Return to Eden

Jake fishes Jilly out of the swimming pool and revives her while Anton locates the incriminating documents inside the house. Jake promises to Anton he can keep Jilly from reporting him to the police and sends him back to the office. That evening, Jake tells a frantic Jilly that Anton would have used the photos against them but he paid him to go away, sidestepping her suggestion he put Anton up to poisoning her. Jilly tries to use her pregnancy to get Jake to marry her. Returning to the office, Jake tells Anton he needs to leave town and of his dream of having a male heir — at which point Jilly will once again become expendable.

Jake meets with Stephanie in her hotel suite and turns over all of the evidence against Dennis. He tells her of Jilly's threat to terminate her pregnancy if they don't marry and offers Stephanie once last chance to be with him and once again she turns him down. Her refusal reignites Jake's desire to fight her for the company.

Jilly confronts Jake at Sanders Investments, accusing him of having no intention of marrying her but he informs her the plans are in place for a wedding in one week's time. Johnno and Stephanie's flirtations continue. Dennis goads Jilly at The Bistro, informing her that Jake gave the evidence against him to Stephanie — and that he did so in one last attempt for Stephanie's heart. In an effort to help Stephanie find her lost son, Johnno offers his encouragement and refers her to Sister Bernadette. They are observed by an unidentified man.

Still being observed, Johnno and Stephanie go to see Sister Bernadette who, although initially reluctant to help, vows to have the information on her son the next day. Jilly wants Jake to help her syphon funds out of the company before they inevitably lose it to Stephanie. Initially skeptical of the illegal scheme, Jake's interest is piqued by the idea of having not just a name but a fortune to pass on to his heir. Instead of following Jilly's plot and jetting off to start new lives in Rio, Jake wants to win big betting on the Melbourne Cup.

Sister Bernadette informs Stephanie that her child's file is missing from their records. Anton meets with a shadowy figure and turns over the missing file in exchange for a sizeable cash payment. While Jake and Jilly are marrried in a simple and rushed ceremony, Stephanie and Dan agree to a clean divorce with Dan refusing to accept her offer to pay off the debts he incurred fighting for her company.

Sarah confronts Angelo over his decision to go back to boxing. With a first fight already on the cards, Angelo leaves to begin training. Jessica informs Dan she's been granted an audition for an acting role on a new telemovie. The possible job in Sydney would delay Dan's return to his island medical practice. An emotional Sarah goes to Tom to unburden herself of her woes over Angelo's return to boxing. She admits to now realising she can't make her marriage work because of her feelings for him — the only person she will ever love. Sarah seeks out Angelo at the gym to tell him of her decision to leave him but lacks the courage to do so. Tom has no such reluctance forcing Sarah to break the news herself.

Jake is stunned by Jilly's appearance at the stables with a briefcase full of money — the company payroll which she has stolen from the office. Angelo confides in Dennis that his reaction to nearly hitting Tom at the gym brought back his past boxing demons and he can never fight again. Having decided to end things with Stephanie, Johnno leaves town. At Eden, Stephanie suggests to Jake they avoid a lawsuit and settle their grievance by putting everything on the line in the Melbourne Cup. They both have horses running... winner take all. Jake can't resist.

The unknown figure breaks into Stephanie's hotel suite as she sleeps and leaves behind a torn and defaced family photo on her pillow. Despite Jilly wanting him to call off the bet and escape to Rio, Jake is confident his horse can win the Melbourne Cup and he tells her to return the stolen payroll. Stephanie queries Dennis about the photo but he has no knowledge of its origin. Jake warns Jilly against tampering with Stephanie's horse.

Dennis asks Cassie for money to bet on the race wanting to set them up for their future — as husband and wife. The shadowy figure leaves the second half of the photo and the door of Tara's for Dennis to find.

Dan accepts a phone call from Jessica's agent and learns an American film director wants to screen test Jessica. The news coincides with Dan facing competition for partnership at the medical clinic. Dan's not eager to have another wife whose life is focussed on her career. Having packed her bags and gone to the airport, Jilly is prepared to go to Rio by herself when a mystery phone caller advises her to stay in Sydney to see Stephanie brought down. When Jilly returns to Eden, Jake threatens her life if she tries to leave again.

At Sanders Investments the next day, Stephanie advises Jilly that she's reacquired Eden and wants her out by race day and presents the formal terms of their bet for Jake to sign. At the stables, Dennis compares notes with Stephanie about the photos and catches Jilly in the process of trying to drug Stephanie's horse but she escapes on horseback.

Jilly offers Cassie $250,000 to help ensure Jake's horse wins but Cassie refuses the money despite it being a guarenteed payout for her and Dennis. The shadowy figure continues to follow Dennis. Dennis entrusts Cassie with placing his bet on the race and informs her of the secret stabling location of Stephanie's horse, Tara's Pride. Stephanie is not happy with the information leak and is justified in her concern as Cassie reports the location back to Jilly. The truck supposedly transporting Tara's Pride is intercepted by gun-wielding men who shoot up the truck. Tara's Pride however is actually in another trailer being driven away by Stephanie and Dennis. Stephanie invites Jake and Jilly to fly down to Melbourne on the company jet with her, Ahmal and Talitha. Dennis, Dan and Jessica join the group.

All parties assemble at the track to watch the race in eager anticipation. Tara's Pride falls to last early in the race with Revenge taking the lead much to Jake and Jilly's delight. Tara's Pride surges down the final stretch to win the race to the Harper party's joy. Back in Sydney a celebratory party is held at Eden while elsewhere Jilly fumes over Stephanie's victory. Stephanie offers Bill and Tom their jobs back at Harper Mining (keeping Tom and Sarah from moving to the USA). Stephanie learns Jessica has landed a role in a remake of On The Beach. With Dan departing for the island clinic, he and Stephanie say their goodbyes and part on amicable terms.

Drowning his sorrows, Angelo asks Dennis to help win back Sarah but Dennis says it is a futile effort. Cassie confesses to Dennis she lost all their money having bet everything on Jake's horse. Dennis accuses her of acting on a tip from Jilly and erupts in anger, storming off leaving Angelo and Cassie to comfort one another — both losers for getting involved with the Harper family.

Jilly drags Jake to the party at Eden under the guise of offering Stephanie her congratulations but she doesn't go empty handed. Stephanie advises Jessica she doesn't have to choose work over Dan, or vice versa, and Jessica decides to join Dan in going to the island but he doesn't want her to give up her career. Outside, Dennis is assaulted by the shadowy figure and knocked out. The man aims to see what Dennis is worth to Stephanie...

Jilly and Jake arrive at the party. Jilly feigns illness to get Stephanie alone and pulls a gun on her. Jilly finally informs Stephanie about the reason for Jake's strong desire to ruin her — he is the brother of her late husband, Greg Marsden. Jake attempts to disarm Jilly but her gun goes off in their brief struggle and he is shot, his blood spraying onto Stephanie. Stephanie disarms Jilly and Jake stumbles past her and falls down the stairs into the heart of party. With Jake lying dead at the foot of the staircase, Jilly appears and points the finger of blame at Stephanie. The stunned partygoers shift their gaze to Stephanie who now stands in shock at the top of the stairs holding the gun and covered in Jake's blood...

Dennis is being held captive, his bonds rigged to a grenade. His captor enters and reveals both his objective — to ransom him back to Stephanie for $1 million — and his identity — he is Dennis' half-brother and Stephanie's long-lost son, Chris. He releases Dennis knowing Stephanie is now in jail and after Dennis tells him that he stands to inherit millions as Ahmal's son.

Stephanie is in jail awaiting trial for Jake's murder when she is visited by Jilly. The pair are soon joined by Dennis, Chris and Detective Inspector Jennings. Dennis introduces Stephanie to her son, Chris, and reveals he was on the balcony outside the bedroom when Jake was shot — and he has the photos to prove it was Jilly who pulled the trigger. Jilly is taken into custody on the spot for questioning.

Stephanie and her two sons go for a walk in a park overlooking the harbour. Dennis informs Stephanie her family are waiting for her back at the house as Stephanie enjoys her new-found freedom, vowing to never let anyone take it from her again.