Max fears the consequences from Priya as the pressure amps up in EastEnders
Max Branning (Jake Wood) finds himself under growing pressure in next week’s EastEnders as his complicated love life threatens to spiral completely out of control.
Last week saw Max finally snap after facing constant criticism over his relationship with Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) from residents around the Square.
In dramatic scenes, Max grabbed the microphone in front of stunned party guests and publicly declared his love for Cindy before dropping to one knee and asking her to marry him.
The proposal leaves everyone speechless.
While Max anxiously waited for Cindy’s answer, Ross Marshall (Alex Walkinshaw) and Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig) were furious that he has completely upstaged their big day. Meanwhile, Cindy herself is left stunned by the sudden proposal, with spoilers revealing Max is left red-faced as the awkward silence drags on.
Trying to save face, Max rushed after Cindy when she walked away from the chaos. However, their private conversation quickly became tense when Cindy realised Max had acted completely on impulse rather than genuinely thinking things through.
Later, Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) attempted to comfort Cindy, but the reality of being alone soon began to hit her. At the same time, Max opened up to Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) about the failed proposal, and the pair shared a heart-to-heart before he offered to walk her home.
Meanwhile, Priya, struggling with Ravi’s absence, desperately sought attention from those around her. After being rejected by Zack, Priya headed straight for Max at the car lot and demanded a drink at his flat.
With Max convinced his relationship with Cindy was over for good, he let his guard down — and it wasn’t long before Priya successfully seduced him.
Later, as Max believed things couldn’t get any messier, Cindy unexpectedly arrived back at the flat, and, in a shocking turn, the pair quickly reconciled, and Cindy finally accepted Max’s marriage proposal, completely unaware of what has just happened between him and Priya.
Next week, Peter Beale (Thomas Law) warns Max about the potential consequences for everyone involved, leaving him visibly shaken. Already weighed down by guilt, Max makes matters even worse when he wrongly accuses Priya Nandra-Hart (Sophie Khan Levy) of trying to get his attention.
The pair later agree to move past their one-night stand. However, it’s obvious Max remains deeply uneasy about the situation, and with secrets never staying hidden for long in Walford, fans are already predicting disaster.
Fans are already convinced the situation could explode if Cindy discovers the truth, and with Max now trapped between his future with Cindy and his growing guilt over Priya, viewers can expect huge fallout in the weeks ahead.
And knowing Walford, it surely won’t stay secret for long.