In Home and Away this week, tensions rise between Leah and Justin after Justin’s daughter Ava’s actions force her nephew Theo to move out.
Theo (Matt Evans) opts to go and live with his girlfriend Kirby (Angelina Thompson) to put space between himself and Ava (Annabel Wolfe) after it was revealed the teenager is his online stalker.
Meanwhile, Theo’s absence causes Ava to lash out at those around her.
Annabelle is all sweetness and light around her dad Justin.
(IMAGE: Seven)”As soon as her dad found out [about her obsession with Theo], the stakes are raised dramatically,” Annabel, 20, tells TV WEEK.
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”Ava struggles with issues of abandonment, trust and what it means to love or be loved. Her initial distance and defensiveness come from exactly this place: at the core of everything she simply wants to be loved by her dad.”
Leah can see through Ava’s act.
(IMAGE: Seven)Justin (James Stewart) tries to bond with his daughter, hoping she’ll simply forget about Theo and life will return to normal.
But Leah (Ada Nicodemou) can see through her good-girl act and is furious that her partner can’t.
The truth is, Justin doesn’t want to. He’ll forever feel guilty for not being in her life enough and knows nothing he can do will make up for it.
”Justin is aware of how much his daughter has grown up in his absence,” Annabel says.
”This change, both physical and mental, creates barriers as they struggle to communicate and understand one another.”
Avas obsession with Theo has driven him to move out.
(IMAGE: Seven)Just as they begin to find a rhythm, Leah rams home the truth about Ava’s wild behaviour when Roo (Georgie Parker) hands over sultry photos of her wearing Theo’s shirts.
In a heated exchange, Leah orders her partner to control his daughter – and until he can, she’s going to stay at Roo’s.
Justin says he’s in too deep and begs Leah to stay, but she’s already packing her bags…
