself more than anything, and pulled away. “I just needed to get it off my chest.”

“If there’s anything Nick and I can do…”

Jack shook his head. “Just keep enjoying the party. I’ll be okay.”

-:-

Amidst the chatter of the party, James and Natalie had found each other and huddled close in a corner, whispering and laughing, lost in their own little world.

In the distance, Hazel’s eyes narrowed as she observed the intimate exchange between her son and his young personal assistant. The overfamiliarity and sexually charged air between the pair spoke of a relationship that was no longer professional or platonic, and it sparked a deep unease in the matriarch.

-:-

Lee slipped into the downstairs guest bathroom, seeking a brief escape from the festivities and the ever-present guilt he felt whenever he was in Jack’s vicinity. Locking the door behind him, he carefully unfolded a small baggie containing a white powder. With a practiced motion, he sniffed a line – much bigger than he would normally do – and his face tightened momentarily before relaxing. Lee tucked the small plastic bag back into his pocket, brushed the remnants from the edge of his nostrils, washed his hands, and checked his reflection.

-:-

Kate Spencer, accompanied by her mother-in-law, Carol Kennedy, entered the ballroom of Ashbourne House. Kate shimmered in a chic, navy blue silk midi dress purchased from Zara, while Carol, elegantly draped in a sparkly deep green gown, looked slightly out of place but proud.

Kate had pressed her husband, Tom, to attend, but he had refused, citing illness. Although disappointed, what Kate failed to understand was that, since the revelation of Tom’s affair with Lee, he found it impossible to face Lee’s husband, Jack. While Carol’s husband, Tony, had also opted out, choosing to manage The Oak & Vine for the evening instead of attending the festivities.

Carol looked around at the ostentatious decorations and realised her husband was right in choosing not to attend the party.

“Tony would’ve absolutely hated this,” she said with a hearty chuckle, amused at the absurdity of it all. “He’s not one for these fancy events, and, besides, we get to forget our troubles and let our hair down for a special girl’s night!”

“Exactly!” Kate’s eyes brightened at the sight of the open bar. “Well, I’m not one to miss out on a chance for a free drink,” she replied with a mischievous smile. “Shall we?”

Carol nodded like a kid at Christmas and took Kate’s hand in hers. “Absolutely! Let’s get this party started!”

-:-

At the bar, Mark and Julia continued to seek refuge in their drinks of choice. Despite the tragic history that bound them together, the in-laws – who had both married into the Harrington-Jones family – found solace in each other’s company as they prepared themselves for another round of battle with Hazel, the matriarch whose shadow seemed to stretch over both of their lives.

Mark took a slow sip before swirling the remnants of his whisky. “I don’t know how you’ve done it for so long,” he said, his voice slightly slurred as he looked at his sister-in-law out the corner of his eye. “Hazel’s a fucking nightmare, and I’ve only had to deal with her for a couple of years. You’ve had to put up with her for decades!”

Julia, her cheeks flushed from the gin, smiled softly. “This helps,” she said, raising her glass in the air. “Without this, that witch would be insufferable.”

They shared a laugh, the kind that comes from the soothing effects of too much alcohol, and Julia patted Mark’s arm in sympathy.

“Who is a witch?”

Hazel’s presence made itself known in the most unexpected way as she abruptly interrupted the laughter.

Julia’s heart leapt into her throat. Startled, she fumbled with her gin glass, and the liquid spilt over, cascading down onto her lap and staining her elegant gown with dark splotches. Her face flushed a deep red as she clutched at her now-soaked dress, trying to contain her panic.

Mark’s eyes widened in shock. He had been caught off guard too, and the sight of Julia’s distress propelled him into action. “Oh, uh, I think I’ll…” he stammered, quickly rising from his seat. “I need to…”

Without offering further explanation, Mark made a hasty retreat, leaving his sister-in-law alone with Hazel.

Julia turned to face her mother-in-law as she dabbed at her stained dress with a napkin. “Hazel, I—”

“Julia, I need to talk to you,” Hazel interrupted with a stern authority that would’ve made Queen Mary quiver. “It’s urgent.”

“Can’t it wait? I—”

“No. It’s important.”

With a resigned nod and a final glance at the chaotic mess of her gown, Julia sighed. “Fine. What is it?”

“There,” Hazel said with a nod of her head, motioning across the ballroom towards James and Natalie, who remained huddled in the corner.

Julia followed her mother-in-law’s directions, and a frown settled upon her brow as she spotted the closeness between her husband and his personal assistant.

“Be careful of her, Julia,” Hazel warned with a stern tone. “Or you might just come to regret the day you welcomed the devil in through the door.”

-:-

The ballroom was a hive of activity as Paul and Victoria finally made their entrance. However, despite their best efforts to arrive on time and silence Hazel’s earlier concerns, they were late due to the bad weather and roadworks on London Road.

Paul, dressed in a tailored tuxedo, exuded an air of effortless sophistication, while the embellishments on Victoria’s cape gown caught the light with every step. The couple was a picture of high society elegance, and their arrival did not go unnoticed as whispers of admiration followed them as they glided through the crowd.

In the distance, Julia locked eyes with her brother-in-law, Paul, and the information supplied to her by the private investigator about his affair with Emma Blake suddenly flooded her mind. She fought the instinct to fly at him and have it out then and there. Instead, she curled her hands into fists and dug her nails into her palms.

Victoria’s smile was radiant, but her expression faltered when she spotted her mother, Hazel, across the room, and she let out a barely audible groan.

“Everything alright?” Paul asked with genuine concern as he placed a reassuring hand on the small of his wife’s back.

Victoria forced a familiar smile, the one that she had perfected after suffering through nearly five decades of Hazel’s soul crushingly high expectations, and patted her voluminous golden curls. “Just peachy,” she replied with a tone that her husband understood meant anything but. “Let’s make the most of it.”

“I’ll get us a drink,” Paul said, before kissing his wife on the cheek and weaving his way through the partygoers towards the bar.

Meanwhile, with a deep breath, Victoria straightened her shoulders and moved onwards through the crowd with her painted-on smile as she sought out Nick and Jasmine to offer her congratulations.

-:-

Tucked away in a corner and barely paying attention while Ed nattered on at him about the latest happenings in the US election, Mark’s eyes fixed upon his teenage daughter as she stood in the distance, whispering into James’ ear with an overfamiliar hand resting on his shoulder.

Mark had been reluctant to believe Judith’s warnings, but as he stood there, captivated by the overfamiliarity between his brother-in-law and his teenage daughter, he couldn’t ignore the sinking feeling that maybe she had been telling the truth and that there was a lot more to Natalie than he realised.

-:-

With a gin in hand, Julia sidled up to her brother-in-law, who was waiting for the bartender to take his order.

“Paul, so lovely to see you,” she said with her usual warm greeting, feigned smile, and smooth tone as her hand pressed gently against the small of his back.

“Julia.” Paul greeted her with a polite kiss on the cheek. “This looks fantastic!”

The blonde philanthropist looked around the ballroom and admired the spectacle. She was proud of her efforts, although Jasmine’s choice of floral decorations wasn’t exactly what she would’ve selected. “Thank you. That’s very kind of you to say.”

Paul smiled, oblivious to the storm brewing while the bartender approached. “A whisky sour and a Boulevardier, please.”

As she sipped her drink and watched her brother-in-law fire off the order he knew by heart, Julia’s demeanour shifted, and her eyes narrowed. “Actually, I’ve been meaning to talk to you,” she said with a hint of malevolence. “I found out something the other day that you might find interesting.”

His interest piqued; Paul looked back at Julia with a raised brow. “Oh, yeah? What was it?”

Julia felt the tension tighten around them, and she continued to press the palm of her hand against Paul’s back, providing him with no route of escape. She was like a spider with a fly in its web, and she was ready to inflict the fatal bite. “It’s impressive how well you’ve been hiding your affair with Emma Blake. I mean, the lengths you’ve gone to keep it under wraps are truly something.”

Paul’s face went pale, and his eyes widened with a flicker of panic. He gulped as a sudden sweat appeared on his brow. He looked around the room, struggling to maintain his composure, but Julia’s cruel edge remained.

“I just thought you should know that I’m very aware of what’s been going on,” she continued with a tight smile that left her brother-in-law with no doubt that his secret was out and that Julia could at any moment bring his perfect world crashing down around him. “I’ll keep your secret for now, but I think we need to have a little chat soon, don’t you?”

-:-

Victoria mingled effortlessly with the other guests, her wealth and charm making her a natural centre of attention. As her brother, James, tapped on a microphone to get everyone’s attention, Victoria looked around for Paul. With the hubbub dying down, she spotted her husband locked in what appeared to be a tense conversation with Julia. A frown settled over Victoria’s brow as she noticed how pale and panicked he appeared. With an almost evil smirk, Julia left Paul and headed towards the clearing where James was waiting for her, Ed, and Marion to join him to make their speeches. Paul looked worried, whereas Julia looked like the cat that had gotten the cream, and it caused an uneasiness to settle over Victoria.

-:-

In the guest bathroom, hidden behind a locked door, Lee lay sprawled out on the floor as his body convulsed and he gasped shallow, ragged breaths. His eyes rolled back in their sockets, and his limbs twitched with involuntarily movements, while his jerking head smacked heavily against the hard, cold tiles with sickening thuds.

-:-

As the guests formed a semicircle in preparation for the speeches, Natalie caught Judith’s eye. The raven-haired young woman smiled a wicked smile, raised a champagne flute, and mouthed the words “tick, tock,”  an ominous warning that the deadline was approaching for Judith to pay her last blackmail demand or Natalie would reveal all about Nick’s biological parents.

-:-

Accepting the microphone from James, Marion forced a smile as she looked out at the sea of faces staring back at her. She absolutely loathed public speaking and could feel herself beginning to perspire with nerves while her hands trembled slightly as she read a speech from a shaky sheet of paper. “Good evening, everyone. I’m Jasmine’s mother, Marion,” she began, her voice cracking slightly before taking a deep, calming inhale of breath. “Jasmine, my Jazzie Jaz, from the day you were born, you’ve brought immeasurable joy, happiness, and pride into our lives. Watching you grow into the remarkable woman you are today has been an absolute privilege and joy. You are truly remarkable, and words cannot express how proud your father and I are of you.”

A soft “aww” murmured through the guests, and Marion smiled. She looked to her daughter’s fiancé. “Nick, you’ve become a cherished part of our family, and we couldn’t be happier to welcome you officially into our fold. As you look forward to your future together, may your love continue to grow deeper and your bond remain strong through all of life’s adventures.”

Marion folded away her speech and raised a glass to make a toast that she had committed to memory. “Here’s to a lifetime filled with happiness, laughter, and love. Please join me in raising a glass to Jasmine and Nick!”

The guests raised their glasses and spoke in unison. “To Jasmine and Nick!”

As she passed the microphone to Ed, Marion forced a smile and tried hard not to baulk as her husband kissed her on the cheek, a show of affection she didn’t reciprocate.

“Please give it up for my beautiful wife, Marion. That was sensational, darling, truly.” While the guests applauded a clearly embarrassed Marion, Ed cleared his throat as he removed a short speech, scribbled on a piece of white card, from his pocket. As a barrister, Ed was accustomed to speaking in front of large groups of people and putting on a bit of a show. “I’ve been told that as the father of the bride-to-be, I’m supposed to impart some wisdom or offer sage advice tonight,” he began. “Well, I’ll do my best, but I’ll warn you, I’m better at dad jokes than deep philosophical insights!”

A chuckle rippled through Ed’s captive audience.

“Jaz, sweetheart,” Ed continued in his rich, deep voice, looking towards his daughter adoringly as she watched on with Nick by her side, “as your mother said, from the moment you came into our lives, you’ve brought us endless joy and more laughter than I can count.”

Another soft “aww” murmured through the guests, and Ed smiled, pleased that his showman efforts were being well received. “And Nick, welcome to the family! They say you don’t just marry the person but that you marry their family. How unfortunate for you.”

A heartier laugh moved through the guests.

“Nick, mate, I’ve learnt a thing or two over the years, and if there’s one piece of advice I can give you, it’s this: when Jaz says she’s right, just nod and smile because Jaz is always right. Even when she’s left, she’s right.”

The majority of the guests groaned with cringe-induced agony, while a few chuckled.

“Trust me, it’s the secret to a happy marriage. Oh, and speaking of secrets, wipe that word from your memory – now!”

Marion bristled at Ed’s comment. She caught Winnie’s eye, and a look of silent understanding and support passed between them.

Ed didn’t notice; he was too wrapped up in being the centre of attention to pick up on his wife’s uncomfortable shift. “But in all seriousness,” he continued, “seeing the two of you together fills my heart with pride. You complement each other better than anyone I know. May your life together be filled with as much laughter as we’ve shared tonight and as much love as you feel in this room right now.”

With the bulk of his speech given, Ed returned the card to his pocket and raised his glass. “So, let’s raise our glasses to Jaz and Nick. May your marriage be full of love, laughter, and plenty of dad jokes!”

The guests raised their glasses again. “To Jaz and Nick!”

“Thanks, Ed,” James said graciously as he accepted the microphone. “Tonight marks a significant moment in our family’s history as we come together to celebrate the engagement of my son, Nick, and his fiancée, Jasmine. It is with immense pride and joy that we witness the love and commitment they share and the promising future that lies ahead for them.”

While Natalie listened to James make his speech, Hazel stood to the side, watching the young beauty like a hawk. From the admiring look on Natalie’s face, Hazel was left with no doubt as to the level of her infatuation with James or how far their relationship had gone.

“Nick, from the day you were born, I have watched you grow into a remarkable young man,” James said, smiling with genuine affection at his son as his eyes begin to glisten with the first signs of tears from a drink too many. “Your strength of character, kindness, and determination have always been sources of pride for your mother and me. Seeing you find happiness with Jasmine fills our hearts with gratitude and happiness.” He turned his attention to his son’s beautiful fiancée. “Jasmine, as you prepare to join our family, I want to extend a warm welcome to you. Your presence in Nick’s life has brought him joy and fulfilment, and we are thrilled to have you as a part of our family.”

Marion felt Ed’s hand at the small of her back, and she automatically shifted, refusing to allow his touch to linger for a beat longer than a second. Ed turned his head slightly and looked at his wife, his hand falling free as he sensed the cracks in their marriage widening again.

James lifted a flute of champagne high into the air. “Please join me in raising our glasses to Nick and Jasmine and to the bright and beautiful future that awaits them.”

While the guests partook in another toast, Julia’s midnight blue Alexander McQueen gown shimmered in the light as she accepted the microphone from her husband and cast her royal smile across the partygoers. This was where Julia excelled – holding court on her terms with an adoring and devoted audience. “Tonight, as I stand before you in this beautiful setting of our home, surrounded by so many dear friends and family members, I find myself overcome with emotions of joy and gratitude,” she began with her usual clear and resonant voice. “Nicky, my darling son, from the moment you came into this world, you brought a light into our lives that has only grown brighter with each passing day. You have filled our hearts with pride and our home with laughter. Watching you grow into the remarkable man you are today has been the greatest gift a mother could ever hope for.”

Nick felt his cheeks flush, unaccustomed to such public adoration and emotion from his mother.

“And Jasmine,” Julia continued as she turned her attention to her son’s fiancée. “As I’ve come to know you more deeply over the years, my heart has swelled with admiration and affection for the woman who has captured my Nicky’s heart. Your kindness, intelligence, strength, and unwavering love for each other is truly inspiring. Tonight, I welcome you not just as Nicky’s fiancé, but as a cherished member of our family and as the daughter I never had.”

As the guests clapped, Marion fired Ed a short look. “Laying it on a bit thick, isn’t she?” She muttered through the gritted teeth of a plastered-on smile. Ed couldn’t help but agree.

“As you embark on this journey of marriage, may your bond continue to deepen with each passing moment, and may you always find solace and strength in each other’s arms.” Julia raised her glass. “To Nick and Jasmine. May your love story be as timeless as the stars, and may your hearts forever beat as one.”

“To Nick and Jasmine!” The guests raised their glasses in unison, echoing Julia’s toast with heartfelt cheers and applause.

As Nick and Jasmine shared a tender moment that sent the crowd into raptures of cheering and whooping, Julia’s gaze swept across the room with a satisfied smile. She resisted the urge to offer up a royal wave and instead smiled warmly at several faces she didn’t recognise but was determined to impress nonetheless. As her attentions turned towards the entrance, her smile soured at the sight of an unexpected figure standing in the doorway.

-:-

Jasmine stood beside Nick, her hand clasped in his as they listened to Julia’s kind words and good wishes. While the guests toasted to their future, she glanced at her fiancé.

Nick squeezed Jasmine’s hand gently and shot her a wink. “I love you,” he whispered softly before kissing her tenderly.

As the guests cheered and whooped, Nick’s phone vibrated with a sudden ping. Without thinking, he reached into his pocket and pulled it out, and his brow furrowed as he read the notification that appeared on the screen.

DNA MATCH: MOTHER

The world around Nick stopped. Having opened the app, he looked at his phone in stunned silence. The breath caught in his throat, and his mind raced trying to comprehend what he was reading.

Jasmine watched his expression change. “What is it?” she asked quietly, her smile dropping as she saw the pale look of shock spread across Nick’s chiselled features. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

Without a word, Nick handed the phone to Jasmine, and her eyes widened in surprise as she scanned the profile picture of the new village doctor and then read the words:

EMMA BLAKE – MOTHER

Mouth agape, Jasmine looked back at Nick, but his attention was elsewhere. She followed his eyeline to the entrance and, as a brilliant flash of lightning illuminated the ballroom, Jasmine saw Emma enter in a red sequined gown, accompanied by Ben Granger, as her eyes locked with Nick’s.

NEXT TIME…

• With the truth revealed, the explosive fallout changes lives forever.