EastEnders fans are in for an emotional episode on Thursday (September 3), which will air at 7:30pm and be available to stream on BBC iPlayer. In a dramatic twist, Max Branning (Jake Wood) will be left speechless when his ex-lover Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) confesses her love for him, just hours before he is due to marry Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins). Linda had an affair with Max six years ago while married to her late husband, Mick (Danny Dyer), but had avoided rekindling the relationship after Max returned to the fictional London borough of Walford last year. The episode reveals that Max has been cheating on Cindy with Priya Nandra-Hart (Sophie Khan Levy) for months. Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) discovered the affair and took Max prisoner at The Boxing Den, beating him with a baseball bat to force a confession. Max initially denied the claims but eventually admitted the truth. Priya arrived just in time and convinced Ravi to release Max, who then went to the cafe and broke down in tears. Meanwhile, Linda had decided to end her relationship with her new partner, Clive (Jason Durr), despite them being a good match, and hinted that she might have feelings for someone else. At the cafe, Linda saw Max in emotional distress as he spoke about ruining his relationship with Cindy before their marriage even begins. Linda offered support, suggesting that Max and Cindy found each other at the right time in their lives. However, Max expressed doubts about the timing of their relationship, and Linda surprised him by confessing that she is in love with him. Max seemed on the verge of accepting her feelings but was interrupted by his fellow groomsmen before he could confirm his own emotions. There has long been speculation that Max’s mysterious New Year bride, teased in a flashforward earlier this year, would be Cindy, given their shared history of causing chaos in Walford. However, the upcoming September wedding date casts doubt on this theory. With Linda’s confession, some fans are now wondering if she might become Max’s next wife when 2027 arrives. Linda married her late husband, Mick, on New Year’s Day in 2016, and a potential wedding to Max on the same date could bring heartbreak, especially with Max’s ongoing affair with Priya, who is pregnant with his child. Additionally, as Linda prepares to leave Walford after 13 years, there is uncertainty about whether she will find happiness or face heartbreak. The upcoming wedding episode promises to be dramatic, with the future of Max’s relationship with Cindy and Linda hanging in the balance.