Billy Fletcher (Jay Kontzle) is reeling after discovering that Caleb Miligan (William Ash) and Ruby Miligan (Beth Cordingly) knew the truth about his attack all along. Kev Townsend (Chris Coghill) confessed at the Stend do that he was the one who put Billy in hospital, not Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) as Caleb had claimed. Billy now faces a dilemma: whether to confront Caleb or continue his plan to flee with Dawn Taylor (Olivia Bromley).
Kev's confession shocks Billy
At the Stend do, a drunken Kev approached Billy and apologized for putting him in hospital, revealing details that Billy had not known. Kev said, 'Look, you understand. You've been in prison. These things happen. I'll make it up to you.' This was brand new information for Billy, who was even more shocked to learn that Caleb and Ruby had kept the truth from him.
Chris Coghill explained to Metro: 'Billy says that makes him think he already knows, and Kev apologises to him, and says, "Look, you understand. You've been in prison. These things happen. I'll make it up to you."' He added that Kev never meant to hurt Billy so badly, saying, 'Kev thinks he's just given him a little love tap,' which led to a brain bleed.
Caleb's manipulation and collateral damage
Billy had been roped into Caleb's counterfeit business, making him essentially owned by Caleb. After his attack, Caleb convinced Billy that Joe Tate was responsible, but secretly, Ruby had deleted the CCTV footage showing Kev as the attacker. Ruby then used the footage to blackmail Kev into stealing a shipment from Jimmy's Haulage, which turned out to be only 3,000 nappies. Kev, frustrated, later destroyed the laptop containing the footage, but his drunken confession at the Stend do gave him away.
Will Ash described Billy as 'collateral damage' in Caleb's quest for revenge on Joe. He told Metro: 'I think everybody wants to get their own back, but with Caleb being Caleb, there's always collateral damage with that, and that's Billy.' He added, 'Caleb's pretty selfish and driven. He'll look after himself and Ruby before anyone. They'll always come first. That's why he uses Billy. You feel for Billy, because he ends up being collateral damage.'
Billy's dilemma and Caleb's next twist
Billy now knows the truth, but he is planning to flee with Dawn, having asked Caleb to prepare fake passports. Caleb, however, refuses to hand them over, wanting to do it on Joe's wedding day for the ultimate humiliation. Meanwhile, Kev has turned the tables, warning Caleb and Ruby that he will expose their outfit if threatened with prison.
The situation is bubbling over, and Billy must decide whether to play Caleb's game or play the fool. With Caleb's selfishness and drive, Billy's future remains uncertain as he grapples with the consequences of his involvement in Caleb's schemes.
