Nikau throws everything away in next week’s episode of Home and Away in the UK, as he succumbs to Sienna’s manipulation.
It’s time for Bella’s (Courtney Miller) and Emmett’s (JR Reyne) exhibition preview after weeks of painstaking planning. As a means of apologising for her previous behaviour, Mac (Emily Weir) has agreed to let them utilise Salt, and after a few late nights putting things up, everything is ready to go.
The event is a tremendous success, and everyone is blown away by Bella’s photography. Bella, on the other hand, appears to be the only one who isn’t having fun.
Jasmine (Sam Frost) attempts to cheer up Bella by assuring her that Colby would be really proud of her. However, there is one thing on her mind that is weighing on her thoughts and detracting from the fun of the day: where is her boyfriend?
Sienna (Rose Riley) has seen that Nikau’s (Kawakawa Fox-Reo) new job is causing a wedge between him and Bella in recent weeks. She overheard the two bickering at the Parata house’s lavish social media party, with Bella remarking that Nik has changed since he began stressing over his image and “socials.”
She is aware that Bella is dissatisfied with his new profession and is concerned that he will choose his girlfriend over their shoots. How long until he pulls out of a shot entirely? He has finished one session early when Bella saw him and Allegra (Laura McDonald) kissing – how long before he pulls out of another entirely?
If their journey to Japan is to go forwards, Nikau must fully commit to it. Nikau’s dedication to Bella was reaffirmed when Sienna and Allegra tried to caution him about having a girlfriend, warning him that things never work out since those outside the profession never really “understand it.” Unfortunately, manipulative Sienna isn’t going to stop there, and she knows she’ll have to go to extremes to remove Bella out of the picture.
Nikau and Allegra are on another shoot in the city this week, while Bella and Emmett’s show opens in Summer Bay. Nik wants to leave early to be there for Bella, but Sienna makes him wait as long as she can by telling him she wants a brief private shoot with only him.
She urges Allegra to go to the bay and figure out a way to put even more distance between the two loves. While Allegra is hesitant, she does not want the Japan trip to be cancelled, so she goes to the exhibition and begins making plans.
Allegra steals Bella’s phone and sends Nikau a message informing him that the show has been postponed and that he does not need to return. That allows Sienna to entice him to her opulent apartment overlooking Sydney Harbour, where he is astounded by what he may achieve if he devotes his life to modelling.
Allegra gets her hands on Bella’s phone and begins to cause havoc in frightening scenes premiering next week. When Nikau texts Bella to say he’s running late but will be there as soon as he can, Allegra responds, “Sorry.” Right now, I’m really busy. Okay, take your time!”
As a result, Nikau chooses to extend his stay in Sienna’s seaside apartment.
The agency continues to persuade Nikau that being a model makes it difficult to maintain long-term relationships. She recounts how she tried everything she could to make her relationship with Emmett work. She sacrificed her ambitions for him and relocated to where he desired, but their professions got in the way.
Back at the bay, the exhibition is a major success, but Bella is still angry that Nikau didn’t show up for her big event. She seeks solace from Emmett, and the two pals hug as he reassures her.
Allegra sees an opportunity and captures the hug, emailing the photo to her employer right after.
As night sets in Sydney, Sienna gives Nikau the photo, portraying it as much more than a simple case of one friend consoling another.
Nik is taken aback, having watched his girlfriend and Emmett become closer over the course of the internship but never suspecting anything. He misunderstands Sienna’s falsehoods and interprets it as proof that Bella is having an affair with her mentor, and he is distraught.
“I’m really sorry, Nik,” Sienna replies. Emmett is like that, which is why we split up years ago. He’s had a thing for muses since he was a kid.”
The agency director seizes the moment and moves in for a kiss, which an emotional Nikau does not refuse. They’re waking up in bed together before they realise it. Nikau has cheated on his fiancée, thanks to Sienna’s plot!
He believes his actions were justifiable, but it isn’t long before he finds the truth when he returns to the bay. Bella misplaced her phone during the show, didn’t send him any texts that night, and the show wasn’t cancelled!
Emmett was simply there to provide a sympathetic ear. He gives Bella the photo of the two of them, and she expresses her disappointment that he was unable to attend her presentation. “That’s a hug, Nik!” Do you honestly believe I’d do something like that to you?!”
When he realizes he’s the one who cheated on Bella, he’s horrified, and she would never do the same to him! Now he must choose between two major decisions: do he tell his girlfriend and risk breaking her heart, or do he keep it a secret and risk breaking her heart? And, now that he knows Sienna and Allegra are using him, can he truly continue to work with them?
