Cindy Beale issued a terrifying warning to a newly-conscious Kojo Asare in EastEnders, threatening him to keep her affair with stepson Junior secret – or face some harsh consequences.
Earlier in the episode, a shocked Cindy learned that Kojo was coming round from his coma while enjoying another secret tryst with Junior.
Cindy is visibly startled by the news, worried that Kojo may spill the beans on their secret relationship and her part in his fall and subsequent hospital admission.
Returning to Beale’s Eels after her ‘milk run’, she meets Ian who has been asked to take charge of the Christmas lights switch-on in the square this year. He asks Cindy for her help – but she proves to be too preoccupied with Kojo’s state.
As her nerves heighten, Lauren pops in to also inform Cindy of Kojo’s progress.
“Oh, I bumped into Anna, great news about Kojo,” she says, adding: “Maybe finally now they’ll get some answers.”
Cindy heads straight to the hospital and Kojo’s room where George, Junior, Gina and Anna are gathered around his bedside.
When Junior questions Cindy’s arrival, she tells him she’s there to check on “my girls” – little does he know the ulterior motive she has.
Later spying Kojo alone in his room, Cindy takes the opportunity to issue her threat.
“Do you remember our little conversation on the stairs before you tripped up?” she asks.
Kojo nods in response, with Cindy continuing: “Can we just keep that our little secret, yeah? Because you know what will happen if anyone finds out, don’t you?
“It will destroy George’s family, and George will do anything to protect his family. And you wouldn’t want to be the one to ruin that, would you?”
Cindy threatens that if Kojo talks, George might send him back to live with his brother. “And you’ve adjusted so well, slotted in,” she says. “And the girls would really miss you.”
Cindy leaves the room confident that Kojo will keep his word.
He’s not the only Walford resident in the hospital, with the stress of the Christmas lights seeing Ian bite off more than he can chew. Kathy is forced to call an ambulance for Ian after he suffers chest pains.
The doctor later confirms to Ian and Kathy that the pains were an angina attack brought on by stress.
A concerned Kathy tells Ian that Cindy is to blame for his stress and tells him he needs to ask her for help or she’ll confront her herself. But, can Cindy give Ian her undivided attention?