JACK Branning has been far too distracted by his children to pay Denise Fox any attention in recent weeks.
This leads to the hairdresser making a jaw-dropping decision next week in EastEnders.
Denise Fox feels her marriage is on the rocks
Her husband Jack Branning barely pays her any attention
But another man has his sights on her
After trying to help his daughter Amy cope with her mental health struggles, Jack Branning was left in shock when he had to teach his son Ricky Jr. all about fatherhood.
The copper played by Scott Maslen was furious to find out Lily and Ricky had agreed to become parents together… although they’re only twelve years old.
As a result, Jack has been left under pressure and his wife Denise (Diane Parish) has been feeling pushed to the side, flirting with danger by getting closer to Ravi Gulati.
But the couple are sweeping everything under the rug, particularly Denise as she tried to forget all about her feelings for Ravi (Aaron Thiara).
In scenes due on BBC One next week, Denise joins a distracted Jack for a drink at The Vic.
When Ravi enters the pub, she feels awkward and tries to prove a point to both him and herself by kissing Jack publicly.
Unfortunately, Jack also has a career to maintain aside from all the family drama and he ditches Denise for a work commitment.
A drunk Denise makes a move on Ravi and, not wanting to take advantage of her in her drunken state, he turns her down.
Denise, who undoubtedly already feels rejected and undesirable, lashes out, forcing Ravi to leave.
Later on, the hairdresser seeks advice from Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) as she secretly searches to validate her feelings for Ravi.
The following day and after an eventful lock-in at The Vic, a hungover Denise wakes up alongside Sharon and Stacey Slater to Kathy Beale and Eve Unwin delivering them breakfast.
Denise has a wake-up call and rushes to meet Jack before he leaves for a work conference.
Again, she kisses him outside of No.27, in eyeshot of Ravi – but it doesn’t stop him from trying to get closer to Denise.
When Denise’s sister Kim (Tameka Empson) is on the hunt for a Walford man to take part in a livestream event, Ravi puts himself forward.
However, Denise is clearly flustered in Ravi’s presence at Fox & Hair and, after realising he wouldn’t be getting into her good books, Ravi withdraws from Kim’s event.
He later heads over to No.27 to patch things up with Denise, laying his cards on the table and deciding to stop playing cat and mouse.
Ravi thus asks her to spend the following night with him at a hotel.
While her reaction remains to be seen, everything will seem to point at a potential love affair between Ravi and Denise.
When she’s unsuccessful at avoiding him, the pair share a steamy kiss in the alleyway of The Vic… and she agrees to meet him later that evening at the hotel.
Is Denise throwing her marriage away?
Will Jack find out what she’s up to?
EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday on BBC One.
Will Denise follow Ravi into an affair?
Will Jack find out?
