Lauren Beale (Jacqueline Jossa) has been left devastated in EastEnders.
It comes after husband Peter (Thomas Law) stumbled in on the latest of her secret meetings with Mark Fowler (Stephen Aaron-Sipple), and demanded answers.
As viewers know, for months, the pair have been fixing up stolen cars and then flogging them through the car lot. On a number of occasions, he’s tried to test her loyalty, and when their business relationship turned romantic, Lauren insisted that they must bring an end to it.
Mark immediately jumped into bed with another woman, Jack Branning’s (Scott Maslen) colleague Rita (Amy Matthews), in a bid to make her jealous. He even decided to stoke the fire further by showing Rita one of their stolen cars, infuriating Lauren.
While they bickered, Peter watched from afar and his interest was piqued.
Stephen Aaron-Sipple as Mark Fowler and Jacqueline Jossa as Lauren Beale. BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron
That night, when Lauren briefly returned home from work, he nosied at a number of intriguing texts on her phone and then followed her to The Boxing Den.
Lauren and Mark were almost in another passionate embrace, until Peter charged through the door and they withdrew.
In today’s episode, Lauren quickly tried to deflect Peter’s questions and said she’d come to meet Mark to talk about a car.
Peter insisted that she stop treating him “like an idiot”, and asked whether she’d been cheating.
With Mark jumping into defend Lauren, Peter ushered her home and asked her to be honest. Backed into a corner, she admitted that they’d been dealing in stolen cars.
Peter was disgusted to realise that she’d lied to him for months, saying that she’d “broken” their family.
She pleaded for his forgiveness – but they were interrupted by her dad Max Branning (Jake Wood) and his mum Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins).
They were equally as enraged, and said that Mark should stay well away from the car lot.
Thomas Law as Peter Beale. BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron
The revelation then caused friction between Max and Cindy, who each tried to defend their respective child.
Lauren was hopeful that, now her secret was out in the open, they’d be able to put everything behind them and move forward. However, Peter had already packed her bag and asked her to leave.
He said that if she cared about their family, she’d go and stay with cousin Penny Branning (Kitty Castledine).
Will Lauren ever be able to win Peter back?
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