EastEnders aired heartache for Martin Fowler, as he was forced to tell wife Stacey she and the kids could not return to Walford - as actress Lacey Turner made her soap comeback of sorts.
While she did not appear on screen, Lacey's character Stacey was heard speaking to her husband on the phone in two scenes.
She attacked Phil Mitchell with a wrench and left him for dead last month, with her and Martin fleeing Walford in the fallout.
While Martin has returned this week following his daughter Bex Fowler's suicide attempt, she and the kids have remained away because Phil's son Ben had the wrench - and has been using it to blackmail Martin.
But Ben told him he could have the weapon back meaning his family could come home - just as long as he did some dodgy work for him.
After helping save Lola from the Panesar brothers, after they kidnapped her to get back at Ben, he was also forced to steal a car.
Martin was relieved when Phil's son gave him the wrench used in the attack, and he finally got rid of the evidence.
But as he returned to Ben to gloat knowing his family could come home, he was left raging to learn it changed nothing.
Ben now had evidence of him stealing the car, meaning he still had to work for him and it was not safe for Stacey or the kids to return to Walford.
Martin fought back tears as he broke the news to Stacey, while he actually lied to her claiming she could not return because of Bex - with actress Lacey currently on maternity leave after welcoming her baby daughter in July.
He told her there had been "complications" with Bex so it was best she stayed away.
She asked her husband: "Is there anything I can do?" before adding: "Of course whatever is best for Bex. I love you too."
Fans were gutted by the twist, but were happy to have mention of Stacey after so long.
EastEnders airs Mondays and Fridays at 8pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One .
