With Leah’s reassurance giving her the strength she needs, Irene takes a deep breath and makes the call. Her voice wavers slightly, but her resolve is clear as she tells the real estate agent that she’s ready to proceed with the sale. It’s a bittersweet moment — while Irene feels the sadness of letting go of a home that’s been such a cornerstone of her life, she also knows that this decision allows her to take control of her future, to embrace her travel plans and live on her own terms while she still can. Leah offers a supportive smile, proud of her friend for making such a brave choice in the face of uncertainty.

Later, the focus shifts to Harper and Dana, who sit together to consider what Irene’s decision means for them. The sisters know they’ll need to find somewhere new to live quickly, and the pressure is weighing on them. Harper admits that Tane has already offered her and baby Archie a place at his home, and on paper, it would solve all of their problems. Yet the idea makes Harper deeply uncomfortable. She tells Dana bluntly that she couldn’t possibly move in with Tane, not when Jo is hovering in his orbit and there’s every sign that he’s interested in pursuing her. The thought of sharing a roof with her ex while he dates someone else is simply unbearable.

Harper’s fears are soon confirmed when she drops by the diner and spots Jo chatting animatedly with Marilyn (Emily Symons). At first, it seems like a harmless exchange, but as Harper lingers, she overhears just enough to piece the puzzle together. Her eyes widen as the truth dawns on her — Jo and her father David are the ones who have bought Irene’s house. The realisation hits Harper like a punch to the stomach. Not only has she lost her home, but it’s fallen into the hands of the very woman who has been making her life increasingly difficult. The discovery sets the stage for a whole new layer of conflict, one that threatens to push the uneasy rivalry between Harper and Jo to breaking point.

Harper forces herself to put on a brave face when Jo finally acknowledges the elephant in the room. With an almost sheepish smile, Jo admits that she feels a little guilty about the way things have turned out — knowing full well that buying Irene’s house means Harper and Dana are being pushed out of the very place they’ve come to see as home. Jo’s attempt at honesty comes across as awkward rather than heartfelt, but she clearly wants to soften the blow.

In an effort to make the conversation less uncomfortable, Jo goes a step further and offers Harper some advice about the local real estate market. She rattles off the names of a couple of agents she’s spoken to, suggesting that they might be able to help Harper and Dana find a new place quickly. To an outsider, it might sound like a kind gesture, but to Harper, it feels more like salt in the wound — as if Jo is both the cause of her problem and the person pretending to offer a solution.

Still, Harper swallows her pride and nods politely, determined not to give Jo the satisfaction of seeing how much she’s hurting. Her brave smile masks the storm of emotions beneath the surface: anger at losing her home, jealousy over Jo’s growing closeness with Tane, and fear about what lies ahead for her and Archie. As the conversation ends, Harper’s resolve hardens — she knows she’ll need to find her own path forward, no matter how much Jo’s presence continues to complicate her life in Summer Bay.