and wants to reunite with Bex, however this never happens. Ian and Jane remain unaware that Max is plotting revenge against them and try to move on with their lives. Although shocked to discover that Lauren and Steven are an item, Ian and Jane allow them to move into the Beale house with Louie, and Lauren grows close to them both. Lauren tells Ian that she left Peter because he was going off the rails in New Zealand, involved in drugs and alcohol. Steven grows paranoid that Lauren no longer loves him and bugs her phone to keep track of her movements. Believing that Lauren is cheating on him, he bugs her phone to track her location and when Lauren insists that she does not want more children, he pokes holes in their condoms to trap her jerk falling pregnant. Steven then begins an affair with Abi Branning when he discovers that Lauren has aborted their child. He then tells her and his family that he has terminal cancer, devastating Ian at the thought of losing another child and Lauren stays with him; however, he is lying and Abi helps him with his scheme. Max discovers the truth and as an act of revenge, sets fire to the restaurant and leaves Jane and Steven inside to burn to death. Both escape the flames but Steven later succumbs to a liver bleed following a previous altercation with Max and dies in hospital. The truth of his lies are revealed and only Abi attends his funeral. Max later threatens to harm Bobby and forces Jane to flee Walford in October 2017, unintentionally abandoning her husband in the process. Ian eventually discovers the truth about Max's deceit when Max tries to persuade him to sell his businesses and then decides to strangle Ian with some tinsel. He is saved by Lauren's timely arrival. Max's ex-wife Tanya tells Ian and Stacey the truth about Max's lies and Max's involvement in Jane's departure. Ian and Max fight in the square. Steven and Abi's daughter, Abi Branning Jr, is born in late December 2017 after her mother falls off a roof and dies. She is raised by her grandfather Max and great aunt Rainie Cross. Martin and Stacey decide to try for a baby and Stacey falls pregnant; despite concerns for her mental health, Stacey has no problems and gives birth to a daughter whom she