The Slaters have seen their fair share of family rifts, but this week in EastEnders, a quietly emotional gesture could mark the beginning of a new chapter.

As Zoe continues to battle suspicion and fractured relationships, Kat takes it upon herself to surprise her estranged daughter with a deeply personal tribute, and Stacey is the one who helps bring it to life.

Kat enlists Stacey’s help to plant a memorial tree in honour of Zoe’s late daughter. Zoe, still grieving and keeping much of her past close to her chest, is unaware of the surprise, but the heartfelt act could be the first sign that old wounds are beginning to heal.

Since Zoe’s unexpected return to Walford, the Slaters have been treading carefully. Kat, Alfie and Stacey have all grown increasingly wary of her evasiveness. Every time the family asks about her life away from the Square, Zoe dodges the truth, and her evasions fuel their doubts even more.

Though she insists she’s done nothing wrong, Zoe’s cagey responses have raised more questions than answers. Her presence in the house has thrown the entire dynamic off-kilter, and with emotions running high, it’s been hard for anyone to know what to believe.

Adding to the tension is Sharon’s return to the Square. She sees Zoe back and shows her discomfort openly. Vicki and Zack feel thrilled to have her home, and Sharon decides to put the past behind her and be civil with Zoe. But after Vicki and Zoe get into a physical confrontation, that plan falls apart, and Sharon soon heads to The Vic to confront Zoe face-to-face.

The encounter between Sharon and Zoe is as fiery as expected. After a hostile exchange, Zoe responds with a bombshell revelation that leaves Sharon reeling. Sharon, unwilling to accept what she hears, lashes out, but Kat steps in, throwing both Sharon and Vicki out of The Vic in defence of her daughter.

Zoe is left even more isolated, bruised by the confrontation but unwilling or unable to open up. Later, Sharon vents her frustration to Ian and Kathy, who do their best to support her, though Ian, in particular, urges her not to trust a word Zoe says.

Meanwhile, Zoe’s altercation with Vicki earlier in the Square continues to have repercussions. The two women came to blows after Vicki, overwhelmed with her own issues, lashed out. Zack and Anthony step in to break things up, but the crossfire catches Zack.

Emotions fray and secrets fester as the Slater household teeters on the edge, but Kat, ever the matriarch, determines not to let it fall apart.

Determined to reach Zoe in a way that words can’t, Kat decides to plant a memorial tree to honour the daughter Zoe lost. It’s a deeply meaningful gesture, one rooted in empathy, and in Kat’s desire to show Zoe that, despite everything, she is not alone in her grief.

Kat turns to Stacey for help arranging the surprise. Stacey recognises the pain behind her cousin’s silence and agrees to help, knowing better than anyone the pain of grief.

Time will tell whether this gesture is enough to draw Zoe out of her shell. The truth about her time away from Walford still hangs over her, and with Sharon circling and Vicki still reeling, tensions remain close to boiling point.

Amid a week of anger and doubt, Stacey’s kindness and Kat’s outreach could change everything.