A fake engagement, a missing parcel, and a Trueman ready to uncover it all

A Desperate Man’s Dirty Secret

EastEnders viewers are watching a slow-motion car crash unfold, as Howie Danes continues to spiral into deceit—and Anthony Trueman might be the one to finally bring his lies crashing down.

After months of financial pressure from girlfriend Kim Fox, Howie tried to match the lavish lifestyle she once enjoyed with her late husband, Vincent Hubbard. His solution? A second job delivering parcels—and eventually, stealing them. That included scamming Oscar Branning out of Patrick Trueman’s gambling winnings, which he then kept for himself.

Now, with Kim unknowingly benefitting from Howie’s web of lies, the stakes are rising fast.

A Ring, A Lie, and a Livestream Disaster

Last week, Kim suffered a PR disaster when Howie forgot to end a livestream, exposing her unfiltered thoughts to thousands of fans—and losing her two key sponsorships in the process. Panicked, Howie scrambled for a way to lift her spirits.

That’s when he spotted a parcel addressed to Penny Branning—a Christmas gift from her mother. Without hesitation, he intercepted it, opened it, and found a ring.

He wasn’t alone for long. Patrick caught him red-handed, but assumed the best—that Howie was planning to propose to Kim. Pressured by Alfie Moon, who encouraged him to commit, Howie doubled down and agreed to the proposal.

Anthony Puts the Pieces Together

While Howie planned the romantic gesture, Anthony Trueman was at the surgery, growing concerned over a missing medication delivery. There, Penny mentioned that her Christmas gift had also failed to arrive. The timing was enough to raise red flags.

Later, when Howie arrived at the surgery and awkwardly invited Anthony to witness his big proposal, the doctor’s suspicions deepened. Something didn’t feel right—and Anthony couldn’t ignore the coincidences.

A Proposal Built on Stolen Ground

Kim, blissfully unaware, was thrilled by the surprise engagement. But Anthony—clearly uneasy—pulled Howie aside after the celebration and pressed him.

“Where did you get the ring?” he asked.
Howie stumbled through a poor excuse, claiming it was “just a cheap piece of jewellery,” but the explanation didn’t land. Anthony’s silence said it all: he doesn’t believe him.

The Truth Is Closing In

With Penny missing her ring, deliveries vanishing, and Anthony watching closely, Howie’s time is running out. If Anthony exposes the truth, it won’t just ruin a proposal—it could destroy Kim’s trust, and rip apart the fragile life Howie built from stolen goods.