Walford is about to be rocked by yet another bombshell as Zack Hudson’s desperation to escape a dangerous past collides with a twisted present—one that may end in bloodshed. Still grappling with the loss of his baby daughter Peach and the heartbreaking breakup with Whitney Dean—who vanished into hiding with their surviving daughter Dolly—Zack is on the edge. But a new revelation pushes him into even more dangerous territory: he’s a father again, and this time to a teenage son named Barney Mitchell, born from a past fling with the cunning Nicola.

Zack only recently learned the shocking truth: Nicola had kept the existence of their son a secret for years. Not only that, but she lied to Barney and her current partner Teddy, letting them believe Teddy was the boy’s biological father. But when Zack tries to build a relationship with Barney, Nicola doesn’t just block his efforts—she retaliates with venom. A gang beating arranged by Nicola was just the beginning. When Zack didn’t back down, she dropped a chilling threat: she was behind Shireen Bashar’s mysterious death, and she wouldn’t hesitate to do the same to Zack, Whitney, and baby Dolly if he dared push any further.

Nicola’s deadly ultimatum forces Zack into a terrifying corner. With Whitney still in hiding, trying to build a new life away from Walford’s shadows, Zack makes a dangerous decision: he’s going to flee Walford—and he’s taking Barney with him. The plan isn’t just an act of love; it’s a desperate attempt to save a son he barely knows from a future overshadowed by manipulation and threats.

After a rare message from Whitney surfaces, Zack learns that she’s found a safe haven far away, a place where she and Dolly can finally breathe. He shares the news with Vicki Fowler, whose concern quickly turns to fear as Zack outlines his escape plan. Vicki gently suggests that he visit Whitney and the girls first and create distance from the Mitchell chaos—but Zack’s mind is already made up.

Everything escalates when Zack runs into Barney and discovers that the teenager is drowning in feelings of rejection and confusion. Growing up under Nicola and Teddy’s roof has clearly left scars. Barney feels like an outsider in his own family, and Zack—struck by the boy’s pain—can no longer justify leaving him behind. He tells Vicki that he’s not only going to see Whitney—he’s taking Barney with him. And he means it.

But Vicki senses that this isn’t just a family road trip—it’s a kidnapping in disguise, and it could bring down the wrath of the Mitchells upon everyone involved. She tries to reason with Zack, warning him that he’s stepping onto a path littered with danger, especially if Teddy and the rest of the Mitchell clan catch wind of his scheme.

Undeterred, Zack begins quietly gathering evidence to prove that Barney is not safe in Nicola and Teddy’s care. From veiled threats to manipulative parenting, Zack is determined to show that removing Barney from their grasp is a necessary move. But time is running out. As he starts putting the pieces of his plan together, those around him begin to notice. Vicki becomes increasingly nervous, torn between supporting Zack’s parental instincts and fearing the consequences if he’s caught.

The tension reaches fever pitch when whispers begin circulating around Walford about Zack’s connection to Barney. Teddy, already a volatile figure in the Mitchell dynasty, starts to grow suspicious. Nicola, sensing that Zack might be planning something bigger than just a heartfelt goodbye, tightens her grip on both Barney and the secrets she’s kept buried.

As the storm builds, Vicki takes one final shot at stopping Zack. She reminds him that he’s not just risking his freedom—he’s putting Barney’s life, Whitney’s safety, and even his own survival in jeopardy. But Zack, still haunted by the deaths and losses that have followed him like shadows, believes that walking away is no longer an option. He sees it as his last chance to make things right—to be the father he never got to be to Peach, and to save Barney from a future ruled by fear.

What Zack doesn’t know is that Nicola is already several steps ahead. Tracking his movements, eavesdropping on conversations, and working behind the scenes to eliminate threats, she’s preparing for war. And if Zack tries to disappear with her son, she’ll unleash everything she’s got.

Meanwhile, the Mitchells are preparing their own counterstrike. Teddy, unaware of the full truth, is told just enough to turn protective and vengeful. As his temper boils and the family mobilizes, Walford teeters on the edge of chaos. If Zack’s escape plan is exposed before he makes his move, it could lead to an explosive confrontation—one with deadly consequences.

With time ticking and secrets poised to spill, Zack’s bold escape might not just reshape his future—it could light the match that burns down everything the Mitchells hold de