In the wake of the violent conflict between Mel (Sue Ramirez) and Anton (Jameson Blake)—Beth (Charlie Dizon), Erica (Kaila Estrada), and Alice (Janella Salvador) finally witness and unravel the truth behind Anton’s hidden abuse of Mel for years.
The group then carries their discussion about their next course of action from the hospital to Alice’s home, beginning with Beth’s frustrated notion and Alice’s genuine curiosity about how Mel was able to engage in an affair with Lucas (JM de Guzman), while fully aware of their complicated past with his brother Edong (Jake Cuenca).
For Mel, who still holds Lucas dearly, she explains that they often found themselves within the same circle of friends. Until one night, Lucas witnessed Anton hitting Mel at a bar. In that moment when Lucas comforted her, he made Mel feel understood, protected, and seen more than she ever was with Anton or even her own family.
Despite the loving way Mel spoke about Lucas, Beth doubts whether he was simply using Mel and goes on to question whether Mel disclosed their past involvement in Edong’s case with him, which Mel denies.
Finding the qualms surrounding Lucas unbearable, Mel breaks down in tears, pleading with them not to reduce her past relationship with Lucas to a mere dirty little secret. She insists that he was the only beautiful thing that saved her and that the only thing she did wrong was leaving him to stay with Anton.
More of Mel’s decision to remain by Anton's side is elucidated through a flashback to the time when she and Lucas were planning to elope. It is also during this moment that she realizes she is pregnant with Anton’s child.
Unwilling to let her and Anton's child grow up in a broken family, Mel ultimately bails on Lucas, clinging to the slim hope that Anton might change for the better. Despite Lucas’ insistence that men like Anton rarely change and often continue their abuse until their families are irreversibly harmed, Mel holds on to her fragile belief.
As days pass, Mel excitedly prepares for the arrival of their daughter, Hope. But to no avail, Anton arrives in a rage after learning that his show has been canceled. When Mel offers help through contacting Ms. Dizon, Anton interprets this as Mel believing she has more power than him, an insecurity he masks by further oppressing her.
As Mel walks away, Anton seethes, attacking her until she falls down the stairs and suffers a miscarriage.
This memory still haunts Mel, who now believes she deserves such torment for being a neglectful mother. Feeling her pain, Beth, Alice, and Erica rush to her, embracing her tightly.
Can Mel finally overcome Anton and win her fight for freedom? Find out in “What Lies Beneath,” airing weeknights on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), A2Z, ALLTV, and iWant.