Rote Rosen

Svenja and Arthur find it hard to leave Bella in Lüneburg. Bella, too, wistfully realizes how much she will miss everyone. But she is certain she has a safe and secure home with Victoria. Little does Bella know that Richard’s evil plan is succeeding.On the day of his surgery, Daniel is accompanied to the hospital by Richard, while Lou receives emotional support from Victoria. At the doctor’s office, Lou unexpectedly runs into Jess-an encounter with unforeseen consequences. Jess’s life is in ruins: Patrick has ended their relationship and left her packed suitcases on her doorstep. Gisela takes her in, and Valerie also offers her comfort. Toni and Noah realize that their love has no future and break up for good. While Carla is excited about her new kitchen, Britta is sad about moving out. But a misunderstanding leads to an argument between the two friends. Will they find their way back to each other?

Richard continues to spin his web of intrigue: He cleverly makes it look as if Bella deliberately misplaced an important document for the grant application. Victoria is already suspicious, and when Richard ensures that Victoria finds the missing document among Bella’s papers, Bella is backed into a corner. Jess is at her wit’s end-not only is she heartbroken, but she’s also having trouble with her boss. Furious, she writes a resignation email, but doesn’t send it. Or so she thinks. Till and Bella are planning a bucket day with Arthur and Svenja. They want to tackle a list of things they had planned to do in Lüneburg. But it doesn’t work out: Svenja has to go to Berlin at short notice for an apartment viewing. Daniel shows Lou how grateful he is for her support with a romantic gesture. But when Britta gives him hormone replacement medication, he feels emasculated. Overwhelmed, he takes his frustration out on Lou.

Britta is looking forward to her next first night at Dornenhof. Carla, on the other hand, now believes the farm is actually haunted. Heiner’s lost hammer, Johanna’s story about the witch burning... Britta manages to calm her friend down until Carla is awakened in the middle of the night by an eerie crying... Richard’s scheme has succeeded: Victoria is so disappointed by Bella’s alleged lie that she fires her. Shocked and heartbroken, Bella moves out of the manor. Richard skillfully comforts his mother, only to overhear Victoria offering Lou Bella’s position at the EmKa. Elyas can no longer bear the tension between Toni and Noah and flees the shared apartment. He then runs into Bella. She is devastated by her dismissal and clashes with Elyas. On his last evening at «Carlas,» Arthur is surprised by a farewell committee and is deeply touched. However, when he hears that Victoria has kicked Bella out, he and Till search the city for her.

Lou firmly rejects Victoria’s request to return to EmKa. An argument ensues, and Victoria announces she’s selling EmKa to someone outside the family. When Richard hears this, he cuts ties with EmKa and Lüneburg. He wants to travel the world with Daniel again. Daniel refuses-he needs to process the loss of his masculinity. Then they learn that the tech campus investor is bankrupt. What will happen to their assignment now? After a disastrous farewell party and a misunderstanding, Toni and Noah say a heartfelt goodbye before Noah boards the train to Berlin. The trouble at Dornenhof continues. Carla is also suffering from insomnia and hot flashes. Britta realizes what’s really wrong with Carla: she’s entering menopause. When Julius then asks Carla to fill in for the head chef at «Carlas,» it all becomes too much for her... Bella and Elyas manage to take a step toward each other again, and Bella decides to stay in Lüneburg for the time being. And to confront Victoria.

Franka and Carla’s stories make Jess realize how boring her life with Patrick was. While dutifully waiting for the repairmen outside Patrick’s office, she observes the activity, and new stories begin to form in her mind. Finally, Jonas convinces Jess: until she finds a new job, she’ll use the time to write. But then Jess receives a payment demand from EmKa, and the carefree feeling vanishes. Richard doesn’t understand why Daniel doesn’t want to accompany him to Asia and breaks up with him. Arthur manages to reason with his brother, and Richard decides to be there for his best friend. But his anger toward Victoria continues to simmer. Victoria offers Valerie a job in Munich. Simon persuades Valerie to spend her last day with Olivia and him. He makes it clear to her: she’s allowed to have maternal feelings even without custody. Valerie is touched, and saying goodbye is harder than she expected. Till’s plan to reconcile Bella and Elyas backfires.

After the tech campus project is scrapped, Victoria offers financial assistance, but Richard and Daniel refuse. They want to remain independent. Daniel, in particular, is struggling: the hormone therapy is taking its toll and undermining his self-esteem as a man. When he hears that the campus is to be auctioned off, he wants to bid himself to save the project. But will Richard join him? Meanwhile, Jess is in serious trouble: Patrick has run off to Mallorca, leaving her with the lease for the office at Salzmarkt. Victoria is unyielding, and even Gisela can’t help her niece. When Elyas tells Jess about his experiences with EmKa, the full extent of the situation becomes clear to Jess-and she suffers a panic attack. Michael suddenly appears at Dornenhof-with ambitious plans: he wants to transform the property into a Western village. But Carla is strictly against it. Will she prevail? And Gisela? She’s determined to finally find her sport-and she’s giving it her all.

Jess is desperately searching for a job to pay the rent, but quickly realizes that finding something suitable isn’t so easy. When she runs into Britta, who thanks her for a book recommendation, Jess suddenly has a brilliant idea. Meanwhile, Michael is enthusiastically planning to transform the Dornenhof farm into a Western town. Carla, however, remains skeptical-and finally confesses to him that she loves the farm just the way it is. Will the two of them find a solution together? Richard and Daniel are determined to buy the tech campus at auction. Lou, on the other hand, remains reserved-she believes Daniel primarily wants to prove something to himself. On top of that, there are family worries: their son Pelle is being bullied by a boy on the football team. When the coach quits, Lou takes it upon herself to coach him. Eliyas thinks Bella has already left for Berlin, but is surprised to discover that she’s still in Lüneburg and intends to stay.

Daniel and Richard are determined to win the auction for the tech campus. But an unexpected competitor drives the price up. Richard takes a big risk and ends up bidding significantly more than the original financing loan. A dangerous game... Jess is unstoppable in her planning for her bookstore. With the support of friends and family, her dream is taking shape. As a highlight, Johanna agrees to a reading and book signing at the opening. But then a fateful misunderstanding occurs: In the «Heideecho» newspaper, the opening isn’t announced in three months as planned, but for the very next day. Will the store be ready in time? While Bella is suffering from Victoria’s rejection, she finds comfort in Lou. Lou realizes that Victoria is also struggling with the situation and tries to mediate. Carla is excited to finally meet Michael’s daughter, Ellie. Michael is more reserved-and with good reason. Because Ellie soon causes quite a stir.

Lou hosts a poker night to distract Richard and Daniel from their defeat at the tech campus auction. Franka is also there-and spontaneously brings Julius along. While Richard tries to get through the evening discreetly with two of his affairs, a surprising revelation causes a stir: It’s not some unknown investor who bought the tech campus, but Victoria. Meanwhile, Jess faces a huge challenge: Her bookstore has to open overnight. While she’s in Hamburg getting new books, Gisela quickly gathers the entire Böttcher clan. But will there be enough time to get everything ready for the opening? Carla wants to focus on the horse boarding business with Michael-but her passion for cooking won’t let her go. This gives her an idea... Ellie meets Toni and Elyas and immediately recognizes their heartbreak. When Bella joins them, an argument with Elyas escalates-but his words make Bella think.

Midway through her opening speech at the bookstore, Jess suddenly feels nauseous and vomits. Johanna smirks and speculates about a possible pregnancy. Jess finds this completely absurd-no sex, no pregnancy. But Gisela persuades her to take a test. Could it still be true? Meanwhile, Lou has to come to terms with a bitter truth: her desire for a child remains unfulfilled for now; she isn’t pregnant. Despite the disappointment, she finds strength in being there for Bella, who continues to suffer from Victoria’s rejection. When Bella remembers a magical moment with Elyas, she spontaneously seeks him out-and experiences a nasty surprise. After Victoria’s unexpected purchase of the tech campus, she offers Richard and Daniel positions at the EmKa. Daniel indignantly refuses, but Richard accepts. He secretly harbors his own plan: he wants to take over the EmKa completely.

Jess is stunned: She’s pregnant? She goes to her gynecologist and runs into Lou there - just like two weeks ago. When Nurse Ina calls Jess’s name as Mrs. Mahler, Jess becomes thoughtful. When Lou jokes that she and Jess weren’t mistaken for each other two weeks ago, something suddenly clicks for Jess. Bella wants to distract herself from her heartbreak and goes out to party with Toni. On the way back, Till calls her - yesterday was the anniversary of her mother’s death. How could Bella have forgotten? She seeks solace at the accident scene. There, a fateful newspaper ad blows into her hands. Lou wants to look to the future after the failed insemination. But for Daniel, his world collapses. Richard pursues his plan: He accepts Victoria’s offer and promises her that he will also persuade Daniel to return to the EMKa. But that proves more difficult than expected.

Lou has to tell Daniel that there’s no chance of another insemination. Selflessly, Lou is there for Daniel and asks him to reconsider the merger with EmKa. When Richard also makes an emotional plea to him, Daniel agrees for the sake of his family. Meanwhile, Jess has learned who she’s been mistaken for - Lou Mahler. Bella believes her deceased mother sent her a sign - to make a fresh start somewhere else in the world. But not alone. Bella realizes that Elyas still holds a place in her heart. Britta is grateful that Carla accompanies her to the accident site on the first anniversary of Hendrik’s death. The support of her family also shows Britta that she’s not alone. Ellie is fascinated by how openly Gisela speaks about intimate topics. She films Gisela and sends the video to her friends in Nashville. Given the many interested responses, Ellie asks Gisela to answer her friends’ questions. Gisela is flattered.

Jess tries to tell Lou and Daniel that their patient files were switched at the doctor’s office. As a result, Jess is pregnant with Daniel’s child. Daniel throws Jess out, but Lou tries to remember the day of the insemination. Like pieces of a puzzle, the clues begin to fall into place. Lou asks Jess to go with her to the doctor’s office and clear things up. Bella wants to win Elyas back and tries everything to get him to listen to her. But Elyas blocks all contact. Only Toni makes Elyas realize that he’s only making himself unhappy. Elyas allows himself to feel his emotions and reconciles with Bella. Victoria develops alarming symptoms and rushes to the hospital. Britta takes care of her and discovers that Victoria has been taking the wrong dosage of her supplements. Britta reassures her, which Victoria interprets as Britta being available to her for all her health needs in the future. Richard triumphs: His and Daniel’s architecture firm is merging with EmKa.

Bella and Elyas have finally found their way back to each other. Only the issue of Mexico remains unresolved. But through Ellie, it becomes clear to both of them: there’s nothing to question-their future lies in Mexico. A stranger is pregnant by Daniel-Lou and Daniel helplessly try to accept the situation. Can they manage it? Jess, on the other hand, has to come to terms with the fact that she’s accidentally pregnant by a stranger. All her plans are shattered. Jess feels unfairly treated by life and refuses to accept it. She makes a fateful decision. The grand opening of Carla’s bistro is approaching, and she and Michael happen to find a fitting name for it: «Galilea.» Despite all their misgivings, the opening is a success-until the house spirit starts whimpering and scares the guests away. However, Michael and Carla are able to expose Ellie as the ghost, who only wanted to stir up some gossip. The relief is immense-there is no ghost in «Galilea.» Or is there?

Lou and Daniel are still processing the news that Jess is pregnant with Daniel’s child. Daniel is distracting himself with work. But things aren’t going smoothly there either: Victoria criticizes Daniel’s design for the tech campus and exerts her influence. Daniel already regrets the decision to integrate the architecture firm into EmKa. When he then learns that Richard pushed the deal forward, he feels betrayed. Julius wants to move back into his apartment in the city. He’s really enjoying being close to his family at Rosenhaus. Will he stay longer after all? The thought of telling Lou and Daniel that she wants to terminate the pregnancy fills Jess with panic. Jonas tries to calm her down and support her. Toni can’t understand why Ellie has fallen in love with Jonas of all people. Carla has an erotic dream about Simon. When she tells Michael about it, it not only creates uncertainty between Carla and Michael, but also challenges Michael to a fateful competition with Simon.

Gisela, Franka, and Julius support Jess’s decision to have an abortion. Jonas also encourages her. When Jess tells Lou and Daniel about her decision, Lou is relieved. Daniel, on the other hand, is devastated-it’s his last chance to have a child. Bella and Elyas want to live their dream and run a beach bar in Mexico. They’re full of anticipation until the current owner demands EUR60,000 for the business... Daniel feels betrayed by Richard because he pushed through EmKa’s takeover of Kaiser and Mahler. Richard is torn between friendship and the desire to oust his mother from EmKa. Victoria, however, is astonished by her son’s cold-bloodedness. Victoria tries to persuade Britta to be her personal doctor. Although Britta finds the idea absurd, the job promises more free time. But when Rudi comes for treatment, she knows her place is in the hospital. Ellie asks Toni to set her up on a date with Jonas. But Toni tries to dissuade Ellie.

During Lukas’ car accident bicycler Annika falls and Cosima gets a heart attack; Annika refuses a brain scan. André does Fanny a wedding proposal. Charlotte tries to resist Michael’s attractiveness. Hendrik loves Marie and Annika.

Franka’s words move Richard, and he humbly offers to leave EmKa for Daniel so as not to lose him as a friend. Daniel is impressed by the gesture and agrees with Richard that they will remain colleagues-not friends. Richard is relieved. Britta firmly rejects Victoria’s offer to become her private doctor. When Hendrik’s former patient, Rudi, tells her that he can’t find an apprenticeship due to his disability, Britta has an idea: She wants to start a foundation in Hendrik’s name. Carla wants to alleviate Michael’s jealousy and seduce him. But Michael is too tired. Carla is puzzled-is Michael too old for adventure? When the two go to the garden center the next day to pick up flowers and find no one there, Michael shows Carla just how much of an adventurer he still is. Ellie has a crush on Jonas but can’t get a word out in front of him. Jess helps Ellie find her voice again and persuade Jonas to read aloud at the bookstore event.

Daniel is depressed about his situation. Lou manages to convince him that their family happiness is perfect even without a third child. He starts looking ahead again and goes with Lou to Jess’s reading. When a passage from a book is quoted about seizing one’s last chance, Daniel runs away. Later, Daniel runs into Jess and begs her to have the baby. Jess is thrilled with the successful reading, including the live stream. Ellie is also delighted with the success and kisses Jonas enthusiastically, which he gladly accepts. Britta wants to build a training center for people with disabilities with her foundation and is looking for sponsors. Victoria agrees to provide funding, but only if Britta becomes her private doctor. Will Britta agree? The stable door at Dornenhof keeps opening as if by magic. Johanna thinks it’s the ghost of the woman burned as a witch. Carla finds it amusing and goes on a treasure hunt with Michael.

Daniel regrets asking Jess to keep the baby. He hides his mistake from Lou. When Lou asks Jess to sign the lawsuit against the gynecologist’s office, she’s shocked to learn of Daniel’s request. Simon is reluctant to return to Darß. Unlike Valerie, Gisela would like him to stay. Julius and Franka scold their mother for interfering. But when Simon decides to stay in Lüneburg, Gisela triumphs. Ellie is in love with Jonas and ignores Toni’s concerns that Jonas isn’t very reliable. In high spirits, she organizes an auction, the proceeds of which will benefit Bella and Elyas’s beach bar. Britta doesn’t need the premises at the harbor when it becomes clear that Rudi doesn’t approve of a training center exclusively for people with disabilities. But Victoria won’t let her out of the lease.

Lou is stunned. Daniel not only asked Jess to keep the baby, but he also lied to her about it. Daniel regrets his mistake, but Lou withdraws, hurt. Jess is startled by a reminder on her phone that it’s Patrick’s birthday. Jonas urges her to delete Patrick’s contact information. But she can’t bring herself to do it and feels overwhelmed by life-a failing bookstore and an unwanted pregnancy. Then Jess has a dream that brings her clarity. Richard hears about a worldwide cement shortage and cunningly plots against his mother: He steals the password to Victoria’s computer and cancels her entire cement order. Victoria is horrified and suspects an external attack. When Carla and Michael report an alleged ghost at the horse farm, Ellie suggests trying to contact the spirit through a séance. Michael and Britta don’t take the idea seriously, but Carla senses something supernatural.

Carla and Michael are increasingly feeling like they’ve truly arrived in Lüneburg. Michael regrets that he’ll soon have to return to Texas. And he’ll be going alone - Carla still doesn’t have a green card. Even when the news arrives shortly before Michael’s departure that Carla is allowed to travel to the USA, there’s no joy. Richard manages to convince Victoria that she’s sleepwalking and has canceled the cement delivery herself. Victoria is devastated and is persuaded by Gisela to take a break. But Victoria can’t relax: the «Heideecho» newspaper is reporting on EmKa’s difficulties. Where did the newspaper get this information? Lou and Daniel finally manage to talk things out. Lovingly, they reassure each other that they are happy as a family. Is the crisis over Jess and Daniel’s unfulfilled desire to have children finally over?

Carla’s plan to live half the year in Lüneburg and half the year in Texas is set. But neither she nor Michael are happy about it. When Carla considers selling the horse farm, fate intervenes, and they both end up staying in Lüneburg permanently. Richard’s leaked report about EmKa’s bankruptcy has an effect: Daniel and Lou’s doubts about Victoria grow. Victoria tries to hide her insecurity. However, when her loan application is rejected and Richard confronts her about Bella’s emigration, Victoria collapses in his arms. At Bella and Elyas’s auction, Richard bids EUR10,000 on Julius’s fountain pen-to secure Bella’s departure. Bella and Elyas have the necessary down payment for their beach bar. Ellie is unsettled after Jonas canceled their date. Toni was right, Jonas just wants to have fun. Despite her pregnancy, Jess focuses on her online shop. When the doctor’s office offers EUR7,000 in compensation, she accepts. But Daniel and Lou refuse to accept this.

Bella is worried about Victoria and wants to reconcile with her before leaving for Mexico. But suddenly, the Mexican bar owner demands the entire takeover fee, and Bella and Elyas’s emigration plan is in jeopardy. Then, an anonymous donor gifts the couple their dream bar - Victoria? Daniel and Lou don’t want to interfere in Jess’s affairs, but before she accepts the meager compensation offer from the practice, they offer her a loan. Jess refuses; she wants to remain independent. But then Jess overhears Lou considering adopting the child. Richard demands that Julius deliver the lecture he won at auction. As a thank you, Richard wants to give Julius a valuable fountain pen afterward. But Julius refuses. So Richard makes the pen the stake in a poker game - strip poker. In the end, to Julius’s delight, Richard has to take his clothes off. When Carla and Michael decide to stay in Lüneburg, Ellie’s departure leads to a tearful farewell for the little family.

Jess is shocked when she hears that Lou and Daniel are considering adopting her baby. She had already decided to have an abortion. Daniel and Lou reluctantly accept this, and Lou even offers to accompany Jess to her appointment. But it all becomes too much for Jess. She flees from Lou in a panic and causes a car accident. Valerie is, as expected, annoyed that Simon has moved into the Rose House with Olivia. Simon tries to appease her with a dinner at Carla’s new bistro. The evening goes unexpectedly well until Simon accidentally finds another guest’s engagement ring, and Valerie mistakenly assumes he’s about to propose to her. Bella and Elyas believe that Victoria financed the beach bar in Mexico for them. But why? Does she want to get rid of Bella this way? When Bella confronts Victoria, Gunter finally reveals that he bought the bar. Bella is perplexed, and Victoria is horrified.

Victoria is upset that Gunter gave Bella the money for the beach bar. Bella doesn’t understand her grandmother’s resentment, as she can no longer connect with her granddaughter. Victoria is under pressure: she can’t get another loan from the bank. The only solution: either EmKa is converted into a public limited company, or the harbor project Bella initiated has to be sacrificed. Overwhelmed, she seeks out Bella-ready to reconcile. But Richard just wants Bella gone as soon as possible. After her accident, Jess realizes that Lou and Daniel will accept her abortion. She bravely looks to the future and contacts her favorite author, Stella, who surprisingly agrees to a reading. However, only for a fee and without a live stream. Jess defends Stella’s airs to Jonas until she realizes with disbelief: Stella isn’t who she pretends to be. Valerie and Simon laugh about the supposed proposal. Or is there still a certain attraction between them?

Carla denies she’s menopausal and suspects she’s pregnant. Only a negative test makes her accept the truth. But her belief in ghosts persists: A dowsing rod leads Carla to an ancient, buried wooden box-which is securely locked. Jess realizes that her favorite author, Stella van Eyck, is actually a man: Steffen Wanneick. He doesn’t want a reading with fans in the bookstore, but rather a purely audio stream. Jess reluctantly agrees and even lets the author stay overnight at the Rosenhaus. She confides her life story to him. But Steffen shamelessly intends to use this for his next book. Richard prevents Victoria from getting closer to Bella at the last minute. When Victoria collapses and is cared for by Gunter, Richard’s plans for the AG (working group) fall apart. Elyas encourages Bella to reconcile, while Richard continues to stubbornly work against it. Franka and Julius catch Valerie after she has sex with Simon.

With Lou’s help, Jess manages to stop Steffen, aka «Stella van Eyck,» from using her life story for his novel. Jess’s scheduled abortion appointment is approaching, and Lou reiterates that the decision rests solely with her. When Jess disappears shortly before the appointment, Lou finds her, and the two women share a fateful moment that changes Jess’s mind: she wants to carry the child for Lou and Daniel. Carla discovers the letters K.S. on the locked box. She’s certain they’re the initials of the magical Katharina. Carla decides to open the box even without a key. During boxing practice, Richard takes out his frustration with Victoria and accidentally knocks Julius out. This leads to an open conversation between the men, in which Richard confesses that he’s never truly been in love. Julius becomes thoughtful. Elyas arranges a meeting between Bella and Victoria. Hesitantly, they reconcile. Afterward, Victoria gives the go-ahead for the project group-time with Bella is more important.

Richard wants to dethrone Victoria from the EmKa throne. Her failing health and financial problems play right into his hands. But he doesn’t like the newfound closeness between Victoria and Bella. And indeed, Bella gives her grandmother an idea for financing the tower Victoria loves, without having to establish a corporation. Have Richard’s plans failed? Lou is taken aback when Jess suddenly offers to carry the child for her and Daniel. She hesitates to pass on the news, unsure if Jess will keep her word. But the Böttchers and Jonas stand behind Jess. She sees it as destiny to fulfill the Mahlers’ wish for a child. While everyone congratulates her, Lou confesses her doubts to Franka: What will the child mean for her relationship with Daniel? The situation between Carla and Britta escalates when Carla misses an appointment with her gynecologist while searching for the key to the old box. Britta has had enough, and Carla is escaping her menopausal symptoms with her ghost stories.

Richard refuses to accept that Victoria is selling the tech campus just to prevent the corporation from being formed. Ironically, Bella gives him an unwitting idea: he backdates old contracts with the construction company and fabricates legal obligations. Will his risky plan work? Simon wants distance after sleeping with Valerie, while she longs for casual intimacy. When Valerie has to prepare a hotel suite for Julius and runs out of time, he reluctantly helps her. But while working together, sparks fly again... Lou doesn’t know how to handle the situation that Jess wants to carry her child to term. When Jess runs into legal trouble with the author Wanneik, Lou offers her help and asks Victoria for a lawyer. In doing so, she confesses the truth to her mother about the mix-up regarding the insemination. Victoria reacts immediately. Carla seeks distraction from menopause in the story of the mysterious Katharina, which Britta strongly disapproves of.

While cleaning, Bella discovers some of her deceased mother Jenny’s old clothes and is overcome with grief. To comfort her, Eliyas organizes a colorful Día de los Muertos celebration at Carla’s farm. Meanwhile, Carla makes a shocking discovery: Katharina was indeed burned as a witch. During the festivities, Carla believes she sees Katharina’s figure and follows her into the darkness. Meanwhile, Julius catches Valerie and Simon in flagrante delicto in the hotel suite. Valerie still wants to continue casual encounters with Simon, but old conflicts stand in their way. Only Gisela’s podcast offers a solution to their emotional turmoil: «Situationship»-exactly what Valerie and Simon are looking for. Jess experiences the effects of her pregnancy for the first time and gets to know Lou better as a result. The two women decide to tell Daniel together that he’s going to be a father-but they can’t reach him. Jess realizes she needs time to sort out her life.

Bella and Elyas are about to leave for Mexico when Victoria invites them to a family dinner - including a surprise. Bella is overjoyed, and the evening is a joyous occasion. But suddenly, Hermione feels unwell. Will they have to postpone their flight? Lou eagerly awaits Daniel’s return so she can tell him that Jess wants to keep the baby. But before she can, she clashes with Jonas, who accuses her of being stuck-up. Only when he sees Lou arguing with Victoria does he realize how wrong he was. Britta discovers the unconscious Carla and urgently advises her to finally take her menopausal symptoms seriously. Carla remains stubborn and continues her determined search for the key to Katharina’s box. When Britta, in frustration, throws the mysterious crescent-shaped stone to the ground, Carla makes an astonishing discovery. Julius is annoyed that Gisela brought up his affair on her podcast. At the same time, he realizes he’s developing stronger feelings for Richard.

Julius can no longer deny his feelings for Richard - despite Valerie’s warnings. But Richard continues to meet up with Franka casually. When Franka confronts Richard about Julius’s feelings, disaster strikes: Richard wants to break off all contact with Julius. Victoria has a contract drawn up for Jess’s unborn child. Jonas is stunned and accuses Lou and Daniel of reducing Jess to a mere breeding machine. Jess is unsettled - but Lou insists she knew nothing about the contract. Can Jess really trust her? Bella and Elyas are baffled: Hermine is behaving strangely, but the veterinary clinic can’t find anything wrong. When the dog runs off to Lou’s, Bella realizes: Hermine doesn’t want to go to Mexico. In an emotional moment, Bella and Elyas say goodbye to Victoria, Till - and Hermine. Meanwhile, Carla discovers the key to Katharina’s box among the shards of the crescent-shaped stone. Inside: love letters from Leonard. But the romantic story harbors a dark secret.

Victoria’s grief over Bella’s departure is so profound that she cancels an important press conference. Richard shamelessly seizes this opportunity: He steps in front of the cameras alone and announces a monumental construction project in honor of Georg, Victoria’s late husband. Victoria is stunned by this solo effort. Julius feels patronized by Franka because she wants to protect him from Richard. But the siblings quickly reconcile. Richard, however, distances himself from Julius. But Julius doesn’t give up. Jess initially feels liberated after tearing up Victoria’s contract. But Valerie sows doubt - 100,000 euros would be a start to an independent life. When Jess suddenly asks Lou to sign the contract after all, Lou is speechless. Meanwhile, Britta and Carla join forces once again: Together, they delve into the past to clear the name of the wrongly convicted Katharina Schönbuch.

Jess wants financial security and wants to sign Victoria’s alimony agreement. But Lou wants to set boundaries with her mother and feels pressured. Then Daniel returns from the US and learns that Jess wants to have the baby after all. Overwhelmed, he accuses Lou of not informing him. He thought he’d never be a father again. Victoria realizes that Richard is trying to push her into a corporation. If Richard knows better, he should find an investor for the harbor area. Richard bluffs and pulls Sören Johannson out of his hat. This gives him time to plan his next move against Victoria. Julius is nervous about seeing Mo again and brags about his new friend Richard. But when Richard humiliates him in front of Mo, Julius is hurt. Mo comforts him, and Julius enjoys the old familiarity. Too soon, because Mo has a new lover... Carla celebrates with Britta that she has overcome her cancer and overlooks a clue about Katharina’s treasure.

Daniel reconciles with Lou, and they make a deal with Jess that guarantees her financial support during her pregnancy. But when Lou learns that Daniel has already offered Jess the informal «du» (the German equivalent of «you» used with friends and family), she feels it’s a step too far. Valerie and Simon are having more than a casual fling, but less than a committed relationship. Suddenly, Valerie is suffering from intense food cravings, and a pregnancy test confirms her worst fears: she’s pregnant. Julius has to come to terms with the fact that Mo is in a relationship with a much younger man in Parma, who also happens to be incredibly handsome. Richard takes advantage of Julius’s despair and seduces him, only to later brutally tell him that Julius is just a pleasant pastime for him. Mo, of all people, overhears the humiliating rejection.

Lou is trying to accept that Daniel wants to experience his third child’s pregnancy with Jess. Nevertheless, it stings Lou when she sees them together in an intimate moment. Valerie is completely overwhelmed by her renewed pregnancy and blames Simon. But then comes the all-clear: false alarm. Both Simon and Valerie are surprised to find they actually regret it. Richard continues to spin his wicked web against Victoria: He cleverly exploits city obstacles for the Emilia Kaiser Tower to drive up construction costs and lure Victoria into his trap. When investor Sören Johansson finally demands the tower be renamed Johansson Tower, Victoria is shocked-her dream of creating a memorial to Emilia is shattered. Julius has finally broken up with Richard and runs into Mo again. They share a close moment, but Mo simply wants to sell the heather summer fragrance, the symbol of their love.

Lou is trying to prepare for the birth of Jess’s baby. As she does so, she realizes more and more that she can’t develop genuine maternal feelings. Distraught, she confesses to Daniel that she doesn’t even know if she still wants the child. Given her siblings’ relationship chaos, Franka is glad to be single. When a runaway horse tramples her expensive seedlings, she angrily berates its owner. Although she doesn’t trust the charming stranger, he keeps his promise and repairs the damage. They both enjoy their playful banter and grow closer. Victoria is outraged: How can the investor Johannsson demand that the tower be named after him? Richard intends to use this scheme to pressure Victoria into converting the company into a public limited company (AG), so that the old name can remain. But Victoria would rather cancel the project than make any concessions to her son.

Daniel senses Lou’s doubts about their child and doesn’t know how to handle the situation. Lou withdraws. In a poignant moment, she finally asks him to give her time until she has clarity for herself. Franka’s romantic moment with the stranger is interrupted when Jonas calls her about an emergency at the nursery. It turns out to be not so serious after all-but in her haste, Franka forgot to ask for the stranger’s number. Will she be able to find him again? Meanwhile, Richard is triumphant over Victoria’s approval of the public limited company-his coup seems to have succeeded. But the joy is short-lived: Victoria plans to bring Julius onto the supervisory board to keep Richard in check. Julius revels in his newfound power and makes sure Richard knows it. Carla discovers that Katharina was far ahead of her time and a great astronomer. To honor Katharina, Carla gives an interview to the «Heideecho» newspaper. But the tabloid simply mocks Carla and her research.

Franka experiences an emotional rollercoaster: After a passionate night with Ove, he unexpectedly leaves. Franka is initially disappointed, but then he suddenly reappears. Ove has abandoned all his professional obligations just to be with her. Franka is deeply moved. Victoria is struggling with the loss of Bella and tries to reconnect with her by offering her a position on the board of directors at EmKa. Lou tries to dissuade her, but then realizes that Victoria’s motives aren’t purely business-related. Jonas has lost his driver’s license and is in financial trouble. To supplement his income, he rents out the spare rooms in his shared apartment including his own. When he’s forced to spend the night at the bookstore, he gives Jess a brilliant business idea. Richard discovers that Mo is in financial trouble and therefore wants to sell her summer heather fragrance but at that very moment, Julius begs Mo not to part with it.

After her spontaneous declaration of love to Ove, Franka is overwhelmed and runs away. In the process, she loses a shoe. When Ove returns it to her, he confesses his love as well. A fairytale comes true-until Ove suddenly suffers an anaphylactic shock. Can Franka wake her prince with a kiss in time? Richard uses Mo as a pawn in his intrigues: He reveals to Julius that Mo is facing bankruptcy and that the heather summer scent is his last hope. But if Mo sells the symbol of their love, a piece of their shared memory will be lost... Jess is offering romantic overnight stays at the bookstore. Jonas supports her, but Daniel is also helping out. Jonas feels sidelined by Daniel and demands that the Mahlers stay out of Jess’s life. Carla is under fire: The «Heideecho» accuses her of having fabricated Katharina’s research. Carla won’t stand for it and, with Britta’s help, wants to prove that Katharina was a misunderstood medieval scholar.

In her podcast, Gisela talks about the different kinds of love, unaware of how her words affect those around her. Richard plays the jealous Julius, claiming to have feelings for him. Julius is initially touched, but then sees through Richard’s manipulation. Carla and Britta experience a moving moment: Katharina’s research is finally recognized - the twin comets she discovered are now named Katharina and Leonard. During an argument with Jess, Jonas gets hit on the head with a book. He takes this as a sign and reads his first romance novel. To Jess’s surprise, he’s completely captivated. While stargazing, she tells him the romantic love story of Katharina and Leonard - Jonas is deeply moved. Meanwhile, Valerie once again shirks her maternal duties. She passes the daycare appointment on to Simon - and instead lets herself be distracted by her dog Hermine, who keeps showing up at her door.

Gisela starts a fundraising campaign for burn victims in a nursing home - Ove and Franka are enthusiastically helping out. But Franka senses that Ove is hiding something from her. The uncertainty is wearing her down: When will Ove tell her the truth about himself? Valerie reluctantly helps Simon round up some escaped sheep after accidentally leaving the pasture gate open. The two grow closer again. When the dog Hermine runs up to Valerie again, an old childhood memory resurfaces. Victoria is trying to get back to her daily routine after Bella’s departure. But it’s not working out so well, and Lou convinces her mother to travel to Mexico to see Bella. Richard immediately sees his chance to take over the leadership of EmKa - but then gets a bitter surprise. Jonas is raving about his Portuguese online love, Melissa. Jess encourages him to give her a real chance. But Jonas hesitates - and claims he doesn’t want to leave Jess alone. Will she be able to send him to his new love after all?

While Victoria travels to see Bella, Lou is covering for her mother at the EmKa. This doesn’t sit well with either Richard or Daniel. Richard feels sidelined, and Daniel accuses Lou of using work to escape her lack of affection for the child. Franka can’t take it anymore: She wants to know who Ove really is. When she persists, Ove claims to be part of the Swedish royal family. Since Franka can’t find him online, she doesn’t believe a word of it and deletes his contact information. Jess has an ultrasound. By chance, Daniel is present, and they are both deeply moved by the baby’s heartbeat. Jess feels genuine maternal emotions, and Lou slowly begins to connect with the child as well. Julius wants to familiarize himself with his responsibilities at the EmKa. Richard immediately wants to help him, hoping to manipulate Julius to his advantage. But Julius sets boundaries for Richard: He prefers to gather information at the EmKa branches and leaves Richard standing there.

Jess and Daniel experience a moving moment during the ultrasound when they hear the baby’s heartbeat. For the first time, Jess feels something for her baby. While Lou and Daniel decide to tell their children that they’re getting a sibling, Jess begins to feel more and more like a mother… Valerie is shocked when she suddenly sees her father, Hans-Harald, with a young lover in Lüneburg. He has no idea that his children live there. Franka and Gisela fear that old traumas will resurface for Valerie. Toni returns from Norway and learns that Jonas has been renting out the rooms in their shared apartment at inflated prices. The shady deal is exposed, and Jonas has to pay back the money. However, he takes it from the shared apartment account. Toni is stunned. Carla is honored for her efforts on behalf of Katharina. Proud and happy, she is suddenly hit by menopausal symptoms during the award ceremony.

Daniel’s thoughts are with his unborn child, and he’s making mistakes at work. His testosterone levels are too low, and he’s supposed to avoid stress to regulate his hormones. Lou decides to take action. She puts the shocked Daniel on leave against his will. For Valerie, the situation with her father, Hans-Harald, escalates. He shows no interest in his daughter, but he does have an interest in Simon, whom Hans-Harald mistakenly believes to be the wealthy Dahlmann heir. Hurt, Valerie impulsively claims to be engaged to Simon to please her father. Will Simon play along? Britta enjoys a spa day with her completely changed daughter. She’s happy that Lilly is so affectionate. That is, until Britta learns that Lilly lied to her about the reason for her early return. Toni is still furious with Jonas for emptying the shared apartment’s bank account. To replenish the funds, she impulsively sells his belongings. But Jonas reacts differently than expected.

Daniel is hurt about Lou’s dismissal, but they reconcile. On a bike ride, he meets Jess, who has a flat tire, and helps her. As a thank you, Jess invites him to Carla’s bistro. The two spend a carefree time together, while Lou receives alarming news: all the plans for her tower project presentation have disappeared. Simon pretends to be Valerie’s fiancé to Hans-Harald, who is thrilled that his daughter is marrying a Dahlmann. But when Simon sees how arrogant and reactionary Hans-Harald is, he’s had enough and reveals the truth about Valerie to Hans-Harald: she isn’t his biological daughter at all. Britta learns the truth about Lilly’s disastrous vacation in France: she and Ava were completely out of control. Lilly confesses that Ava has fallen for Finn but keeps her own vacation fling a secret. Toni chats alone with Jonas and is surprised to discover his blood donor pin - does Jonas really have a selfless side?

Daniel saves Lou’s project presentation, and the couple finally reconciles. Meanwhile, Richard hatches a nasty plan to make the presentation a complete embarrassment for Lou. He hides the financing documents and turns Hans-Harald against her. When the presentation begins, Lou is under pressure as Hans-Harald relentlessly demands information about the financing plans, and she has no answer. Valerie refuses to accept that Hans-Harald wants nothing more to do with her. He feels like her father. She works obsessively on Hans-Harald’s apartment design to please him. When he finally withdraws the commission and declares he never wants to see her again, Valerie collapses in Gisela’s arms. Toni’s argument with Jonas escalates: She steals his beloved sneakers, but he won’t stand for it. In desperation, Carla takes untested hormone pills from the US for the first time, despite Britta’s strong warnings against it.

Richard decides at the last second not to embarrass Lou in front of the investors. Remorsefully, he confesses to her that he stole the documents out of envy because she got the top job. Can Lou forgive him for this? Meanwhile, Pelle accidentally learns about Jess’s surrogacy from Richard. He spontaneously invites Jess to a family dinner. And the bond between Daniel and Jess intensifies. Valerie is devastated by Hans-Harald’s rejection and blames Simon. But Simon stands up for Valerie with Hans-Harald and convinces him to reconsider. He agrees to at least pay her for the canceled order. But Hans-Harald hasn’t counted on Gisela and Franka, who confront him about his heartless behavior. Carla feels euphoric after taking the illegal hormone pills. She pretends to follow Britta’s recommended diet. Britta is amazed at how well it works for Carla. But then Carla begins to experience the first side effects of the medication.

Valerie painfully realizes that she never had the father she longed for in Hans-Harald. With Gisela’s support, she tries to let go. But then comes another blow: Richard fires Valerie because she lied to him. What should she do now? Meanwhile, Jess wants to distance herself from the Mahlers, but Pelle and Charly continue to seek contact. While playing with the children, Jess suddenly feels intense maternal emotions-can she really give up her baby? Lou and Daniel are excited about their growing family and have no idea how much Jess is struggling inside. Lou asks Richard to solve the problem with the old elm tree-the tree is blocking the construction project but cannot be cut down. When Richard learns that Jolina is behind the environmental petition, he wants to silence her. Will Jolina back down? Toni wants to get a buyout for the allotment garden and unexpectedly discovers her passion for gardening.

Toni wants to give up her allotment garden to pay off Jonas’s rent arrears. But Jonas asks her to trust him - he’ll raise the money himself. Toni doesn’t believe him at first, but then Jonas starts transferring small amounts. When Simon also advises Toni to keep the garden and defers her shared apartment rent, Toni starts to have second thoughts. Should she keep the garden after all? Valerie is fighting to keep her job at EmKa after being fired. With fresh ideas for the EmKa Tower, she manages to convince Lou and Richard and gets a second chance. But Richard’s discovery of another indiscretion throws everything into question again. Against Britta’s advice, Carla secretly takes a banned hormone preparation from the USA - with severe side effects. When Gisela lets it slip on the podcast, Britta is horrified and feels betrayed by Carla. Jess is struggling with her maternal feelings - and asks Lou and Daniel for an honest conversation.

Jess is looking forward to a picnic with Lou and Daniel - she finally wants to tell them that she wants to be involved in their child’s life. But when Pelle and Charly show up with a lovely surprise, Jess is painfully aware: the four of them are already a close-knit family. Meanwhile, Carla and Britta are trying to reconcile. Although they both show understanding for each other, Carla’s secret hormone therapy remains a sore point. Only when Carla stops taking the pills for Britta’s sake does their friendship seem to be saved. But then Gisela’s podcast causes new trouble. Richard has triggered a press scandal with a failed bribery attempt. Lou confronts him but remains loyal to her brother in front of Victoria. Together, they tackle the next problem: the unruly elm tree. Valerie is exonerated when it turns out that she didn’t order the luxury suitcases. But her joy is short-lived: fraudsters have emptied her account.

Valerie is finding it hard to accept her new job as a waitress at the town café - the job is a blow to her pride. When Richard of all people shows up as a customer and provokes her, she finally snaps. Meanwhile, Simon panics when Olivia chokes and can’t breathe. Toni reacts quickly and saves the baby. But the shock is profound, and Simon does everything he can to never find himself in such a situation again. At a picnic with Lou and Daniel, Jess feels out of place and sneaks away. But a chance encounter with Daniel leads to an intimate moment, and the two spend some lovely hours together. Confused, Daniel returns and seeks solace with Lou - the night ends passionately. Carla and Britta are furious because Gisela released their podcast episode without asking. But the expected backlash never materializes - over 10,000 listeners are celebrating her. And then an invitation to the awards ceremony arrives.

After a close moment with Jess, Daniel sought refuge in passionate sex with Lou. When Lou wants to deepen her relationship with Jess, Daniel is overwhelmed and impulsively cancels a planned dinner for the three of them. Lou puts him under pressure: Why did he lie? Carla finds a strange horse on her farm and feels a special connection to the old animal. When Richard finds the owner, Carla is shocked: The horse is destined for the slaughterhouse. Gisela releases her podcast episode about menopause, but Britta is worried about her reputation due to negative reviews. When it turns out who is behind the negative comments, Britta relents. Toni gives Simon a first-aid course for Olivia, but keeps getting distracted by flirtatious chats with Jonas. But does Simon even need help, or is he suffering more from separation anxiety from Olivia? Britta discovers traces of a party in the workshop and angrily sets out to find the culprit.

Daniel hides from Lou the real reason for his distance from Jess, claiming that the contact is becoming too much for him. At her prenatal appointment, Lou and Jess have an open conversation. When Jess learns that she’s supposed to hand over her baby immediately after giving birth, without holding it, she’s devastated. Lara visits Valerie in Lüneburg and flirts with the charming Richard. Unaware that he’s Valerie’s ex-boss, she spends a passionate night with him. When Valerie finds out, she’s stunned. She also has to confess to Lara that she works as a waitress. Jonas is back from Portugal and greets Toni with an enthusiastic kiss-which unsettles them both. During dinner, they secretly chat and rediscover their playful side. Britta grounds Lilly for secretly partying. Carla desperately needs help with her five rescued horses. Will Lilly do her punishment chores in the stables? Richard unexpectedly offers Lara a job at EmKa.

Lara sees her opportunity when she accidentally overhears Richard’s plan to oust Victoria from her position at EmKa. Armed with this explosive information, she cleverly blackmails him: either she gets a lucrative position on the supervisory board or his scheming is exposed. Richard realizes with horror - Lara has him wrapped around her little finger. Meanwhile, Jess desperately fights her growing maternal feelings. Jonas suggests that Jess write down her thoughts in a letter to the Mahlers to gain clarity about what she truly wants. While writing, Jess painfully realizes: she doesn’t want to give up the baby. What now? Carla struggles with getting older - especially when Lilly discovers a gray hair and her boyfriend Nico mistakes her for Lilly’s grandmother. Her attempt at phone sex with Michael fails miserably, and then Britta reminds Carla of her upcoming 50th birthday... Simon pretends to everyone that he’s taking Olivia to daycare.

Tensions between Lou and Daniel escalate during the treehouse construction for Charly and Pelle, as Daniel feels his boss, Lou, doesn’t take him seriously. They reconcile just in time before Jess’s fateful letter hits them both hard. After careful consideration, Jess has decided to keep her child. Toni and Jonas are enthusiastically planning their garden together, but Toni’s oversight on an important job for Julius causes new stress. Valerie is initially pleased with her seemingly trouble-free role as a mother-Olivia doesn’t cry when she leaves for daycare. But the truth hits her hard: the lack of a bond with her daughter makes saying goodbye so easy. Richard has to reveal his plan to Lara for getting rid of Victoria.

Lou is shocked: Jess wants to keep her child. Daniel comforts Lou, who tries to remain brave. But when Charly expresses her excitement about the baby, she can’t hide her sorrow. During an impulsive attempt at riding a horse, Lou stops at the last second-memories of her father’s tragic riding accident hold her back. Richard is there for her, and Franka gives her renewed courage. Daniel promises Lou he won’t have any contact with the new child-her family is the most important thing. Toni is disappointed by Jonas’s renewed unreliability-he helped Jess and forgot about her again. After a half-funny exchange of notes, Toni rejects his date offer. Desperate, Jonas asks the ClipClub community for advice. Richard is in danger of being exposed: Lara suspects something is wrong when she learns that Julius is the naive man she’s supposed to take down. Richard plays a high-stakes game and demands that she speak in front of Julius.

Jess has finally decided to keep her baby and, thanks to Franka’s support, is truly looking forward to her child for the first time. Lou and Daniel are struggling with their renewed loss, but Lou rejects Daniel’s suggestion of having no contact with the child. When Jess tries to apologize to Lou, Lou is overcome with emotion and makes unfair accusations against Jess - but apologizes shortly afterward. Everyone seems to be finding a way forward - until Jess falls off the ladder and Daniel catches her. Their lips come dangerously close... There’s silence between Toni and Jonas after she canceled their date. When Toni learns that Jonas is talking about her online, she interrupts his live stream. Following Valerie’s advice, she pretends to be dating Jonas - but he has a date with a pitchfork... Richard is blackmailing Lara: she’s supposed to get Julius on his side. Valerie is depressed because she doesn’t think she has a strong connection with Olivia.

After Jess and Daniel almost shared an unwanted kiss, the two avoid each other. Lou talks to Jess, who desperately wants Daniel to be a father figure in her life. They agree to a trial period of living together to see if they can get along. But the start is difficult: Jess bursts in on the Mahlers’ romantic interlude. Richard wants to bind Julius more closely to him. Lara wants to warn Julius about Richard out of old friendship, but she also needs Richard’s money to fight for her children. So she prevents Julius from going on a date with another man, thus clearing the way for Richard. After an argument with her mother, Lilly moves in with Carla. At first, she has her godmother wrapped around her little finger, but when Lilly becomes increasingly brazen in demanding more pocket money, Carla puts a stop to it. Lilly doesn’t give up: she even works at the bistro to earn it.

Richard grows suspicious: Lara isn’t pushing Julius into his arms, but rather trying to protect him from Richard. In her desperation, Lara decides to get involved with Richard to show Julius that Richard only knows sex, but no love. But before Julius can catch them in the act, Richard sees through the scheme. He threatens Lara, saying he won’t support her in her fight for custody of her children. After Jess accidentally interrupts Lou and Daniel having sex, one mishap after another befalls her. Jess considers the trial living arrangement a failure and wants to go home immediately. But Lou comforts her with her warmhearted nature. Lilly isn’t taking her job at the bistro seriously. She makes no effort, neither serving nor washing dishes. Is it just a ploy to get Carla to relieve her of the unpleasant task? Jonas and Toni, disillusioned, decide to stop dating. He finds her stuffy, she finds him chaotic. A decision they soon regret.

Lou and Daniel are called away to an emergency at a construction site, leaving Jess alone with her boys. They’re not entirely comfortable with this, but the reserved Jess surprises everyone: she helps Charly with his homework and fleeces Richard at poker night. But then she has a romantic dream about Daniel. Richard surprises Julius with a parachute jump, but Julius isn’t easily swayed. After enjoying his date with Richard, he confidently stands him up. Richard is furious, and Lara has to drag Julius into his arms. Carla is at her wit’s end and, exasperated, grounds Lilly. Lilly escapes to Britta’s and makes up with her mother. Carla takes it in stride: her strict attempt at parenting has at least brought Britta and Lilly back together. Valerie is looking forward to an evening with Lara and Toni, but Lara cancels due to bad news in the custody battle. When Valerie later discovers that Lara is enjoying a leisurely pasta meal with Simon instead, she sees red.

Jess is running from her erotic dreams about Daniel. Lou and Daniel wonder why Jess left so abruptly. Meanwhile, Jonas reassures Jess: the dream doesn’t necessarily mean she’s fallen in love with Daniel. But he’s constantly on her mind, and as Jess works on notes for her novel, she suddenly names the hero of her story: Daniel. She can no longer deny it: she’s fallen in love with him. Toni forgot to help Corinna at the shop, but Jonas spontaneously steps in. Toni wants to thank him with a meal. To avoid sending Jonas the wrong signals, she also invites Jolina. The dinner for the three of them is a bit awkward until Jonas speaks frankly and asks Toni out on a proper date. Richard wants to impress Julius with a luxury apartment, but Julius firmly refuses. Lara makes it clear to Richard: Julius doesn’t want expensive gifts, but real feelings.

Daniel is confused because Jess seems to be avoiding him. Lou wants to distract Daniel with a romantic getaway. They both enjoy carefree hours together, and their passion is rekindled. But Jess can’t get Daniel out of his head. When she runs into him by chance, Jess is on the verge of confessing her feelings to Daniel. But then she decides to give him a firm warning: He should leave her alone. Carla is reluctantly facing her 50th birthday and absolutely doesn’t want to celebrate. She can’t wait to be in Madeira with Michael to escape her birthday. But then the ground staff in Texas go on strike, and Michael can’t fly... Franka is shocked to learn that Ove is actually a nephew of the Swedish king and that she wrongly suspected him of lying to her. Desperately, she tries to contact him, but he’s no longer reachable. Toni’s date with Jonas at the goat farm is going perfectly. Until Valerie reveals that Jonas’s romantic ideas come from the internet.

Carla’s 50th birthday is weighing heavily on her, but a mysterious pearl necklace jolts her out of her lethargy. Determined, she searches for the owner and supports all her friends in every way. And so, a wonderful birthday celebration finally takes place - with just the girls. Jess is running away from her feelings for Daniel and decides to write a bestseller to become financially independent. In doing so, Carla’s pearl necklace inspires her to write a tragic love story. But Gisela gently points out to Jess that her love for Daniel could also end tragically. Lara’s unscrupulous ex-husband threatens to take her children away. With Valerie’s help, Lara falsely claims to be a future board member of Emka in order to secure a top lawyer for the custody battle. Britta overreacts when Lilly plans a date with her older boyfriend. Carla advises trust instead of prohibitions. But Lilly should set boundaries if she doesn’t like something about the date.

Jonas is looking forward to his next date with Toni. But Toni has learned that the romantic goat farm date wasn’t Jonas’s idea, but that he stole it from the internet. Toni feels betrayed and withdraws. But Jonas doesn’t give up and convinces Toni of his sincere love. In doing so, he realizes: He’s truly in love for the first time. Lou wants to stay out of Daniel’s problems with Jess and therefore gets into an argument with him. Daniel is worried that Jess might keep the child from him. Then, surprisingly, Jess offers to officially acknowledge him as the father. To cheer Lou up, Richard suggests they revive a ritual from their youth. The siblings enjoy a lovely day until Lou receives a call from Lara’s lawyer. She confronts Richard: Did he perhaps promise Lara a position on the board of directors? Julius feels an emptiness in his life: He misses talking to Mo. He starts writing emails to his ex-partner without expecting a reply.

Lou puts her argument with Daniel aside and throws herself into work with Richard. The two make a good team. Richard sees his opportunity and suggests to Lou that they run EmKa together in the future - without Victoria. Lou is outraged that Lara impersonated an EmKa supervisory board member with a forged document and wants to end their collaboration. But Richard needs Lara for his scheme against Victoria. He cleverly saves Lara from being fired by appealing to Lou’s maternal instincts. Lou doesn’t suspect anything about her brother. Valerie is stuck in a rut, both professionally and personally. Gisela makes it clear to her: Happiness is Simon. Valerie goes to see him - and finds him together with Lara... Jonas is head over heels in love with Toni and transforms his room into a romantic love nest. But Toni gently but firmly draws a line: They’re far from being a couple. When Jonas shares his heartbreak with Jess, it becomes clear once again: Jess doesn’t like Toni.

Jess is searching for inspiration for her book at the estate. When Daniel unexpectedly shows up, ideas suddenly start flowing. Daniel is fascinated by her story, but finds the idea of a near-kiss silly. When Jess emotionally explains to him how exciting such a near-kiss can be, the two get dangerously close. Valerie denies her feelings for Simon so vehemently that Lara and Gisela suspect the opposite and plan a matchmaking dinner - which Julius cleverly thwarts. But Valerie already has a completely different plan. When Ove comes to Lüneburg looking for Franka, she’s determined to get him. Jonas receives a lucrative offer to film an advertising video for chocolates with himself and his girlfriend as an influencer. Since Toni isn’t interested, Jonas spontaneously films with Bella - also to make Toni jealous. But Toni remains unfazed.

Valerie wants to steal Franka’s great love, Ove. Lara tries in vain to reason with Valerie, but Valerie is already dreaming of a life of luxury among European high society. When Franka unexpectedly returns, Valerie tries to prevent any encounter between Ove and her sister. But at the last moment, the lovers meet and happily fall into each other’s arms. Daniel is completely thrown off balance when he suddenly discovers feelings for Jess during a near-kiss. Although Simon tries to calm him down, Daniel can’t deny his attraction to Jess. Richard and Lara end up in bed and are caught by none other than Julius. But Richard remains cool and cleverly plays on Julius’s feelings. Jonas is stood up by Valerie during a video shoot, but Gisela steps in. The video is a success and helps Nico apologize to Lilly. Britta is frustrated by the reconciliation and takes her anger out on Gisela. But Gisela gives her a piece of her mind.

Daniel desperately tries to suppress his feelings for Jess. When Lou pushes forward with her career goals at EmKa, Daniel reacts defensively. Lou senses that something is wrong and confronts him. Under pressure, Daniel confesses that he’s falling in love with Jess. Although Daniel and Jess have agreed to a professional relationship, neither can forget their attraction. Emotions are running high. Lara is desperately fighting for custody of her children. She’ll stop at nothing to achieve her goal. She brazenly steals incriminating documents from Richard that implicate her ex-husband. Will Richard find out? Franka and Ove secretly celebrate their passionate reunion. Valerie, on the other hand, feels cheated out of her happiness. At least she now wants to benefit from Ove’s celebrity. Toni is touched by Jonas’s care. But Jonas doesn’t want to overwhelm Toni and preemptively clarifies that they are just friends with benefits. Toni is disappointed.

Valerie shamelessly exploits Ove’s fame and reveals his whereabouts to the press. She claims to be the interior designer for the Swedish royal family, hoping for new commissions. Neither Franka nor Gisela can stop her. When the tabloids track Ove down, he has to go into hiding and leave Franka indefinitely. Franka’s world collapses. Lou is shocked by Daniel’s confession that he has feelings for Jess. Although he assures her that nothing will change between them, Lou flees to Richard. And Richard gives his brother-in-law a stern warning to stay away from Jess. Lou is afraid her marriage won’t survive it. Britta reluctantly allows Lilly’s boyfriend, Nico, to stay overnight for the first time. To check him out, she chats with him using a fake name. But when Nico demands a photo of her, she finds herself in a tight spot. Lara has the USB stick full of sensitive data against her ex-husband, but the password is still in Richard’s hands.

Lou and Daniel vow to always stay together. But when Daniel has to see Jess about financial matters, Richard warns Lou of the danger. Lou thinks it’s an overreaction, since Daniel wants distance from Jess. But during the meeting, there’s an accidental touch, and their feelings are rekindled. Ove and Franka are struggling with their future: Should he disappear or face the press? Franka is shocked to learn that Valerie tried to steal Ove away from her and makes a decision: No more secrets, she wants to go public with her love for Ove. Lara desperately tries to get the password for the USB stick with Simon’s help. But Gisela cleverly manages the impossible: She steals the password from Richard. Richard won’t stand for it and strikes back. Britta secretly spies on Nico via ClipClub and is shocked by his supposed vices. What she doesn’t know is that Lilly and Nico have seen through her and are teasing her. When the truth comes out, Britta is humiliated.

Jess and Daniel are trying to avoid each other. But a long-planned appointment to buy a stroller is coming up. Lou is brave and clings to the idea of soon returning to her normal family life with Daniel. Richard is skeptical - is he right? Valerie is enjoying the media attention and receiving numerous job offers. But then more and more negative articles about her appear. When she is branded a bad mother, she loses her jobs again. Simon also abandons her. But Valerie stubbornly fights alone against the rest of the world. With Gisela’s help, Britta tries to repair her relationship with Lilly. But she immediately puts her foot in it again and has to admit to herself that she’s overwhelmed. Only Carla can ease her self-recrimination. Lara can hardly believe her luck: Thanks to Richard, she has evidence against her husband and gets her children back.

Lara sensitively recognizes how isolated Valerie has become and offers to accompany her to Switzerland. Valerie could work there with Lara as an interior designer. Valerie proudly refuses, but can she still afford to be proud? Daniel wants no further contact with Jess and her child. Lou wonders how this will work in the long run, but supports Daniel’s decision. Jess, on the other hand, still hopes for a life with Daniel. And so Lou has to tell her the harsh truth. Toni and Jonas enjoy their casual relationship and deny having any deeper feelings for each other. While Jonas plans a romantic gesture, Toni arranges a date with another man to prove to herself that she isn’t in love with Jonas. Of all people, Jonas finds out about it… Franka and Ove are enjoying their happiness in Lüneburg and now need a plan for their future together. When Ove also gains a foothold professionally in Lüneburg through Julius, nothing seems to stand in the way of their future together in the Hanseatic city.

Daniel resolutely withdraws from Jess’s life and that of the unborn child, but Lou recognizes the inner conflict raging within him. An explosive argument with Pelle causes tensions to escalate, and Lou makes a painful decision to clear the air. Victoria returns from Mexico well-rested, and Richard and Lou propose a dual leadership role at EmKa. Surprisingly, she’s enthusiastic about the idea-though not in the way Richard and Lou had envisioned... Jess faces the enormous challenge of running a struggling bookstore as a single mother, but unexpected support from family and friends gives her new hope. Franka rises to the occasion when she bravely takes on the task of organizing a charity ball, proving she’s ready to forge a new path.

Jess feels uncomfortable pretending to be a couple with Jonas to his followers, but the publicity is boosting her business. When Toni jealously accuses her, Jess’s bookstore suddenly receives an unexpected visitor. Meanwhile, Daniel moves in with Richard. He’s suffering greatly from his breakup with Lou, and Lou is also struggling with her decision. But as long as Daniel’s confusion about his feelings for Jess remains unresolved, their love is put to the test. Simon is considering getting a hunting license, but during a trial run, he realizes he can’t kill animals. Can Gunter convince him otherwise? Lou hesitates to accept Victoria’s offer to jointly lead the EmKa, but the prospect of taking on more responsibility again is very appealing. Britta’s mother-daughter day doesn’t go as planned when Lilly cancels. Frustrated, Britta decides to spend the day alone-with painful consequences. Toni vents to Valerie about Jonas, prompting Valerie to accuse her of having feelings for him.

Richard faces a major challenge: To permanently oust Victoria from the EmKa management, he must get his supporters onto the supervisory board. While Victoria has already appointed Gunter, Britta, and Julius, Richard is desperately fighting for the last two seats. In desperation, he spontaneously proposes Gerd Böttcher-a man he barely knows. Has he made the right choice? Meanwhile, Jess is taken aback by the unexpected arrival of her father, Gerd. Instead of a warm welcome, she is met with harsh criticism of her bookstore, which he has already doomed to fail. At the same time, Jess struggles with her longing for Daniel, who is torn between his feelings for her and the fear of losing his family. Toni is devastated: She has run over a sheep. Gunter informs her that putting injured animals out of their misery is part of a hunter’s duties. Tormented by her conscience, she pressures Simon to get his hunting license-but Simon sets conditions.

Franka and Ove are looking forward to their ball together, but a surprising message from the royal court dampens their spirits: Ove has to travel to Paris immediately afterward. Suddenly, their future together is in jeopardy. When the taxi drops them off at the wrong place, they seize the opportunity for some uninterrupted time alone together - and Ove pops the question to Franka... Toni reluctantly agrees to get her hunting license with Simon. Jonas wants to help her study, but the closeness with him is too intense for Toni. Terrified, she flees and confesses to Simon her fear of falling in love with Jonas. Meanwhile, Richard is fighting feverishly for a majority on the EmKa supervisory board. Will he manage to win over the members? Daniel wants to reach out to Lou, but an embarrassing encounter with Jess and her father throws everything into disarray. Can the two of them save their marriage?

Daniel surprises Lou with a romantic scavenger hunt through their shared love story. A picnic in the open air brings about the longed-for fresh start. But later, when Daniel goes to get her favorite wine, he accidentally discovers Jess’s novel manuscript and unexpectedly recognizes himself in the characters, and the emotions overwhelm him. Toni, on the other hand, struggles with her fear of commitment and once again offends Jonas by seemingly coolly advising him to date other women. At the town café, the two observe each other on fake dates. Can they still find their way back to each other? Meanwhile, Franka beams as she accepts Ove’s marriage proposal, but what will their life together be like? Gerd wants to help Jess’s bookstore with marketing and shows up with an influencer who causes quite a stir. Victoria wins Britta over to the EmKa supervisory board, giving herself a decisive advantage over Richard. Will he have to concede defeat?

Overwhelmed, Daniel flees after kissing Jess. He then cuts his date with Lou short to apologize to Jess. But Jess keeps him at arm’s length; she has much bigger problems: no electricity at the bookstore. Her father, Gerd, supports her, and Victoria eventually arranges for an electrician. As Jess is about to leave the estate, she runs into Lou, who persistently asks where Daniel is. Jess works up the courage and confesses to the kiss. Toni overcomes her fears and lets herself get involved with Jonas. But when the two are photographed kissing in public, while Jonas continues to present himself online as a dream couple with Jess, it draws the ire of the ClipClub community. Toni is terrified. Victoria prepares for the power struggle on the supervisory board. When Gerd tries to patronize her, she also rejects him as a candidate for the board.

Gerd wants to throw a baby shower for his pregnant daughter Jess and secretly lures her and Daniel into the garden. While the two happily learn they’re having a girl, Victoria appeals to Lou to fight for what she loves, just once in her life. Lou decides not to give up on her marriage. Will she manage to win Daniel back? Jonas’ fans feel betrayed: He’s kissing Toni in real life, even though he claims online that he’s with Jess? Jonas avoids the truth and claims Jess is history, that he’s now with Toni. But this lie is also exposed... Franka and Ove return from Paris in love and want to move to Stockholm. Julius is sad about his sister’s departure, while Ove’s parents send Franka a book of etiquette for aristocratic circles. Ove is annoyed and doesn’t want Franka to compromise her principles, but Franka takes it calmly-unaware of how serious the matter is.

Daniel doesn’t feel like he’s part of Jess’s life and returns to his old life with Lou and his sons. But thoughts of Jess won’t leave him, and he spends a magical night with her in the bookstore. When Lou spots Daniel there the next morning, her heart breaks. And Daniel has to make a decision... The royal family forbids Ove and Franka from recording any more podcast episodes with Gisela, who takes it in stride. She finds a good replacement in Gerd and Gunter. Through a series of events, the show leads to a second chance for Gerd with Victoria. And Gunter arranges a meeting between the two, which opens up new perspectives for them. Franka tries to support her friend Lou and spends a pleasant evening with her, Carla, and Britta. During the evening, Franka playfully dyes her hair green. Due to Franka’s unpredictable spontaneity, Ove nervously begins to question his relationship with her.

Lou feels betrayed by Daniel and gives free rein to her feelings during a horseback ride. While Jess wants to talk things out with Daniel, Daniel realizes he doesn’t want to lose Lou. But Lou has already made up her mind: her marriage is over. Following Richard’s wishes, Gerd once again tries to get himself appointed to Victoria’s supervisory board. This goes disastrously wrong, but Victoria discovers some personal similarities with him. And when Richard once again champions Gerd, Victoria makes her decision: Gerd joins her supervisory board. A decision with consequences... Ove reveals to Franka that she’s considered too wild by the Swedish royal family. That’s why he doesn’t want to return to Sweden with her. But Franka realizes he would be unhappy without his family and homeland. With heavy hearts, they part ways. Toni is annoyed by Jonas’s internet fans. When these wild fans stalk Toni and Jonas, Jess has to intervene and pleads with them to let the couple be.

Lou is heartbroken over her breakup with Daniel, but in a conversation with Franka, she realizes the bitter truth: her marriage has failed. Devastated, she fights her sadness until she finds support from an unexpected source and can finally let her feelings flow. Jess hopes for a happy ending when Daniel moves out, but he doesn’t want to lose Lou or his best friend and reluctantly withdraws from Jess. When Richard sees Daniel and Jess together, he loses control... While Toni and Jonas are finally on cloud nine after many misunderstandings, a surprise visit causes trouble again. After Gerd joins the supervisory board, tensions arise once more between Victoria and Richard.

Jess faints after witnessing Richard punch Daniel in the face. At the hospital, she receives another devastating piece of news: Jess has to stay due to suspected HELLP syndrome. Daniel stays by her side, and Jess senses that feelings still burn between them. Richard struggles to cope with the loss of his best friend. A sensationalist article about the punch in the «Heideecho» shocks Victoria, who then makes a drastic decision. Toni is devastated when Ellie claims to be dating Jonas. Although Jonas denies everything, Toni no longer trusts him. A heated argument ensues. Does their love still have a chance? Gisela plans a cozy family evening, but then Hans-Harald appears at the door-desiring to rejoin the Böttcher family. Gisela is stunned.

Despite the kiss, Jess and Daniel know there’s no future for them as a couple. Jess is suffering under the hopeless situation, while Daniel is determined to rebuild his life. But during a joint conversation with the children about the separation, Pelle loses control. Richard is furious because Victoria has canceled the founding of the public limited company due to his fight. With a manipulated childhood photo of the Emilia Kaiser Tower, Richard hopes to turn things around. Gisela is torn by guilt when she discovers that Lilly is stealing and promises to keep it a secret from Britta. However, Britta wrongly suspects Gisela. Julius and Franka are shocked: Hans-Harald wants to stay in Lüneburg and reconcile despite being fired-but is he really serious?

Lou and Daniel panic when Pelle and Charly suddenly disappear. Together, they desperately search for their children, working as a well-oiled machine. Their shared worry briefly bonds them together - until Carla discovers the runaways on the farm. Relieved, they embrace their children. Can Lou and Daniel also find their way back to each other? Richard relentlessly pursues his plan to transform EmKa into a public limited company in order to oust Victoria. When Victoria arrives late to the supervisory board meeting and signs the agreement, Richard’s strategy finally seems to be working. Toni has completely forgotten her hunting exam and now has to cram the material in record time. She also suffers from severe exam anxiety. When Jonas tries to help her, he takes a wrong turn... Ellie is mistaken for a temporary cook and spontaneously takes over the kitchen management at «Carla’s.» Julius is thrilled, but when he asks for her credentials, Ellie falters.

Richard desperately tries to reach Julius emotionally, but Julius strictly separates his private life from his business. When Victoria suddenly leaves without discussing new investors, Richard’s need for action becomes urgent. Ironically, his grief over his deceased father opens a path to Julius. Driven by his own family history, Julius is deeply moved and immediately comes to Richard’s aid - his cunning strategy works. Ellie rashly forges her references to land her dream job as head chef at «Carla’s.» But when Carla wants to meet the new chef, they both experience an unexpected surprise. Jess is lovingly distracted from her heartbreak by the Böttchers and tests out her future daily life as a single mother with baby Olivia. Viktoria is increasingly attracted to Gerd, but when he openly expresses his feelings, she gets cold feet. Lou and Daniel sadly remove their wedding rings and venture apart into the unknown.

Carla is appalled: Ellie arrogantly lied to Julius to get the head chef job. Outraged, Carla considers telling Julius the truth. But then she decides to teach Ellie a lesson: She makes sure all the guests order Eggs Benedict at the same time - a dish Ellie can’t cook. In desperation, Ellie has to ask Carla for help. Jonas calls in sick, leaving Franka to handle a large order alone. Lou and Jess spontaneously step in to help, even though their relationship is strained because of Daniel. Lou confesses her jealousy to Franka: She fears something might develop between Daniel and Jess. Britta suspects Gisela of theft, but the real thief is Lilly. When she’s caught, she shows no remorse and downplays her actions. Britta is stunned. Julius wants to cut his father, Hans-Harald, out of his life for good. But Hans-Harald unexpectedly collapses in tears. What’s behind Hans-Harald’s breakdown?

Lou is finding it difficult to establish a relaxed work routine with Daniel. With a heavy heart, she leaves their shared home for the «nesting» arrangement and moves in with Victoria. But the loneliness overwhelms her so much that she collapses in tears on the street. Of all people, Jess-who is herself suffering from heartbreak over Daniel-finds Lou and comforts her. Hans-Harald confesses his midlife crisis to the Böttchers and asks for a second chance. Gisela puts him to the test with a to-do list, which he masters with flying colors. Even Gisela is surprised. After initial resistance, Ellie secretly begins a cooking apprenticeship with Carla so that Carla won’t betray her to Julius. Because the kitchen at the horse farm is too small, the two sneak into «Carla’s» at night... Britta steals a necklace from Lilly to show her what theft feels like. But Simon makes it clear to her that she should try to empathize with her daughter. Sometimes empathy is the best parenting guide.

Lou and Daniel’s nesting arrangement is causing problems: When Charly wanders into Victoria’s manor house at night to stay with Lou, she forgets to inform Daniel. The next morning, he’s furious, and the situation escalates: Daniel wants to quit immediately, and Lou loses her temper. The couple is more irreconcilable than ever. Gisela, Julius, and Franka see through Hans-Harald’s miraculous family commitment: He’s been using money to help things along. Then he should pay up properly. Gisela confronts her ex-husband about her achievements as a single mother. She estimates it’s roughly EUR900,000 for all the work she’s done raising the children. Hans-Harald storms out indignantly. Carla and Ellie spend an enthusiastic night cooking at «Carla’s» and are almost caught. To secretly continue Ellie’s training, Carla even takes a job as a temporary cook. Julius mustn’t find out that Ellie has no formal qualifications.

Richard invites Julius on a hike to manipulate him for his own ends. When Julius cancels due to an emergency at the hotel, Richard sets off alone. Lou is horrified to discover that Richard has forgotten his medication and is in mortal danger because of his food allergy. He’s brought along a chocolate bar that now contains peanuts... After their argument, Daniel and Lou fear they can no longer have constructive conversations. They manage to talk things out, but Lou’s worry about Richard interrupts everything. Jonas wants to rent the spare room in their shared apartment to his good friend Ralf - Toni refuses. But at Gisela’s party, Toni suddenly finds Ralf attractive. Jealous, Jonas throws Ralf out. Toni has had enough. Jess wants to reconcile her father, Gerd, with his brother, Hans-Harald. But Hans-Harald wants to sneak away. Jess puts him in his place. He apologizes to Gisela and promises her a check for everything she’s done for her over the past few years.

Lou saves Richard’s life, but he immediately and cleverly uses the opportunity to manipulate Julius further: his last thought was only for him. Julius is touched but cautiously keeps his distance from Richard. Then Richard goes all in and unexpectedly proposes to Julius. Jess dances away her writer’s block and euphorically writes all night on her novel. Daniel enviously admires her energy and realizes: only he himself can pull himself out of his professional slump. Gisela learns of her impending windfall and wants to fulfill Julius and Franka’s dreams. But they both refuse: she should treat herself. Gisela ponders this and finds her dream: her own pub. Toni and Ellie pretend to Jonas that they’ve fallen in love with each other in order to kick him out of their shared apartment. When Jonas sees through their plan and packs his bags, hurt, the two feel guilty and persuade him to stay after all. Was that clever?

Victoria returns from Switzerland dejected: The share sale didn’t bring in enough for the Emilia Kaiser Tower. When Gerd suggests she give up her majority stake in EmKa, Victoria reacts angrily. But his words have a lasting effect... Richard proposes to Julius, purely tactically to secure his vote on the supervisory board. Julius is perplexed and refuses, but Lou fights for her brother. Finally, Julius agrees to a relationship. Will Richard break his heart? Toni wants to create harmony with a shared living plan. When Ellie confesses how much the months of fake Jonas chats have hurt her, Toni is able to comfort her. But at night, Ellie crawls into bed with her and casually mentions that Toni is a good kisser. Toni is completely confused: What does that mean? After quitting his job, Daniel discovers a new connection with Jess and decides to move to Dornenhof with Carla to sort out his feelings. Meanwhile, Jess focuses on professionalizing her writing.

Richard is getting ever closer to taking over EmKa: Victoria has had to relinquish her majority stake. Distracted by a flirtation with Gerd, she also signs a purchase agreement for a property contaminated with chromium. Richard senses his opportunity and seizes it. Gisela can hardly believe her luck: Hans-Harald’s check is in her hands, and she dreams of owning her own pub. But then Valerie unexpectedly returns from Switzerland, and Gisela hides the check in a stack of newspapers, which disappears without a trace a short time later... Lou plans a perfect day with Pelle and Charly, but the children would rather play alone. Franka is on to them. Will she betray the boys to Lou? After Ellie compliments her kissing skills, Toni embarks on a turbulent journey of self-discovery: Could she actually be attracted to women? Meanwhile, Gerd develops tender feelings for Victoria and wants to get to know her beyond the business world, but Victoria is blocking any personal intimacy.

Michael is back in Lüneburg and causes a stir with a surprise marriage proposal to Carla. But the joy is short-lived: Michael secretly tries to organize the wedding menu and catches Carla and Ellie cooking together at «Carla’s.» Will Ellie’s infidelity now be exposed? Gisela panics: Her ex-husband Hans-Harald’s check for 900,000 euros has disappeared. After a frantic search, it reappears-but the amount has shrunk. Valerie feels betrayed and ignites a fierce family argument. Furious, Gisela calls Hans-Harald-with devastating consequences... Richard pretends to be deeply in love with Julius to secure his vote on the supervisory board. While Lou fully trusts her brother, Franka remains skeptical. Jess doubts her writing talent due to Valerie’s and Gerd’s comments and is ready to give up in disappointment. Can a reading by up-and-coming authors give her renewed hope?

Valerie can’t accept that Hans-Harald has stopped sending her money. Julius suspects she’s lacking love and affection. Valerie rejects this, but Simon’s presence exerts a powerful pull on her. That night, she accompanies him on a wolf hunt, and playful teasing blossoms into a sizzling attraction. In the morning, however, Valerie jolts awake with a start: Simon is asleep beside her-and outside, a wolf is howling. Valerie makes a fateful decision. Michael is shocked: Ellie has forged her application documents, but Carla stands by her. Michael gives Ellie an ultimatum: resign or confess to Julius. Nervous about Gerd’s date invitation, Victoria, encouraged by Lou, finds courage: love knows no age. Will she give Gerd a chance? Jess struggles with self-doubt before the author reading, but inspired by other authors, she plucks up her courage and reads aloud herself. How will the audience react?

Simon and Valerie are shocked: Valerie didn’t shoot at a wolf, but grazed Jonas. Simon is plagued by guilt, but Valerie convinces him not to report the incident. But then Valerie learns with horror: Jonas intends to press charges. Victoria is as nervous as a teenager before her date with Gerd. Richard senses danger to his plans and manipulates Victoria by stirring up memories of her deceased husband. Will Victoria get cold feet? Ellie fears she’ll be fired when Michael wants to talk to Julius. But before that happens, she receives the shocking news of Jonas’s injury. In the hospital, Jonas confesses his love to Ellie. Were his feelings for her real after all? Lou is suffering because Daniel has already moved on from the breakup, while she’s still grieving. Carla and Franka get her to flirt-with success.

Jonas wants to sue the shooter who wounded him. But Valerie hopes to dissuade Jonas from filing charges. Simon, however, is adamant: he wants to be honest and take the blame. Toni lovingly cares for Jonas. Old feelings resurface, and the two grow close again. Lou looks to the future and agrees to a date. But it’s too soon. Although she has a pleasant evening with her date, she prefers to go home alone. Jess overhears this and now believes that Daniel is available for her. Victoria rightly fears that Richard is using the smitten Julius for his business interests. She invites them both to dinner and warns Julius about Richard. When Richard finds out, he puts pressure on Julius: if he believes Victoria, their love is over. Michael surprises Carla with his desire to finally set a wedding date. Carla is overjoyed, but suddenly her health begins to fail.

Richard blames Victoria for causing the company significant financial losses. Horrified, she realizes her supposed mistake and desperately begs Richard to take responsibility. He agrees but secretly records her confession. Jess and Daniel find a mysterious love letter from the 1950s and try to guess the recipient. Although they want to keep their distance, they spend a lot of time together and grow closer. Carla hides her health problems from Michael, who is happily planning the wedding. When she struggles to breathe again, she realizes: her body is reacting with panic to the wedding. She can’t marry Michael like this. Toni doesn’t want to get involved with Jonas again. Her friendship with Ellie is more important to her. Ellie is still in love with Jonas, too. Jonas, on the other hand, has to decide whether to press charges against Valerie after she confessed to shooting him.

Britta calms Carla down. Her wedding panic is caused by her hormones, which are going haywire during menopause. Relieved, Carla marries her Michael on the very same day when an appointment opens up at the registry office. But Ellie indignantly demands a big celebration! Lou and Jonas, independently of each other, feel unloved and lonely. Then they meet by chance and, for one evening, find solace in each other’s company. Jess and Daniel track down the author of Johanna’s old love letter. But Johanna doesn’t want to see him again. They missed their chance back then. Daniel is touched by Johanna’s words and confesses to Jess in a letter that he has fallen in love with her. Richard puts on a brave face when Victoria blames him for her mistake. To make Julius even more dependent on him, Richard coldly breaks up with him, knowing that this will only make Julius desire him more.

Jess and Daniel long for each other but miss each other all day. When they finally meet, Jess enchants Daniel with her knowledge of stars. A rain shower interrupts the romance, but the two seek shelter and, for the first time, give in to their attraction. Julius begs Richard not to break up with him. Triumphantly, Richard takes him back-on one condition: he must help him depose Victoria. But when Julius discovers Richard’s secret audio recording, he sees through his wicked scheme. Lou sneaks out of Jonas’s bed. But Toni notices that Jonas has had female company. While Toni and Ellie are hurt that Jonas isn’t exactly innocent, Lou and Jonas decide to continue their casual affair. In his role as a hunter, Simon is supposed to shoot the wolf that’s terrorizing the area. But thanks to Valerie’s fearless intervention, the wolf turns out to be a frightened cub. What will they do with the little wolf now?

Julius faces a difficult decision: Should he stand by Richard in his fight against his manipulative mother, Victoria? Through a secret recording, Julius learns that Victoria is demanding Richard take the blame for a carelessly read soil survey. When she harshly punishes Jolina for a minor mistake shortly afterward, Julius realizes which side he must be on. Meanwhile, Daniel and Jess are on cloud nine after their first night together. But their bliss is overshadowed: Jess hesitates to tell Lou about their new relationship. How will Lou react? Valerie is desperately searching for money to buy more shares in her algae startup. When Gerd shows up with EUR40,000 from Hans-Harald, Valerie thinks she’s finally got what she was looking for, but Gisela is dreaming of a Gigidoux luxury handbag.

Julius is playing a dangerous game: He secretly tampers with Victoria’s calendar, changing the topic of her important presentation from inclusive to exclusive living. But then his conscience gets the better of him. When he tries to undo his sabotage, Victoria herself bursts into the office! Lou is desperately struggling to accept the new reality: Daniel and Jess are a couple. When Daniel forgets his tablet and Jess takes it to the family home, Lou involuntarily witnesses a passionate kiss. In her anger, she berates Jess. Valerie urgently needs money for her algae investment. When Gisela uses Hans-Harald’s money to buy an expensive handbag, Valerie resorts to drastic measures. How will Gisela react? Ellie is going all in: She wants to impress Julius with perfect steaks. Will her plan work?

Valerie is planning her future: With the expected windfall from her stocks, she wants to buy a condo. Simon dreams of a home together, but Valerie gives him a curt refusal - share her life with a goatherd? Never. When she decides to buy Simon’s attic apartment and kick him out, the situation escalates. Julius and Richard successfully sabotage Victoria’s presentation on inclusive living. When Victoria discovers the manipulated calendar, she is stunned. Meanwhile, Richard sows doubts about Victoria’s sanity with supervisory board member Gerd. Ellie faces a test: She has unilaterally changed the lunch buffet to steaks cooked to order. When Victoria’s scandalous presentation causes delays, the lunch threatens to end in disaster. Can Ellie still avert catastrophe? Lou and Daniel get into a heated argument about Jess, which painfully makes Lou realize what she truly misses.

Ellie wants to celebrate with her housemates, but an argument with Jonas overshadows everything – because her feelings for him are still there. Toni tries to cheer up her best friend with a crazy trip, but she’s carrying a heavy secret. How long can she keep it from Ellie? Lou is planning an ambitious speed-dating event to finally juggle her schedule, children, and career. Even an emergency with Daniel can’t deter her. Full of anticipation, she throws herself into the evening... Jess is struggling with a persistent case of writer’s block because her thoughts constantly revolve around Daniel. In a desperate search for inspiration, she loses her notebook – and with it, her entire novel! Valerie refuses to admit her feelings for Simon and escapes into her seaweed patty startup. When the taste tests are a disaster, Simon takes her in. As a roommate, of course...

Victoria dreams of a romance with Gerd, but he gives up and wants to leave early. Only Gisela’s courageous intervention ensures that the two meet again – and Victoria gives in to a passionate kiss that could change everything. After Toni’s shocking confession that he slept with Jonas, Ellie moves out of the shared apartment, furious. Only when Ellie receives more fake messages from Jonas while he’s standing right next to her does she see through the deception. She painfully realizes: Toni and Jonas are only separated because of her! Jonas acts on his own: He secretly submits excerpts from Jess’s novel to a writing competition, even though she wants to give up writing. How will Jess react? Valerie insists that she’s only staying with Simon temporarily, but keeps seeking his company. Can she really waste herself on a goatherd? A telltalely intimate moment between them makes Valerie doubt herself...

Toni is surprised when Ellie insists that she and Jonas should finally become a couple. Ellie is ashamed of the scam and wants to save her friends’ love lives. Toni asks Jonas to report the conman to the police, which he carelessly puts off. But then the conman suddenly targets Franka... Lou is in a bind: Daniel makes a jealous scene about Jonas, while Pelle confronts her with a surprising question – is Dad in love with Jess? Victoria and Gerd need to sort out their feelings after their passionate kiss. Both are unsure if they can still date after all these years. Finally, they both pluck up their courage and decide to take things slowly. Valerie triumphs: The «Three Kings» wants to put its seaweed patties on the menu, and Corinna offers to sell them in the greengrocer’s. Seaweed Feast is off to a great start!

Lou reluctantly lies to Pelle when he asks if Daniel and Jess are a couple. She demands that Daniel finally tell the children the truth. But he postpones the important conversation for a date with Jess. Lou is furious about his priorities. After a heated argument, they reconcile and decide to talk to the children together. But then Charly sees Daniel and Jess kissing... Toni believes she can trap the con man and lies in wait with Simon in the spa gardens. But then she gets a nasty surprise! Victoria spontaneously accepts Gerd’s invitation to a concert at the Elbphilharmonie. After a romantic evening, they sleep together. Victoria wakes up blissfully the next morning next to Gerd – but he’s not moving... Richard wants to sabotage Victoria’s business deal with investor Meinertzhagen. With Julius’s help, he deletes an important email before Victoria can read it. Julius throws aside his last remaining qualms and supports Richard’s perfidious scheme.

After Pelle and Charly witness Daniel and Jess’s spontaneous kiss, the boys flee in shock to Richard’s house. Jess, deeply affected, realizes how painful the situation is for the children and tries to mediate. Lou and Daniel decide to work together and explain the new situation to the children. But when Lou goes to pick up the boys from Richard’s house, she receives a curt rebuff. Richard manipulates Julius for his plot against Victoria. Julius manages to fend off an important investor for EmKa, and Victoria’s great hope is shattered. Victoria is emotionally overwhelmed when Gerd has to go to the hospital with atrial fibrillation. She can’t be there for him and puts on her guard. Gisela tries to intervene bravely. Valerie defiantly treats herself to a Gigidoux bag. When Simon charmingly shows her appreciation, Valerie is overjoyed. The nursery is battling the Japanese beetle infestation.

Ellie gives Toni her blessing for a relationship with Jonas, but Toni hesitates, fearing further hurt. After encouraging conversations with her father and Valerie, she finally finds the courage. But does Jonas even still want her? Lou and Daniel are shocked that Pelle and Charly, disappointed, no longer want to see them. But Jess finds the right words and brings the fractured family back together. Despite her night with Simon, Valerie remains completely unpredictable—first she makes fun of him, then she forbids his interference. When Simon asks why she’s still living with him, Valerie wants to move out. Are there still feelings for Simon? Richard accidentally learns about Ellie’s forged certificates and ruthlessly uses this explosive information: He sends Julius to investigate, who discovers Ellie’s lie. How will he react? Lou lets Franka, Britta, and Carla persuade her to go dancing—a distraction is good for her!

While Jonas and Toni enjoy their newfound love, Ellie has a serious problem: Who ratted her out to Julius? At first, she suspects Carla and Michael, who trade accusations, before turning on Toni. But Toni gives her a good talking-to. After a devastating Japanese beetle infestation, Franka is desperately fighting to save her nursery. Valerie is celebrating her EUR50,000 stock market gain and is already planning risky new investments. Franka desperately begs Valerie for help. Will she lend her sister the money? Richard takes his plot against Victoria to the next level: He hires a hacker who completely cripples the EmKa company network. When work grinds to a halt for hours and Victoria is unreachable, Lou begins to have serious doubts: Is Victoria still capable of running the company? Gerd is released from the hospital, but he can’t shake the fear for his health. In his distress, he turns to Jess for help.

After a devastating server outage at EmKa, Lou, with Richard’s help, battles the chaos. Little does she know that Richard, who seems to be selflessly supporting her, is secretly pursuing his own agenda. Meanwhile, an old conflict resurfaces between Jess and her father, Gerd. Jess lovingly cares for her father, who, after his heart attack, wants to regain control of his body with the help of a smartwatch. But the technology only complicates matters. In the Böttcher household, Valerie is causing resentment: Instead of helping her sister Franka in her time of need, she prefers to invest in risky financial products – pushing Simon to his breaking point. And things are also heating up in the kitchen. Julius puts Carla under pressure and gives her a tough ultimatum. A difficult decision for Carla – will she give in?

Lou has brilliantly handled the crisis at EmKa and even gotten Viktoria out of the firing line. But on her way to the office, she encounters someone she hadn’t expected, and her heart suddenly races. Meanwhile, the conflict between Jess and her father, Gerd, escalates: A panic attack in the elevator brings long-suppressed feelings to the surface, and Jess is forced to confront a painful truth about their shared history. Jonas is doing everything he can to save the garden center. When he learns that Valerie has bought an expensive luxury handbag, he decides on the spur of the moment to take justice into his own hands. But he hasn’t reckoned with Toni.

Lou unexpectedly runs into Per, her first love. They spontaneously arrange a date, but getting there proves more difficult than expected: First Gerd stops her, then Britta. When Lou finally arrives at Per’s, the magic of the past is rekindled. But then a message from Daniel abruptly ends the evening. Toni is under pressure when Valerie demands her stolen designer bag back. To cover for Jonas, she lies to her sister. When Valerie threatens to file a police report, Toni decides to take action... Richard convinces Julius to sound out the board of directors about the possibility of replacing Victoria. Britta becomes suspicious and confronts Lou: Could Richard be behind the leak that has put everyone in a difficult position? Meanwhile, Ellie reluctantly completes her nursing internship at the hospital—and is clearly more interested in the hospital food than the actual work.

After Pelle’s outburst, Daniel and Lou grow closer as parents. When Pelle and Charly wish to spend an afternoon with their Uncle Richard, Daniel overcomes his reluctance and approaches Richard. The childcare arrangement works out, but will the two men also rediscover their old friendship? Lou is looking forward to seeing Per again, but he believes she’s in a relationship and keeps his distance. Only Franka’s encouragement prompts Lou to tell Per about their breakup, and the two end up together in Per’s hotel room. But before Lou can get involved with Per, she wants to know why he left her back then... Jonas and Toni try to raise funds for Franka via ClipClub, with limited success. Only when an accidental video of the two kissing goes viral do the donations start coming in. Will they manage to save the garden center? At the same time, Valerie experiences a severe setback on the stock market. Can she still save her savings?

Simon supports Valerie after her crypto investment fails. But the very next day, Valerie reverts to her old ways. While everyone else shakes their heads, Simon remains lenient. Does he have stronger feelings for Valerie than he’s willing to admit? Jess believes Gerd has already left, but he wants to have an open conversation about their shared past. The emotional stress takes a toll on his health, landing him in the hospital. On the way back, the two finally manage to talk things out, and Jess learns that the breakup was also very painful for Gerd. Toni persuades Ellie to participate in an amateur cooking competition, but she needs a professional kitchen. At night, Ellie sneaks into «Carlas» to get her hands on the professional equipment and is promptly caught. Michael takes his daughter under his wing and makes Ellie think. Even Toni and Jonas’s rescue attempt couldn’t raise the necessary funds for the garden center. Is Franka at her wit’s end?

Daniel is surprised when Jess refuses to move in with him. She feels pushed out of the family by Lou and demands that Daniel make sure she’s welcome in the new blended family. Daniel sets off to see Lou. Lou, on the other hand, is confused as to why her childhood sweetheart, Per, simply dumped her. But familiarity wins out, and they grow closer again. When Per invites her to Gran Canaria, she declines, but still manages to share a tender moment with him. And then, of all times, Daniel arrives... Simon and Valerie are finally a couple. Gisela wants to celebrate and gathers the family. Jonas dreams of no longer having to work so he can spend more time with Toni. When he hears about frugalism from Gerd—saving now and living off the interest later—he convinces Toni to invest her savings for the long term. But Valerie has gambled away Toni’s savings.

Lou and Per are enjoying their rekindled romance, but Daniel, hurt, accuses Lou of hypocrisy: Why is she allowed to have male visitors, but he can’t be with Jess here? After a clarifying conversation with Franka, Lou wants to smooth things over. But just when an emergency keeps everyone stuck in the hotel, Daniel is shocked to discover that Lou spent the night with Per. Julius wants to get closer to Richard and asks him to move in with him. Richard cleverly avoids the question and seeks distraction with a female hotel guest. But when the hotel is locked down due to an emergency alarm, Richard is stuck with his tryst... Jess desperately tries to lower Gerd’s high blood pressure with walks and yoga – but just as he finally relaxes, an emergency alarm blares through the hotel. At the family gathering, Toni learns that Valerie has gambled away all her savings. She needs money and applies for a job at «Carlas.» But Valerie is also broke and wants the same job.

A fire at a car paint shop causes a toxic cloud of smoke, and the Hotel Drei Könige remains sealed off! Daniel jealously provokes Lou’s childhood sweetheart, Per: He still holds the most important place in Lou’s life. But Per remains unfazed, and Lou spontaneously decides to accompany him to Gran Canaria. Jess watches Daniel’s jealousy, hurt: Does he love Lou more than her? Julius catches Richard cheating and, hurt, distances himself. Now Richard has to fight for him. He gets down on one knee in front of him at «Carlas» and hands him his apartment key. But Julius refuses – he no longer trusts him! Toni and Valerie engage in a spectacular bidding war for the waitress job during their trial day at «Carlas.» Julius faces a difficult decision: Toni Fröhlich or his sister Valerie? Gerd finally relaxes while peeling potatoes, while Ellie uses AI to enhance her photos for a cooking competition.

Daniel is shocked to realize how much he hurt Jess with his jealousy of Lou’s new boyfriend and that he needs to sort out his feelings. Because Jess actually makes him happy. He reconciles with Lou, who also reaches out to him: Jess is allowed to move into the garden shed. When Daniel then takes Jess’s hand, they both reaffirm their love for each other. Gisela is upset when Julius announces his separation from Richard. Lou encourages Richard to fight for Julius. But Julius remains firm: the separation is final. Richard is shocked. Without Julius, his schemes against Victoria won’t work. Michael and Carla are struggling with too much work on the farm. Jonas offers to help out—and secretly gets paid by both of them. But his trick is discovered. Simon surprises Valerie with a romantic evening and has paid off her beloved Gigidoux handbag. But where did Simon get the money? Valerie is outraged when she learns that he bet against Valerie’s cryptocurrency.

Ellie has to deliver a catering order for Carla and is being helped by Toni. The atmosphere is great, and Toni doesn’t notice how her feelings for Ellie are growing stronger. She’s surprised to realize that she not only enjoys being close to Jonas but also dreams of being close to Ellie... Richard is desperately trying to win Julius back. But Julius remains firmly at arm’s length. Then Richard is shocked to learn that Julius is picking up Victoria at the airport. Will he tell on Richard to his mother? Jonas wants to get rich quick with undeclared side jobs. Although Carla and Michael are on to him, he brazenly signs up for a taxi app. But Franka catches him and firmly forces him to give up all his side jobs! Britta confirms to Gerd that his health is improving. For him, this is the perfect excuse to cancel his spa treatment. But Jess amusingly shows her father, with the help of a puzzle, that he definitely needs a spa treatment.

Toni is confused because she had an erotic dream about Ellie. When she tells Jonas about it, they both laugh. But when Jonas wants to tell Ellie, Toni is strictly against it. Only Gisela calms her down: such dreams are merely placeholders for unprocessed feelings. The dream still haunts Toni, though. When Ellie agrees to appear on Gisela’s podcast, Toni believes Jonas has betrayed her... Meanwhile, Richard panics: Julius is picking Victoria up from the airport and could tell her about his scheme. When Richard confronts Julius, he takes an unexpected step. Jess and Daniel are looking for an apartment together and realize how little they know about each other. After agreeing to split the rent, they resolve to make up for lost time getting to know each other.

Jess wants to romantically reenact the chance romance she and Daniel sparked and quickly invents a series of firsts. Enchanted, Daniel plays along: a staged first meeting, a first date, the first argument, the first kiss. Can this game bring magic back into their relationship? Richard is under pressure: If Julius doesn’t return to the supervisory board, Victoria will kick him out of EmKa. Richard stokes Julius’s fears that Victoria might also oust him as a hotelier to put pressure on him. How will Julius decide? Toni and Jonas want to retire at 40 and take on several jobs. But they quickly realize that life can’t consist solely of work. Ellie is disqualified from the cooking competition. When Carla and Michael pressure her into an apprenticeship, she seems devastated. Ellie vents her anger in a video that goes viral, with unexpected consequences.

Richard and Julius pretend to be in a relationship to appease Victoria. The charade quickly escalates, and now they both have to play the part of a couple in front of Franka, Gisela, and everyone else. Julius does it reluctantly, but the charade seems to be working... Simon and Jonas plan a survival camp to reconcile the feuding sisters Toni and Valerie. The two are outraged and simply abandon their partners. When Jonas and Simon learn that a lamb has escaped, they set out to find it. But suddenly, Simon becomes dizzy and collapses in front of Jonas. Ellie is struggling with her chef apprenticeship, while Carla and Michael are putting pressure on her. When Ellie vents her frustration in the hotel kitchen, she is secretly filmed by Jolina. Britta gives Lilly the house to herself for her first time and is overwhelmed by the situation. Gisela realizes that Lilly had imagined her mother’s reaction differently. Can she mediate between the two?

Jonas and Simon got lost in the woods when Simon suddenly collapsed. Jonas didn’t know what to do. He tried to carry Simon, but then had to leave him alone until he finally managed to alert Michael and Carla. At the hospital, the seriousness of the situation hit Valerie like a shock. Seeing Simon so helpless triggered an urge to run away, just when Simon needed her most. Daniel wants to build a house on the estate for Jess and the children. Jess was thrilled, but when Daniel wanted to cancel the boys’ important flag football game to spend time with Jess, she was painfully reminded of her childhood trauma and overreacted. Richard and Julius unexpectedly ended up in bed together. Julius suspiciously suspected another plot, but Richard was genuine, which softened Julius’s heart again. Lilly was preparing for her first time with Nico. Britta left them alone together. But the next morning, Lilly was strangely withdrawn. What had happened?