Chloe’s life is flipped upside down by a stranger next week on Home and Away in the UK, while tensions between Ryder and Theo increase as they take on their biggest task yet…
When Chloe’s (Sam Barrett) father, Matthew Montgomery (James Sweeny), arrived in Summer Bay last week eager to meet his child, Mia Anderson (Anna Samson) was taken aback.
Mia told Ari (Rob Kipa-Williams) that she hadn’t seen Matthew in 20 years for a good reason, claiming that her pregnancy was the result of Matthew sexually abusing her while they were both drunk at a party. Mia was given money by Matthew’s parents to undergo an abortion, but instead of doing so, she departed town.
Ari came into Chloe’s life when she was very young, and has been the only father figure she’s ever known—but he was jailed when Chloe was 9 years old, and Mia moved them away from the area in search of a fresh start.
It was only by chance that Chloe ran into Nikau (Kawakawa Fox-Reo) whilst they were both travelling in New Zealand early last year, and the family unit came to be reunited.
Last week, Matthew seemed shocked at Mia’s accusation as she warned him to stay away from Chloe, stating that her side of the story wouldn’t look too good for his career as a barrister.
The following week, Chloe is blissfully unaware of her mother’s dilemma, preoccupied with her job at the diner and working late in the kitchen on orders for her and Ryder’s catering business—a relationship she’s beginning to regret.
Despite Mia’s threats, Matthew determines that he has a right to meet his daughter and goes to the diner to do so.
Matthew finds himself alone with Chloe as closing time approaches, and he takes use of the chance to inquire about her business, which reminds her of his offer to assist her carry some boxes the week before.
As the two begin to converse, she expresses her dissatisfaction with her business partner, which Matthew claims to be well aware of well from his own line of work.
Chloe inquires as to what has brought Matthew to town, to which he responds that he is in town to surprise his daughter, to which Chloe responds that she is confident that his daughter would appreciate the gesture.
As Chloe is about to close the door, Ryder phones to tell he won’t be able to make it for tonight’s orders, which Matthew overhears. He inquires as to whether it is safe for her to be alone so late at night, and offers to remain and talk with her further.
At this point, Chloe understandably feels uneasy, and when she begs Matthew to go, he panics and calls her by her name, which she hasn’t informed him yet.
Realising that he has to act fast, Matthew has no choice but to reveal his identity to her.
Chloe doesn’t know what to believe as the stranger before her claims to be her father. She points out that she knows her father wants nothing to do with her, but Matthew assures her that isn’t the case—explaining that, in reality, Mia moved away and he hadn’t been able to find her, until the previous week when he saw her photo in the paper.
Chloe orders him to leave but Matthew leaves his card. Chloe quickly calls Mia who arrives with Ari, and her mother’s reaction only confirms to her that Matthew is indeed her father.
Mia explains that she was only trying to protect Chloe by not telling her that her father was looking for her, and that she has good reason for not wanting Matthew to be a part of their lives. But Mia stops short of telling Chloe what those reasons actually are, as Chloe surprises her by telling her that Matthew actually seems a nice guy.
Soon after, Ari finds Matthew by the pier and warns him to stay away from his family, but it’s to no avail as Chloe later arranges to meet him and hear him out.
Matthew tells Chloe of his and Mia’s history as he sees it, that Chloe was the result of a one night stand, and Chloe finds herself warming to him as they continue to talk and realise they have a number of things in common.
As they part ways, Chloe says she’s open to meeting again, as a concerned Mia watches from afar.
When Chloe returns home, a furious Mia forbids her from seeing Matthew, but Chloe isn’t having any of it.
Mia has lied to her all these years, just as she did about Ari’s imprisonment. Chloe feels that Mia is very much the one at fault here, telling her to “get over” whatever problem she has with Matthew.
Will Mia be able to tell Chloe the truth?
