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.

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.