Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) took a great big leap of faith in EastEnders as she leaned in for kiss after seeing ex flame Max Branning (Jake Wood) in a whole new light following a kind gesture.

The former landlady of the Vic previously branded lothario Max the ‘biggest mistake of her life’ after she cheated on life-long soulmate Mick (Danny Dyer) with him back in 2020.

At the time, Linda reckoned that Mick was pushing her into Max’s arms, unaware her one true love had just learned that he’d been abused at the age of 12.

Upon finding out the truth, Linda swiftly put an end to her fling with Max, who she previously contemplated leaving Walford with.

Max pled with Linda to pick him over Mick, claiming that their love was stronger than what she had with her life-long partner. Linda, however, rebuked such a notion and told him she never loved him.

Heartbroken Max left the Square and Linda subsequently gave birth to his child, which Mick raised as his own, until his tragic disappearance at sea four years ago.

When Max returned to the Square last year, Linda was unsure if he should be told about daughter Annie but, despite her reservations, she ultimately told him the truth.

Max reacted in typical Max fashion – by ignoring Linda’s wishes and attempting to force a relationship with Annie overnight to make up for lost time, suggesting that perhaps Linda was right to be concerned about him overstepping the mark.

But in the weeks since Christmas, he’s made a solid effort to change, urging Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) and Oscar (Pierre Counihan-Moullier) to give him a chance to be a better dad.

Linda, meanwhile, has appreciated such efforts and even allowed him to stay at the B&B (cough ‘Boutique Hotel’ cough), which made building a bond with Annie significantly easier.

And it wasn’t just Annie that he proved supportive towards, with Ollie (Harry Farr) also appreciative of Max’s efforts amid his bullying ordeal. Linda was grateful to him for attempting to ease Ollie’s mind and she started to see him in a fresh light – as a man that seemed worlds away from the one she cheated on Mick with five years ago.

Was Max Branning actually turning over a new leaf and putting others first?

Seemingly not.

Unbeknownst to Linda, Max discovered that Ollie’s bully was none other than his own grandson Louis and while he told Lauren – and ordered Louis to stop targeting poor Ollie – he also urged his daughter to refrain from telling Linda, afraid that it would hurt his chances of rekindling their passion.

Sam old Max, eh?

Linda, meanwhile, was incredibly touched when Max had an old superhero costume of Ollie’s – given to him by Mick a number of years ago – framed so that he could display it on his wall.

After sharing a meal with her ex, the former publican leaned in and kissed Max. The question is: will she regret her decision the morning after?

It certainly seems that way as, given that Bea Pollard (Ronnie Ancona) has overheard Max’s plea to withhold the identity of Ollie’s bully from Linda, it’s surely only a matter of time before such information makes it way back to the Carter matriarch.