ZOE Slater was a woman on the brink as the circumstances surrounding her shock Walford return began to unravel in the latest episode.

Fans of EastEnders were left stunned when it was revealed that Michelle Ryan’s character had made a shock return on Monday’s episode.

Now, in today’s instalment, it was confirmed that she had been staying in a rented flat with Stacey Slater amid what she described as fears for her safety.

Stacey had taken her under her wing but was left shocked to see the state of Zoe who appeared to be penniless and living off vodka and vapes.

She had racked up hundreds of pounds worth of purchases on Stacey’s credit card after robbing her purse causing Stacey to put a call into the fraud department of her bank as well as to Alfie Moon to call for help.

When Alfie turned up and saw the state of Zoe, he and Stacey pressed her for more details on her dishevelled state in which she confessed that she was being followed by men in Spain whom she owed money too.

She had even be threatened with her life if she was unable to pay them off.

However, Zoe failed to reveal exactly who they were or why she owed them cash.

Later, she received a text from the supposed men to say they knew she had arrived in London and that they would be hunting her down.

Whilst Zoe’s distress continued, Stacey was left unconvinced and soon went through Zoe’s phone and discovered she’d had more texts from the so-called men in the past hour than the past week.

Suspecting it was Zoe herself, Stacey called the number which confirmed it was indeed a burner phone in Zoe’s room.

It caused Zoe to have a screaming breakdown as she insisted she just needed some cash amid her money woes.

But although she’d lied about why, it was evident that Zoe was still holding something back.

Lashing out in rage caused concern for Alfie as she smashed Stacey’s phone and begged them to “stop it”.

Attempting to reason with her, he said: “Zoe, I know you’re scared, I can see that.

“I get it, when life goes to pot, you feel like you’ve got no one to turn too.

“But listen to me, I’m here for you, we are family.”

Sobbing, Zoe responded as she said: “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”

As Alfie reassured her, he told her again that he was there for and encouraged her to open up about her secret and the truth behind her Walford return.

Zoe confessed she was “so scared” and said she would tell Alfie everything as long as he didn’t tell her mother, Kat.

If he told her, she added: “I will disappear, I swear.”

But just as she was about to open up, a knock at the door was heard as Kat began to angirly shout for Alfie who she knew was inside thanks to a mobile tracking up.

Kat was, however, none the wiser to Zoe being inside.

Will Zoe reveal her secret or is a Slater showdown on the cards?