Return to Eden

Stephanie Harper enjoys a relaxing swim with her husband, Dan Marshall, while renovators at Old Eden uncover a box of documents. Jilly Stewart is released from prison after serving her sentence for the attempted murder of Stephanie and the murder of Stephanie's then husband, Greg Marsden.

Lawyer Bill McMaster gathers Stephanie's family to reveal the contents of one of the found documents, Max Harper's Will, and reveals that Stephanie's father has left the entirety of his estate to Stephanie and her half-sister... Jilly. Stephanie hopes the two can make the most of the situation and finally make up but Jilly cannot put the past behind her so easily. Jilly tries to seduce Stephanie's son, Dennis, but he refuses her advances. In a further bid for attention, Jilly fakes a suicide attempt.

Stephanie learns from Bill that her company, Harper Mining, is the target of a takeover attempt by Jake Sanders, an ambitious yet mysterious English businessman. Stephanie offers Jilly a $5 million settlement to relinquish her stake in Max's estate but after reading the fine print which prohibits any further claim on Harper Mining, Jilly refuses to accept, telling Stephanie she wants nothing more than her sister's love and trust. However, Jilly seeks a different deal, one to takeover Harper Mining for herself — with Jake Sanders, who we learn is Greg Marsden's brother.

Stephanie encounters Jake Sanders while out riding. Jilly announces she is moving out of Eden after overhearing Dennis badmouthing her to Stephanie. Jilly reveals to Jake she intends to take down Dennis by setting him and Stephanie against one another. Jake makes an appearance at Harper Mining and offers to sell back his shares in the company but Stephanie refuses to make him rich and sends him on his way.

Jilly manipulates Philip, her ex-husband, into getting her friend, Olive, released early from prison intending to use her in her scheme to bring down Stephanie. Stephanie asks Dennis to make a decision about his future at Harper Mining when she sees him getting distracted by Angelo's boxing career. Working for Jake, Harper Mining employee Cassie agrees to dig up dirt on Dennis.

Stephanie gets her daughter, Sarah, a job at Tara's Fashion House. Dennis asks Dan to lend him $25,000 so he can buy into Angelo's boxing career but refuses Dan's reasonable terms. Dennis encounters Cassie at the office late at night where she is going through his personel file but he is there on his own neferious task — forging Joanna Randall's signature. Bill's son, Tom McMaster, returns from America after studying at Harvard and Stephanie offers him a job on the spot.

Jilly and Jake set up Dennis to get caught in a compromising position with a young woman but he creates a public spectacle in a nightclub all on his own. With Dennis on the ropes, Jake tries to reach an understanding with him the next morning but Stephanie's arrival puts a stop to that, although her insults only add to Jake's determination to bring down Harper Mining.

Jilly is upset with Jake for backing out of their deal to bring down Dennis. He states his focus now is entirely on Stephanie — both personally and professionally. Stephanie is haunted by dreams of her crocodile attack. Jilly meets with Olive to cash in her favour and gives her a gun to kill Stephanie. While Stephanie is out riding, she is shot at and is thrown from her horse.

Jake comes to Stephanie's aide after the shooting as Olive reports back to Jilly that the job is done. Awaking in hospital, Stephanie tells Dan someone is trying to kill her. Police arrive at Jilly's hotel room to question her but she has an alibi — she was with her ex husband, Philip Stewart. When the police go to see Philip to confirm her story, Jilly calls him and asks him to confirm to the police that they had breakfast together. He does.

Recovering at home, Stephanie receives a visit from Jilly who manages to become the one who needs comforting. Jake Sanders is next in line for the police. They come armed with a search warrant and recover photos of Stephanie and a handgun. At the gym, Dennis and Angelo's manager, Tony Taylor, agree on a deal for Dennis to buy into his friend's boxing career for $25,000.

At the Harper Mining board meeting there is disagreement on how to deal with Jake Sanders who already owns 18% of the company — just shy of the 20% he needs for a seat on the board. Tom suggests the "Pac-Man defense" and recommends the company go on the attack and start buying up Jake's investments. Stephanie endorses the idea and the board agrees. Outside the room, Cassie listens in, ready to report back to Jake.

A foal is delivered to Eden, a gift for Stephanie from Jake. Dan doesn't want to accept it but Stephanie overrules him. The Police return to Jake the photos and gun, which didn't match the bullet that killed Stephanie's horse. Despite the high cost of the corporate battle, Jake isn't ready to give up. At Tara's Fashion House, planning us underway for a fashion show when Tom brings news to Stephanie of an unknown expense account item authorised by Joanna's poorly forged signature. Dennis is still losing money at the track but Jake is on hand to give him a quick loan — and a winning tip.

Stephanie confronts Dennis about the money he stole from the company which he is now able to pay back thanks to Jake's tip. All parties converge at the fashion show where Dennis makes a drunken spectacle of himself on stage. Meanwhile, Olive orchestrates another attempt on Stephanie's life, having a crocodile delivered to the swimming pool at Eden.

After dancing with Jake at the fashion show the night before, Stephanie reassures Dan that their relationship is strickly professional. Stephanie narrowly escapes the snapping jaws of the crocodile in the pool before Dan, responding to her screams, shoots it. However, the traumatic experience gives Stephanie flashbacks to her previous attack.

Cassie tells Jake they've spent their last night together. In her view she's become expendable given his growing relationship with Stephanie. Jilly has no alibi for the most recent attack on Stephanie but despite her protestations, the police like her for the crime.

Dennis holds a press conference to address his temporary advancement into his mother's job. His actions don't sit well with Harper Mining General Manger Bill McMaster who vows to oppose him. Tom's eagerness to see Stephanie back at work doesn't sit well with Dennis yet he still suggests they work together to strengthen the company. Angelo is taken aback when his manager tells him to take a dive in his first professional fight and he's not given the option to refuse.

Dan brings a psychiatrist to see Stephanie at the house. Stephanie is convinced she is disfigured and confuses recent events with those of the attack at the hands of her former husband, Greg Marsden. Angelo's father opposes his son's boxing career, warning him no one is looking out for his well-being. They are interrupted by Tony Taylor and his goons who threaten the pair. Stephanie gathers the courage to face her demons pool-side but Jilly's arrival causes a relapse.

At Harper Mining, Dennis tries to fire Tom but Tom informs him his employment is based on a personal contract with his mother, not the company, and he's not leaving unless she tells him to. Jake arrives for a meeting with Dennis and boldly asks for the minutes from the last board meeting, informing Dennis he will have a seat on the board soon enough. Dennis has him thrown out of the building but their encounter leaves Dennis pensive.

Not content to rely on Angelo throwning the match, Tony tries to rig the fight by drugging his opponent. The arrival of Angelo's father spurs him on to victory despite a slow start. Unfortunately, his opponent in rushed to hospital with a severe brain injury which turns out to be fatal. Tom and Sarah's relationship continues to take shape and Stephanie continues to be haunted by visions of her disfigured face.

Stephanie goes missing but turns up at Tara's Fashion House having reverted to Tara Welles, the identity she assumed after the disfiguring first attack. Angelo is still reeling after the death of his opponent when Tony and his goons burst in seeking restitution. Dennis offers to make good on the debt but Angelo still cops a beating for not throwing the fight.

Jilly brings Stephanie back to Eden where Dan assures Sarah that her mother's recovery is his top priority. The board of Harper Mining votes against admitting Jake but he has a proposition of his own — to sell them his shares in the company. The price is high but Bill agrees in order to keep the shares off the open market. Tom and Sarah spend the day together but at a family dinner she feels shunned by his mother who reluctantly admits to Tom that she and his father don't think he should be seeing Sarah.

Detective Jennings reports to Dan the police are making little progress on the two attacks on Stephanie. Philips proposes marriage to Jilly. Tony pays Angelo another visit at his father's restaurant hoping to get him back into the ring but Angelo is adament his boxing career is over. Tony draws a gun but Vittorio chases him off with a shotgun.

Harper Mining stock prices tumble on word of Jake's share sale and he seizes the opportunity to buy back even more at the deflated price. Dennis is furious at Bill for his mismanagement of the company. Jilly's phychiatrist believes she made an unconscious decision to withdraw from reality and recommends treatment through hypnosis. Jilly is asked to sit in on the therapy session which ends in Stephanie attacking Jilly.

Jilly informs Jake of Stephanie's pending return to Harpers and wants assurace that she still has a place in his plans. Dan tries to get Stephanie to agree to a vacation but she is determined to stop Jake and won't take time off. Tony Taylor interupts Dennis' date with Cassie and threatens her life in order to get Dennis to convince Angelo to keep fighting. Dan receives news there will be a Coroner's inquest into the boxer's death and his role as the surgeon. Stephanie has a midnight meeting with Jake at Harper Mining. He informs her he's on the verge of getting his seat on the board and kisses her just as Dan walks into the room.

Dan storms out of Harper Mining as Jake enjoys having put Stephanie in a difficult situation. The following morning, Sarah finds Dan on the beach in a contemplative mood watching the sun rise and reflecting on his relationship with Stephanie. After the funeral for boxer Eddie King, Angelo speaks with the priest seeking advice on how to deal with Tony Taylor.

Stephanie heads up a meeting to discuss the direction of Harper Mining in light of Jake's stock manipulations and stresses the importance of a united front regardless of how they procede. In advance of their wedding, Philip gives Jilly half his shares in Harper Mining. Dan interupts Stephanie's meeting to discuss her kiss with Jake the previous night. Despite her protestations on innocence, Dan isn't convinced and a poorly-timed phone call from Jake only reinforces his doubts.

Cassie is frightened by a series of threatening phone calls. Inspector Jennings informs Dan that Eddie King was drugged before the fight and he was not responsible for the man's death. However, Stephanie's well-meaning words of support aren't well received by Dan. With the support of his friends, Angelo stands up to Tony Taylor and beats him up. Jilly and Philip are married at Eden and she promply runs into Jake's arms to deliver him her new Harper Mining shares. Outside, Tony's goons cut the break lines on Cassie's car. When she and Dennis leave the wedding her car careens out of control and only narrowly misses going into the water.

Dan tries to get Stephanie to go away with him but she is reluctant to leave the company in a time of crisis. It is a choice that could spell the end of their marriage. Tony's goons catch up with Antonio on the docks and force him to call Dennis. Dennis arrives and tries to negotiate for his friend only to join him inside a freezer. After giving the order to have the pair killed, Taylor turns to leave just as Inspector Jennings arrives and charges Tony with manslaughter for his role in Eddie King's death.

Cassie visits Jake to thank him for his behind-the-scenes role in stopping Tony. In return, he asks that she help him conceal the source of his new shares. Back at Harper Mining, Stephanie whisks into the office hoping to quickly deal with Jake before joining Dan at the airport. Her delay is the last straw for Dan who won't even accept a phone call from her before he departs alone. Jake arrives triumphantly at Harper Mining with a symbolic gift of 21 roses for Stephanie ⁸ one for each percent of her company he now owns.

With her company and personal life both in jeopardy of falling apart, Stephanie returns to Eden. Afraid of being caught hiding the source of Jake's shares, Cassie is having cold feet about working with Jake but he threatens to tell Dennis about their past if she doesn't cooperate. Jake invites Stephanie out to dinner, enticing her with the prospect of finding out where his shares came from. Dennis is eager to dig up some dirt on Jake to learn his secrets and receives Stephanie's endorsement. Having encouraged Stephanie to go after Dan, Jilly drives her sister to the airport and hears of Jake's intension to tell Stephanie about his shares.

Bill and his wife, Rena, agonise over revealing a long-held secret to Stephanie — that Tom and Sarah are brother and sister. Jake's glowing opinion of Stephanie causes Jilly to tell him about her sister's dark past, namely having a child when she was 18 — a child she was told died after she was sent oversees following the child's birth.

Tom wants Cassie's help to go through the company's share transaction records to learn where Jake got his shares. Cassie offers to do the work herself and destroys the last remaining paper records. Jake gives notice to the board to he intends to call a meeting to hold a no-confidence vote against Stephanie. Jilly asks her ex-convict friend, Olive, to track down proof of the birth of Stephanie's first child. Dennis finds Cassie crying in the office and she begins to confess her stock obfuscations when Jake interupts them. All of Bill's attempts to contact Stephanie to tell her about Tom and Sarah fail and their relationship progresses...

Dennis contacts Stephanie to tell her about Jake's attempt to take over her company. She hopes to chair the meeting over the phone but the line goes dead — cut but Olive. Bill tries to stall for time but the vote goes ahead. The no-confidence motion passes by a narrow margin and Jake is subsequently voted in as the new chairman of Harper Mining. Dan and Stephanie rush to their boat to get to another phone but a cut fuel line leads to the boat exploding with Dan onboard.

While Dennis and Sarah search for the wreakage of their mother's boat, Jake breaks the news of the accident to Jilly and accuses her of organising it. Even Philip has his suspicions about his wife's involvement.

Anton chides Jake about his obsession with Stephanie. Jake acknowledges his feeling for her could stop him from fulfilling his promise to his dead brother. Not getting answers from Tom about the status of his relationship with Sarah, Bill forbids his son from seeing her but Tom refuses. With hope running out, Dennis locates his mother washed up on a beach.

Despite Stephanie's safe return, Jilly is confident she and Jake have already defeated her and Jilly sets her eyes on controlling Tara's Fashion House — Stephanie's pride and joy. With Dan still missing, Stephanie regrets her fight to keep Harper Mining if it ultimately costs Dan his life.

Cassie's inability to uncover the source of Jake's shares causes Bill to accuse her of working with Jake to cover his tracks and he fires her. Cassie drowns her sorrows at the bar where Angelo encourages her to go down swinging. Cassie threatens to expose how Jilly has been working against Stephanie by helping Jake. Olive witnesses the exchange and offers to 'take care of' Cassie and admits she played no role in the boat explosion. Olive informs Jilly she has discovered that Stephanie's son is still alive.

Jilly goes to Bill offering to take over Tara's but when Bill refuses, Jilly reveals that she knows Stephanie's child is still alive. Bill resigns from Harper Mining placing the blame squarely on Jilly. Stephanie is supportive of Sarah's relationship with Tom and advises her not to waste a moment. Stephanie comes to terms with Dan being gone for good when footprints in the sand lead her to her husband lying unconscious on the beach.

Back at Eden, Dan is recovering and Stephanie is resigned to having lost Harper Mining. Jake offers Cassie the job of running Tara's in front of Dennis and Jilly who responds by exposing Cassie's relationship with Jake causing Dennis to storm off. Bill arrives at Eden to finally tell Stephanie the truth about her child. However, he is stopped by the arrival of Sarah and Tom who announce their engagement. The shock of the news causes Tom to have a heart attack but he musters his strength and manages to a tell a shocked Stephanie that Tom is her long-lost son.

Bill is rushed to hospital and placed in Intensive Care as Tom and Sarah struggle to come to terms with their new relationship status. Bill gives Stephanie a full explanation of her father's deception and explains how he put Tom up for adoption before he and Rena subsequently adopted him themselves to help ease their guilt.

Jilly enjoys telling Jake about Stephanie and Tom but he's not interested in the gossip and tells her not to leak the story to the press. In exchange, Jilly wants her shares back and Cassie out of Tara's. Jake returns the shares, having got what he needed out of them, but he won't get rid of Cassie.

Stephanie accuses Jilly of helping Jake citing how everything in her life has been going wrong since the day Jilly got out of prison. Jilly denies the allegation and blames Cassie for having gone behind her back to transfer her shares to Jake. Philip returns from Hong Kong and wants to know where Jilly's been while he's been away. She refuses to answer and storms out prompting Philip to call Cassie to arrange a meeting to discuss a note she sent him.

Stephanie confronts Jake in her old office at Harper Mining and vows to have him removed from the board. When she rebuffs his offer to work together, he shifts focus to getting her out of the company all together. Still recovering in hospital, Bill signs over his Harper voting rights to Tom. Cassie presents Philip with the original records of Jilly's stock transfer to Jake.

Stephanie pays a visit to Sheik Ahmal, a long-time friend and business partner, to tell him about her struggle to maintain control of Harper Mining. In light of Cassie's revelation, a drunken Philip demands the truth from Jilly who again storms out. Stephanie vows to be more careful with Jilly but Dan is upset by her unwillingness to simply walk away from the company.

Jake informs Stephanie that he'll be asking for her to be removed from the board of directors and she counters by telling him she intends to asks for a full inquiry from the stock exchange into how he obtained Jilly's shares. At the board meeting, Tom backs Stephanie but Dennis surprisingly votes against his mother, citing Tom as the reason, ousting Stephanie from her own company.

Jake and Jilly celebrate in his office but Philip eavesdrops and overhears Jilly admit to her misdeeds. Philip makess an audio recording for Stephanie warning her about her sister before taking his own life. Stephanie informs Sheik Ahmal that he is Tom's father.

Jilly returns home and discovers Philip dead inside his fume-filled car in their garage. Stephanie insists her sister stay at Eden where Jilly's first concern is to retrieve the package Philip sent to Stephanie, resorting to a dramatic breakdown to distract Stephanie from her mail. Jake offers Dennis the job of General Manager of Harper Mining.

While Jilly listens to Philip's audio tape warning Stephanie about her, Dan and Stephanie speculate about the reason for Philip's suicide concluding it was because Jilly was having an affair. Stephanie refuses to give up on her family, including Jilly, who buries the audio cassette with her dead husband.

Jilly is shocked to encounter Jessica, Philip's neice, who has a copy of Philip's recording, sent to her by Philip as insurance. Jessica asks Jilly to be "taken under her wing". Stephanie introduces Tom to his father, Sheik Ahmal, but Tom doesn't believe Stephanie is actually his mother when she recalls her child having blue eyes when he was born — his are brown.

Stephanie meets with Jake at Harper Mining where Jake offers her a 50-50 partnership in the company — in exchange for her. Stephanie rejects the offer outright — the last one Jake says he'll make. Stephanie visits Bill in hospital and tells him she is resigned to losing Harper Mining but Bill shows her a way to get it back. Sheik Ahmal refuses to deal with Jake prompting him to call Jilly to get her help to win him over. Stephanie hosts a family dinner where she tries to rally the family.

Sheik Ahmal has dinner with Jilly and he tells her he intends to convince Stephanie to fight for her company. Stephanie tells her family about Bill's scheme to buy back the company but has decided no to go forward with it. Jessica blames Jilly for the disfiguring burns she suffered while Jilly was babysitting her as a child. Tom goes to his hospitalised father for help in finding out the truth about his past.

Sheik Ahmal offers to buy back Harper Mining back for Stephanie. Stephanie's refusal to accept his help results in a passionate plee from Ahmal encouraging her to fight for her company. Stephanie heads straight to Jake to tell him of her intentions to buy back Harper Mining and make it a private company — regardless of the cost.

Dan challenges Stephanie on her efforts to reunite the family, skeptical she's not just doing it to further her efforts to retake Harper Mining. Stephanie informs Dennis and Sarah that she's mortgaged everything and wants to purchase their shares to ensure their financial safety should her takeover plan not work out but Sarah and Dennis both agree to give her their shares. Still in hospital, Bill also turns over his shares and warns Stephanie about Jilly.

Stephanie laughs off the marriage proposal Jake makes prior to a joint television appearance during which she publicly embarasses him by revealing the backstage proposal. Tom tells Sarah he's going to Old Eden to search for information on Stephanie's child and she gives him the name of their old housekeeper. Cassie offers to help Stephanie after seeing her take down Jake on tv. Angelo asks Cassie out on a date.

Stephanie and Dan's latest fight ends with her admitting the importance of Ahmal's advice in deciding to fight for her company. After seeing Stephanie and Ahmal out for dinner together, Jilly correctly assumes they have a past together and rushes to inform Jake that Ahmal is Tom's father but Jake refuses to use the information to his advantage. Jilly then overhears Jake talking with his lawyer about Dennis' investigation into him and realises there may be more to Jake than she thought.

Jilly informs Dan that Ahmal is Tom's father but insists there is nothing more to their relationship now. Tom meets with Katey Basklaine, the Harper's old housekeeper, who puts Tom on to the nuns at the convent he was adopted from. Sarah tries to reassure Jessica about her appearance and refers her to Dan who is sure he can help with her scars.

Dennis meets with his private investigator who presents him with his initial report on Jake. Jilly is through the PI's door immediately afterwards to obtain the information as well — despite Jake's lawyer having payed him to keep quiet. Jilly tasks Olive with finding out the significance of a certain cemetary Jake visits.

Stephanie gains the support of the company's workers and buys back their shares thereby acquiring over 51% of the company. Olive observes Jake at the cemetary visiting his brother's grave. With Stephanie back in control of the company, Ahmal prepares to leave town but first declares his love for Stephanie.

Stephanie marches into Jake's office at Harper Mining wanting it back. He insists he has genuine feelings for her and proposes yet again, and again it falls on deaf ears. Before leaving, Jake drops a bombshell, revealing to Stephanie that he's placed the company in liquidation and transfered all of its assets to Sanders Investments, his own company.

Having lost Harper Mining once again, Stephanie is forced to sell Eden yet refuses to turn to Ahmal for help. Jilly enjoys her sister's misfortune. Dennis seeks Tom's help to buy back Eden for his mother. Tom offers what money he can but is leaving for Queensland to continue his quest to prove he is not Stephanie's son. After Olive reports to Jilly that Jake is Greg Sanders' brother, Jilly goes on the offensive and blackmails Jake into giving her a seat on the Harper board.

Tom's search takes him to a convent where his inquiries strike home. Sister Bernadette informs her brother, John Ryan, that Tom is closing in on the truth that he is Tom's father but John wants no part in a meeting and leaves town. Sheik Ahmal suggests to Dan and Stephanie that they purchase Eden with his money when it goes up for auction. Dan refuses the offer outright at which point Stephanie informs Ahmal that Dan knows he is Tom's father. However, Dan agrees to help Dennis make an offer on Eden.

The convent sisters confess to Tom that he is not Stephanie Harper's son but he declines to know the identity of his true father (his mother has died). The Eden auction ends prematurely when it is announced a private sale has been organised with the new owner — Jilly. Tom's father, John, begins observing the Harper family. Ahmal declares his love for Stephanie but the pair are spotted mid embrace by Dan who goes to Angelo's bar to drown his sorrows.

Olive and Jilly catch Dennis trying to burn down Eden. Rather than calling the police, Jilly calls Stephanie and confesses everything she has done to ruin her since getting out of prison and blames Stephanie for all of it. Jilly meets up with an intoxicated Dan at the Bistro and takes him back to her place. After tracking Dan to Jilly's place, Stephanie arrives and finds them in bed together, a scene carefully orchestrated by Jilly. Despondent, Stephanie drives off into the night followed by John Ryan. As dawn breaks, John watches as Stephanie stops at a secluded beach, undresses, and walks into the ocean, disappearing into the crashing waves...

Dan's search for Stephanie takes him to Eden where Jilly is moving in. It is there that a phone call from the police alerts Dan to Stephanie's reported drowning after her belongings were found on the beach. With her sister dead, Jilly calls an end to her deal with Olive. Jessica blames Jilly for Stephanie's death before Jilly faces the press who question her about the rumours surrounding her adversarial relationship with her sister. Jake arrives hot on the press' heels to confront Jilly for playing a role in Stephanie deciding to take her own life. Jilly's admission to getting Dan into her bed prompts a violent response from Jake but a gun-wielding Olive intervenes.

Stranded and out of communication in the outback after his car breaks down, Tom purchases an old car to continue his trip home. Sarah struggles to understand her mother's decision and finds comfort from Angelo. Jilly informs Dan that Stephanie saw the two of them in bed the night before and died believing the two were having an affair.

Jilly threatens Jake with legal action over his assault and blackmails him into giving her a seat on the company's board of directors. Dan confesses to Sarah his role in driving Stephanie to her death. However, on another beach, Stephanie rouses after her "rescue" which amounted to her pulling her would-be rescuer, John Ryan, out of the ocean. She denies ever intending to kill herself and the pair set off on foot.

Believing Stephanie to be dead, Jilly demands Philip's inciminating audio cassette from Jessica who threatens to take it to the police. Olive makes a fiery threat of her own to obtain the tape. While trekking through the bush, Stephanie tells John about her financial woes and he suggests there could be a benefit to her in staying dead. Driving back to the city, Tom loses control of his car and crashes.

Dan angrily confronts Jake at Harper Mining for his role in Stephanie's suicide but Jake reveals to him how Jilly manipulated him into bed. As two men who both loved Stephanie, they vow vergenace on Jilly but Dennis calms Dan down to keep him from doing anything drastic. Olive presents Jilly with Jessica's audio cassette but Jilly still pushes Olive out of her life, deciding to replace her with a new butler.

After Tom is picked up by an ambulance team, Rena informs Dan of the news that Tom will need emergency surgery and asks Dan to do it. Stephanie and John stumble upon a telephone and John tells to Stephanie to remain "dead". As she makes her call she reflects on recent events and decides to do so... at least for now. Sarah blames Tom's accident on him not being willing to accept the "truth" about Stephanie being her mother. Jilly welcomes her new butler, Michael, and agrees to let Cassie stay on at Eden. Spurned, Olive turns her dark hand to Jilly, slipping a snake into her breakfast tray.

Jilly accuses Jessica of putting the snake in her breakfast then calls the police but fails to convince them someone is trying to kill her. Olive asks the now frightened Jilly for a second chance and receives it. Sarah is at Tom's hospital bedside but before he can regain consciousness and tell her the truth about them not being related, his condition deteriorates and he slips in to a coma.

Stephanie seeks out Dave Welles, the man who found her and nursed her back to health after the crocodile attack. Jilly asks Jake for the job of General Manger of Harper Mining and gets it by blackmailing him using a signed statement by Olive falsely accusing him of being behind Olive's two attempts on Stephanie's life. To combat Jilly, Jake plans to make her fall in love with him. Jilly throws her weight around at work to keep Dennis in line and fires Hilary.

Angelo questions Sarah about her feelings for him given Tom's status and asks her to marry him. Jake invites Jilly out for dinner and turns on the charm before the pair go back to Eden where he ends the evening early. Olive orchestrates another snake attack on Jilly, this time in her bed. Jessica rescues Jilly and captures the snake but when the police arrive, Jessica denies seeing the snake. Jilly throws her out of Eden and she moves in with Dan, Sarah and Dennis.

Jilly crashes Stephanie's memorial service. Jake continues his charm offensive by giving Jilly the deed to Tara's. Dave finds John going through his opals and warns him against trying to take advantage of Stephanie.

As the new owner, Jilly marches into Tara's where Cassie promptly resigns only to be talked into staying by Jilly who needs help running the business. In a fight over Dennis' affections, Jilly sets Cassie against Jessica, getting her to reveal Jessica's scars to Dennis and Sarah during a dress fitting causing Jessica to flee in tears. Sarah reveals to Dan that she is pregnant by Tom who she still believes to be her brother.

Stephanie is beginning to settle in with Dave at his camp in the bush. Jessica is in hospital where Dan will operate to fix her scars. In a reflective mood in advance of the procedure, Dan blames himself for helping heal Stephanie which be believes started a chain of events that lead to her death. With Angelo still awaiting an answer to his proposal, Jessica admits to him they can have no future together because she is carrying Tom's child.

John shocks Stephanie by revealing that Tom McMaster is his son and not hers. Jake tells Jilly he won't stay the night with her as long as Olive is around. Olive overhears and cautions Jilly that she still needs protection but Jilly warns her not to tell her what to do, reminding her that she still has the sworn affidavit she signed admitting Jake paid her to try to kill Stephanie. Olive threatens to take her down with her if she is sent back to prison and Jilly reveals she knows it was Olive who was behind the snake attacks.

With Tom not being hers, Stephanie wonders what became of her son. Despite needing to inform her family of the truth, Stephanie decides against to returning to Sydney with John. Sarah accepts Angelo's marriage proposal after he decides he can raise her and Tom's child as his own. After her surgery, Jessica admits to having feelings for Dan. Jilly invites Jessica to move back to Eden but Jessica isn't sympathetic to her loneliness. Jake shares his skepicism about Stephanie's death with Dennis.

Returning from a supply run to town, Dave informs Stephanie about Sarah's pending wedding but she thinks she is marrying Tom after having learned they aren't brother and sister. Commiserating over the influence Jack and Jilly are having over their lives, Dennis suggests to Cassie they work together to bring them down. Sarah confronts Dennis about leaking news of her engagement to the press prompting Dennis to reveal he did it in hopes of luring their mother out of hiding. Jilly offers Eden as a venue for Sarah's wedding but Sarah won't commit.

Dave and Stephanie are in a boating accident and are thrown overboard. Dave is injured forcing Stephanie to swim through croc-infested waters to retrieve the boat. Only after getting back to his camp does he reveals there were no crocs in the river but she overcame her fears. Dave demands to be taken to hospital so Stephanie will have no reason to stay. Sarah is surprised to learn Jilly has already sent out invitations for her wedding at Eden but refuses to make an issue of it. Jake startles Jilly with a marriage proposal of his own.

Dave gives Stephanie a parting gift of a pouch of opals, which she promises to treat as a loan, and the leases for his land. Back in Sydney with John, Stephanie wants to go to her daughter's wedding but John warns her it is too risky. Sarah tells a still coma ridden Tom about her wedding but departs as he begins to come out of the coma. Awake, Tom tells Bill he learned Sarah is not his sister. Bill confirms the truth with a phone call to the nuns and Tom sends him to stop the wedding.

Stephanie arrives at the wedding disguised as an old woman and looks on from the shadows, surprised to see it is Angelo Sarah is marrying. Bill arrives too late to stop the wedding. Cassie apologises to Jessica for revealing her scars and spirits Dennis away to discuss his plan to bring down Jake. Stephanie leaves a ring for Sarah which she finds. Stephanie departs for Bahrain to take Ahmal up on his offer of help.

Stephanie is hiding out with Ahmal in Bahrain but despite his attempts to talk her into staying and building a life with him, she knows she has to return home. Jilly nearly catches Jake in bed with his new receptionist, Gayle. At dinner, Jake reveals to Jilly he was wrong to have pursued Stephanie romantically and only did so due to her position at Harper Mining. Stephanie convinces Ahmal to let his sister, Princess Talitha, accompany them on their return to Australia.

Dennis intends to take Jake through the courts to get his mother's company back and needs Cassie's help to embezzle the funds. To shore up Sanders Investments' finances, Jake's lawyer suggests he seek out BIll McMaster who may be open to a job offer after his son's accident. While enjoying their honeymoon, Angelo and Sarah speculate about finding her mother's ring and Sarah wonders if, like Dennis believes, Stephanie could still be alive. John disguises himself as an orderly to see Tom in hospital.

Jake offers Bill McMaster a job at Sanders Investments as a business consultant to help keep the company afloat. Dennis and Cassie make a late-night visit to Sanders Investments where they begin pulling money out of the company. Bill talks to Dan about Jake's job offer and decides to accept so he can find proof that Jake took over the company illegally. Dan is not ready to open his heart to Jessica.

Stephanie returns to Australia disguised as Princess Talitha (and she as her travelling companion). John is on hand to meet her at the airport and she reveals her disguise. The group take over a floor of the same hotel where Jake is staying. To protect Stephanie's ruse, John asks Ahmal not to let her know that Tom is in hospital and that Sarah doesn't yet know the truth about her and Tom.

Stephanie (as Talitha) and Ahmla meet with Jake, Jilly and Bill for dinner. Ahmal has a new lucrative business deal for Sanders Investments while Stephanie is shocked to learn that Jake and Jilly are engaged. Olive is irked at being turfed out of Eden so Tilitha can move in. Stephanie is upset to see Dan kiss Jessica and is comforted by Ahmal.

Jake tasks Jilly with finding out from Talitha why Ahmla wants to purchase a large tract of land. Jake catches Olive trying to put a snake in Jilly's shower. He throws Olive in the shower with the snake but ignores her pleas for help, not believing her that the snake is poisonous. Jake yells after Jilly to show her Olive's crime but when he opens the shower door, Olive is dead.

Jilly panics while Jake devises a plan to dispose of Olive's body. Jake and Jilly take Olive's body to his boat but they are unknowingly photographed by Cassie who observes them from her office window. Cassie then joins Dennis for another late-night visit to Sanders Investments where she tries to talk him into abandoning his scheme and running away with her. Returning to Eden, Jake reiterates his comittment to Jilly who is haunted by nightmares but Jake comforts her, cementing her feelings and trust for him. They set a wedding date for one month's time.

Jilly and Jake prepare for the arrival of Princess Talitha and continue to speculate about Ahmal's reasons for wanting to buy land in the Northern Territory. Stephanie (as Princess Talitah) moves in to Eden with John Ryan posing as her bodyguard/interpreter. Bill begins working at Sanders Investments searching for a reason for the company's drop in profits. Jilly gives Talitha and John a tour of Tara's where Cassie takes the opportunity to show Jilly her incriminating photos.

Jessica admits to Dan she is jealous about how he loved Stephanie. Stephanie laments having lost Dan to Jessica but believes their relationship was likely over anyway. Jilly interupts Jake's meeting with Ahmal at Sanders Investments to tell him about Cassie's blackmail scheme but Jake is not concerned, believing he can solve the problem with his charm. With Jake out of the room, Bill shares his concerns with Ahmal about his land purchase. Ahmal refuses to go into details about the deal but promises to explain everything at secret meeting at the stables.

Dan welcomes Angelo and Sarah back from their honeymoon and offers them a place to stay with him and Jessica (Dennis having moved out due to their relationship). Bill brings Sarah to see Tom at the hospital. Given her recent marriage, Tom doesn't divulge the truth about their relationship.

When Jake visits Cassie at Tara's, she threatens to take her photos to the police and asks for half of the business. While Jilly fumes at the prospect of losing Tara's, Jake is focussed on studying Ahmal's land deal and chastises Jilly for not keeping closer tabs on Talitha, believing he can do a better job.

Sarah asks Dan if she can avoid telling Tom about the baby and he agrees, not wanting to put Tom under more stress. Dan confesses to Sarah he's involved with Jessica. Sarah already knew Jessica had feelings for Dan but is surprised, but accepting, to learn he's in love with her too. Bill arrives to meet Ahmal at the stables but is instead brought by John to meet Princess Talitha who reveals herself as Sephanie. Jake arrives soon after and sees Bill with the unveiled Stephanie.

Bill and John run interference at the stables allowing Stephanie to flee from Jake. Stephanie arrives back at Eden where she is able to trade places with the real Princess Talitha who then unveils herself to Jilly. However, Jake remains adamant about Stephanie being alive. Ahmal is outraged at his sister's treatment. He cancels all business dealings with Jake and moves the princess out of Eden. Jilly accuses Jake of wanting Stephanie to be alive because he is still in love with her and throws him out.

Dennis sees Sarah wearing her mother's ring and is sure it is proof their mother is still alive but is keeping a low profile to better strike back at Jake. They agree to tell no one, including Dan. Jake starts an in-depth investigation on Sheik Ahmal and his relationship with Bill. Knowing her mother could still be alive, Sarah is less comfortable with Dan's relationship with Jessica.

Stephanie explain Ahmal's land deal to Bill — Ahmal wanted to make Jake curious about why he was willing to pay such a high price for the land with Stephanie (as Talitha) then letting slip to Jilly that there was oil on the land. They hoped Jake would then buy the land out from under them allowing Stephanie to use those funds to fight for her company. Bill tells Stephanie about the survey report he wrote on the land which reveals it to be worthless. The reports sits unread on Jake's desk and Stephanie asks him to retrieve it.

Bill sneaks into Sanders Investments to recover the report only to walk in on Jake and Gayle. Bill covers by saying he wanted to discuss the day's events and retrieves the report. At the stables, Jake offers Jilly the horse he previously gave to Stephanie. They encounter Dan and Jessica and Jilly can't resists making barbed remarks about their relationship.

Jilly still wants to know what was behind Ahmal's land deal but Jake is prepared to cut his loses and move on so Jilly decides to target Ahmal directly. Bill encourages Jake to win back Ahmal's trust given his importance to their international reputation. Bill informs Jake about a thief who is steeling from the company. Ignoring his business problems, Jack orders Bill be followed believing he'll lead him to Stephanie.

Cassie confesses to Sarah that she and Dennis have stolen gold bullion from Sanders Investments and intend to sell it on the black market. Disillussioned after realising Dennis was just using her and had no true feelings for her, Cassie pulls out of the scam but is concerned about Dennis' ability to continue on his own without getting caught.

Out of hospital, Tom tells Dennis he intends to return to the USA, but asks him not to tells Sarah. He also reveals to Dennis BIll's efforts to catch a thief in the company. John puts his "plan B' into effect and goes to Jilly offering to work for her, using the lure of informing her about Ahmal's land deal. Jilly takes the prized information back to Jake who is skeptical about the information and warns Jilly about acting on it. Stephanie gives Bill a fake survey report that shows there is oil on the land and he delivers the report to Jilly.

Sarah cautions Dennis about his gold scam but he reassures his sister he's doing it to get the money to help their mother in her fight against Jake. Angelo reveals to Sarah that Tom is planning to leave the country. After sleeping together, Jilly agrees to give John a share of the land when she purchases it. Jilly mortgages everything she owns to raise the money to purchase the land and invites Cassie to go in for 5%. Jake is perturbed at her decision while Jilly relishes the thought of taking the company out from under him as well.

Ignoring Dan's advice, and going against Angelo's wishes, Sarah chases Tom to the airport to inform him that he is the father of her unborn child. In light of the revelation, Tom reveals that they are not siblings. Not believing this news, an emotional Sarah turns her back to rush away but trips over a luggage cart and collapses to the floor.

Sarah is rushed to hospital by ambulance after her fall at the airport. Jake tries to convince Jilly that the land is worthless but she refuses to listen to him or his claims that Stephanie is still alive and behind the whole scheme. Jilly needs a futher $20 million to purchase the land and is encouraged by Cassie, whose stake in Tara's is tied up in the deal, to capitalise on her role at Sanders Investments to get the funds.

Jake leaks an overly dire story to the press about Sarah's hospitalisation in hopes of luring Stephanie out of hiding. As expected, Stephanie rushes to her daughter's bedside well aware she could be walking into a trap. Ahmal learns the truth about Sarah's condition and John rushes after Stephanie to stop her. Entering the hospital disguised as a doctor, John sees Jake and Jilly waiting outside and helps Stephanie get safely out of the hospital so when Jake and Jilly burst into Sarah's hospital room, Stephanie is no where to be found.

Jilly fails to convince Jake to take a vacation to clear his mind. Having accepted the truth, Sarah breaks the news to Angelo that Tom is not her half-brother, and that she still loves him, but Angelo refuses to give up on their relationship. At Sanders Investments, Bill takes Dennis aside and accuses him of being behind the thefts from the company but Dennis denies it. When Bill tells him Jake's ruthless layer, Anton, is taking over the investigation, a panicked Dennis goes to Cassie for help covering his tracks.

Jilly sends Ahmal and Tilitha an invitation to a Middle East meets West themed fashion show at Tara's with them as the guests of honour. Stephanie goes in Talitha's place with Ahmal for drinks with Dan and Jessica beforehand. Stephanie is taken aback to hear from Dan that he and Jessica will be married when the time is right and nearly gives herself away.

After Anton discovered Dennis to be behind the gold theft, Jake decides to not go to the police with the information and instead confronts Dennis directly as he is retrieving the stolen gold. At Sanders Investments, Jilly gets her hands on the company cheque book to obtain the extra $20 million. Johnno and Ahmal try to convince a despondant Stephanie that she can still win Dan back, reminding her that with Jilly on the verge of buying the land, sje will soon have all the money she needs to get her company back.

Jake shows up at Ahmal's hotel with Dennis demanding to see Stephanie. Met with more denials, Jake tells John to inform Stephanie that she must meet him at Tara's or he'll turn Dennis in to the police. At the fashion show, John encourages Jilly to move quickly if she wishes to buy the land before Ahmal. Ahmal's arrival pushes Jilly to sign the deal and begin her gloating. Tom tries to convince Sarah to leave Angelo but she tells him she's pushed aside her feeling for him and won't leave Angelo. Tom accepts her wishes and agrees to walk away.

Jake arrives at the fashion show and eagerly anticipates Stephanie's arrival. Jilly gleefully informs Jake of her successful purchase of the oil-rich land — and having used $20 million of company money to do so. As the fashion show continues, Ahmal informs Jilly the land she purchased is worthless and that Stephanie is still alive and is the beneficiary of the purchase price. Furious over the turn of events, Jake demands to see Stephanie but she is not disguised as Princess Talitha, instead, Stephanie walks down the runway and unmasks herself for everyone to see.

Stephanie pursues Dan as he and Jessica make a quick exit from the fashion show. When she reaches him, Dan lashes out at her for faking her death. Jilly seeks medical attention for shock while Jake reminds her of her new financial woes. Still fuming back at home, Dan is eager to drag Stephanie through a messy public divorce prompting Jessica to accuse him of being jealous and wanting her back. She asks for, and receives, reassurance about their relationship. Stephanie celebrates with Dennis and Sarah, resigned to the end of her relationship with Dan.

Jilly seeks comfort from Jake who turns his back on her. She wants Jake to use Dennis' crimes as leverage but he refuses since Stephanie kept their deal and appeared at Tara's. In a desperate bid to get Jake to marry her, Jilly tries to blackmail him with Cassie's photos and Olive's affidavite which states he paid her to kill Stephanie. Finding Stephanie back in her office at Sanders Investments, Jake admits to her he always knew she was alive and is still in love with her but Stephanie refuses to believe he's interested in anything but the company.

To thank Johnno for his work, Stephanie gives him a healthy payout from the land deal. Stephanie laments the end of her marriage and the pair talk about Johnno telling Tom he's his father. Jilly and Stephanie have a face-to-face meeting at Ahmal's hotel suite. Jilly unleashes a verbal assault on her sister promising to destroy her while in a calm rebuttal Stephanie vows a long war against her and Jake. Jake is determined to win over Stephanie but with Jilly standing in his way his lawyer, Anton, suggests Jilly be removed from the equation having served her purpose.

John reveals to Bill that he is Tom's father. Citing his loyalty to Stephanie, Bill agrees John should tell Tom but John gets cold feet and makes an excuse to leave without telling Tom the truth. Jake visits Jilly at Eden where he ends their relationship, seeing through her bluff that would have seen them both go to jail if he didn't marry her. Jilly pulls a gun on Jake as he tries to leave but Jake disarms her before walking out as she continues to profess her love for him. Safely out of the house, Jake orders Anton to get rid of Jilly.

Angelo tells Dan he'll be resuming his boxing career so he can give Sarah the kind of life she's been used to. Dan tries to talk him out of it but Angelo is sure a couple of big fights will be all it takes. Jessica meets with Stephanie and asks her to speak with Dan to sort out their issues, content to go on with her life regardless of whom he chooses to be with. Stephanie seeks out Dan at the stables where her refusal to apologise for fighting to save her company brings about a certain end to their marriage with Stephanie encouraging him make a good life with Jessica. Returning to Jessica, Dan tells her about his conversation with Stephanie and assures her she is the one he wants to be with.

Ahmal finds an emotional Stephanie following her talk with Dan but he does not offer another proposal but instead informs her he'll be going back home. The unresolved issue of their lost child remains a subject Stephanie promises to keep him informed on. Talitha is pleased to hear Ahmal's announcement that they will travel the country before going home and she asks Johnno to accompany them.

Anton goes to Eden to see Jilly under the guise of wanting to talk business, proclaiming he'd rather work with her than Stephanie. They toast a new working relationship but Jilly is unware her drink has been poisoned. Soon after, Jilly receives a phone call from her doctor informing her that she is pregnant. She calls Jake to give him the good news and confirms for him that Anton is there with her. As Jake rushes to Eden to save Jilly and his unborn child from Anton, Jilly collapses from the sedatives in her drink and Anton throws her into the swimming pool. After she answers his demands for the location of the incriminating photos and affidavit, he releases his grip on her and she slips below the surface of the water.

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.