The aftermath of Zoe’s secret sends shockwaves in EastEnders as the Slaters reel

More drama lies ahead for the Slater clan (Picture: BBC)

Zoe Slater’s (Michelle Ryan) return continues to have a huge impact for the EastEnders residents next week.

The legend came back to Albert Square on Monday after two decades away, and it became immediately clear that she had gone through quite a lot during that time.

Having been lured into a reunion with mum Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) by her younger brother Tommy (Sonny Kendall), she made no secret of assuring that her stay would be brief.

Her only intention was to get some cash to fund a new start in Spain, and Tommy had promised her they could steal his dad Alfie’s (Shane Richie) credit card.

In reality, he’d actually seen that she was in desperate need of an intervention and hoped that Kat would be the one who would be able to make a breakthrough.

What did Kat say to Zoe?

Kat was eager to show how much her life had changed in the last 20 years, and how she had built a new life for herself after finally confessing to Zoe that she was her daughter.

Zoe is unable to let go of her past (Picture: BBC)

That was 2001, and although the women seemed to make amends, it is clear that Zoe still holds a lot of resentment towards that time in her life.

Kat said that she saw no reason for the animosity, and she considered herself a stronger woman and a survivor. She’d also learnt to stop hating herself for keeping quiet about being sexually abused by her uncle – which resulted in Zoe’s conception.

But for Zoe, she couldn’t look past the fact she ‘a product of rape’, referring to herself as a ‘monster’.

The scales fell from Kat’s eyes when Zoe said she wished she’d had an abortion.

A gunshot fires

As their argument escalated, and Zoe said that she couldn’t come back into the family fold because she had done something that would destroy them if they found out.

Zoe was reluctant to open up (Picture: BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron) She and Kat were in the firing line of the gunshot (Picture: BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)

Zoe charged off away from The Vic, and just as Kat went to stop her, a gunshot fired in their direction.

While both Kat and Zoe ran away from the scene, the latter then collapsed on Bridge Street and had blood pouring from her abdomen.

Alfie then brought the two into The Vic, carrying her almost lifeless body into the hallway. Anthony Trueman (Nicholas Bailey) rushed in to give some medical expertise, but for a moment, it seemed like it was too late.

A flashback to 2006 showed Zoe in hospital, giving birth to twins.

When she woke, she noticed that her baby girl – who was struggling to breathe – was nowhere to be seen. Zoe didn’t stick around to learn her fate and insisted that the boy be placed up for adoption.

In the present day, a frantic Kat sat waiting for news on her daughter’s condition, and noticed her phone starting to call.

Picking it up, she pleaded with the person on the other end to stay away, assuming that they were the one who shot her.

Max was revealed as a mystery face from her past (Picture: BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)

As the episode ended, we discovered the mystery caller was none other than Max Branning (Jake Wood).

Rumours flood around Walford

There’s one name on everybody’s lips next week – and of course, it’s Zoe.

The Slaters make a desperate attempt to find some normality and rebuild following the shooting, but there’s still a large shadow looming over the clan and a multitude of questions left unanswered.

As things start to look brighter, they’re met with a number of hurdles, and the drama continues.

Will we learn more about Zoe’s children, or perhaps her connection to Max will be exposed?

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