Nicola Mitchell’s world is spiraling—and she’s taking everyone down with her.

In EastEnders, the return of Nicola (played by Laura Doddington) has set off a volatile chain of events that threatens to explode in the heart of Albert Square. At the center of the storm? A buried secret, a fragile teenager, and a desperate father trying to connect with his son before it’s too late.

Zack Hudson (James Farrar) has been slowly inching toward the truth about his past. After a complicated run-in with Nicola, it’s becoming increasingly clear that there’s more than just old history between them—there’s blood. Fifteen years ago, a one-night stand may have produced a son neither of them has been honest about. That boy, Barney (Lewis Bridgeman), is beginning to piece things together himself.

But Nicola is clinging to control like her life depends on it—because it just might. When Barney accidentally exposed Sharon Watts’ (Letitia Dean) infidelity with her ex-husband Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp), it should have given Nicola the upper hand in her battle with ex-husband Teddy Mitchell (Roland Manookian). But instead, it opened a door to darker secrets.

Fearing that Zack could retaliate by exposing the truth about Barney’s paternity, Nicola takes drastic steps. She decides it’s time to lay all her cards on the table—or at least pretend to. She confesses to Zack that Teddy is not only dangerous but a killer. According to Nicola, he murdered their late son Harry’s girlfriend, Shireen, in a violent rage. And if Teddy finds out Zack is Barney’s real father, there’s no telling what he’ll do.

But the chilling truth is even worse than Nicola claims—because she was the one who killed Shireen. That secret has been buried—literally—for years, but it may not stay buried much longer. Upcoming episodes hint that the burial site will soon be disturbed, and Nicola’s carefully guarded lie could surface, dragging her into a criminal scandal that could destroy what’s left of her family.

Despite the web of deception, Zack has been trying to build a bond with Barney. He offers to train him at the gym, a clever excuse to spend time with his son without revealing the truth just yet. Barney, struggling with teenage insecurity and desperate to impress Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James), gladly accepts. He’s hoping that a physical transformation will catch her eye—and Zack’s guidance gives him hope.

But when Nicola finds out, she goes ballistic. To her, Zack’s involvement isn’t touching—it’s threatening. She sees him as a danger to the web of lies she’s spun, and she intends to cut him out before he pulls it all down.

That’s when she devises a twisted plan for revenge.

Calling on two local teens—Tommy Moon (Sonny Kendall) and Joel Marshall (Max Murray)—Nicola manipulates the situation to publicly humiliate Barney. She slyly tells them that Zack wants Barney to be “encouraged,” pushing them to show up at the Boxing Den under false pretenses.

Instead of support, Barney is met with cruelty. Tommy and Joel record videos of him training and laugh in his face. It’s a brutal moment that hits Barney where it hurts. Embarrassed, confused, and betrayed, he runs from the gym in tears, believing that Zack was in on the humiliation.

Zack, stunned and unaware of the setup, follows him—only to be met with Nicola’s cold, calculating stare. She’s waiting in the park, her expression a twisted mix of triumph and menace. She sees Zack with Barney, but instead of softening, her resolve hardens.

This is her warning shot. Stay away—or face consequences far worse than public embarrassment.

The terrifying truth is, Nicola is capable of anything. She’s already framed Teddy for murder, lied about Barney’s paternity, and manipulated teenagers into doing her dirty work. If she feels cornered, there’s no telling what her next move might be.

Is Zack in over his head? Is he gambling with his life just to form a connection with a son who doesn’t even know the truth?

The stakes are higher than ever. Nicola is a ticking time bomb with secrets that could blow apart the Mitchell family, the Hudsons, and everyone around them. As the burial ground stirs and old crimes threaten to come to light, Nicola may do whatever it takes to silence Zack—for good.

And with Barney stuck in the middle, the fallout could be devastating.

As tension rises in Albert Square, fans are left wondering: will Zack expose the truth before Nicola strikes again? Or will Nicola’s deadly grip on the past destroy them all?

One thing’s certain—nothing stays buried forever.