After a funeral reveal about a past breakup, Stacey returns to face her mother's ultimatum: leave the "penniless" man or be cut off. Stacey decides to pursue a divorce and plans to see Zayne, but a leaked hospital photo and PR risk force colleagues to promise backup. At a meeting her manager insists Smith is his long-lost son and demands Stacey leave him; she refuses. The manager then produces Smith's contract, which bans dating and carries a $100 million penalty—threatening to cancel his career if Stacey stays with him, leaving her with an immediate, costly choice.