EastEnders‘ Nicola Mitchell has made a risky move in her plan to keep both her businesses afloat, but her lies caused friction with her partner George Knight amid his dad Eddie’s return.

Tonight’s (7 May) episode saw Nicola considering Eddie’s offer to give her money in exchange of staying with her and George in his dying days. Despite George’s insistences that he wanted nothing to do with his father, Nicola went to see Eddie in hospital and fabricated a story to convince the probation officer that he could stay with her.

She couldn’t disclose her relationship with George, as he’d testified against his dad in court, which wouldn’t make possible for them to host Eddie. Nicola then pretended she was Eddie’s best friend’s daughter and said she’d be happy to take care of him as that was what her father would’ve wanted.

She charmed the probation officer, trying to secure a positive outcome, but couldn’t help but feeling guilty knowing she’d been lying to George.

Later on, Nicola tried to make a case for helping Eddie, with her words breaking through to George, who teared up at the prospect of his father not having long left to live.

Alone with baby Ivy that night, George and Nicola had another conversation about Eddie. When he asked her why she kept on bringing the subject up, she said: “Because I love you.”

“You are not a man who turns his back,” she continued, manipulating George by saying that his mum Gloria would’ve wanted him to help Eddie despite his violent ways.

George was taken aback, but then paused and agreed with Nicola.

“Mum would want me to help,” he convened, adding that she’d want him to visit and find out how to support Eddie.

“Then I suppose that’s the right thing to do,” Nicola said, concealing her guilt.

Will George agree to give Eddie a place to stay? And does that mean that they both will have to lie to the authorities?