Storylines
Cindy arrives in Albert Square in May 1988, working on her mother's market stall selling hats. She dates barman Simon Wicks (Nick Berry), who is also seeing Donna Ludlow (Matilda Ziegler), leading Cindy and Donna to bicker for Simon's attention. However Cindy grows tired of Simon's womanising, and although he is falling for her, she turns her attentions to his stepbrother Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), who is becoming a successful entrepreneur. Initially she is only trying to make Simon jealous, but she and Ian begin a relationship and by February 1989, they announce their engagement. Meanwhile, Simon retaliates by resuming a relationship with Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean). However, while working together late one night at The Queen Victoria public house, Cindy and Simon have sex, a tryst that leaves Cindy pregnant. Cindy is prepared to leave Ian for Simon, but he does not want to be tied down or upset his family, so he rejects Cindy. With nowhere left to turn, Cindy begrudgingly marries Ian and pretends he is her baby's father. She gives birth to Steven in December 1989 and keeps his paternity secret. However, shortly after the birth, Simon develops paternal feelings towards his son and convinces Cindy to leave Ian for him. Cindy devastates Ian by telling him he is not Steven's father, and a feud erupts when he realises that Simon is. Ian's behaviour grows erratic; after failing to take his own life, he decides to ruin Simon's instead. Simon eventually decides that leaving Walford is the only option and he Cindy and Steven depart, leaving Ian broken.
In 1992, Ian discovers that Simon has abandoned his family, leaving Cindy to bring Steven up alone in poverty. Ian persuades Cindy to return to Walford so they can bring up Steven together. Cindy is hesitant initially but agrees. Despite hostility from Ian's family and friends, the couple remain together and Cindy becomes pregnant in 1993 with twins. Richard Cole (Ian Reddington) attempts to have a fling with Cindy, and retaliates to her rejection by spreading a rumour that he is the father of her twins. Everyone is quick to believe him, and Ian and Cindy almost split up, but the truth finally comes out, and Lucy and Peter (named after Ian's late father Pete) are born in December 1993.
Married life and motherhood takes its toll on Cindy and she begins two affairs, first with Matt the lifeguard in 1994, and then with Simon Wicks' brother, David (Michael French), in 1995. Cindy and David rendezvous in secret for a year. Cindy eventually falls in love, growing less and less tolerant of Ian. Suspecting Cindy is cheating, Ian hires a private investigator, who films Cindy and David in a clinch. Ian vows to take Cindy to court for custody of their children. With David losing interest in Cindy, she decides to take drastic action and in October 1996, she hires a hitman to kill Ian. At the last minute, she changes her mind and decides to sort things out amicably, but it is too late, and Ian is shot by an armed man in a passing car, collapsing in a pool of blood in front of Cindy. Riddled with guilt, Cindy finds it impossible to look innocent to the police, who suspect that she has something to do with Ian's attempted murder. When David is called in for questioning, Cindy knows it is only a matter of time before she is arrested, so she decides to take her children and flee. With the help of David and Barry Evans (Shaun Williamson), she manages to snatch her sons from their schools. However Lucy, who is ill that day, had gone home early, and Cindy is forced to leave the country without her daughter. David also stays behind, promising Cindy that he would try and get Lucy and join her later, but he never did.
Ian's private investigator tracks Cindy to Italy in 1997. Ian enlists the help of Phil (Steve McFadden) and Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp). They find Cindy in Italy and concoct a plan to reclaim Ian's children. Ian confronts Cindy, keeping her busy while Phil and Grant abduct the children. Ian pretends that he still loves Cindy and is willing to forgive her. Desperate to get her daughter back, Cindy goes along with this, however she grows suspicious and contacts the police, but it is too late. Despite a mad police chase, Ian brings his sons back to Walford.
Cindy refuses to give her children up and follows Ian back to Walford with new boyfriend Nick Holland (Dominic Taylor). She takes Ian to court for custody of the children and wins. However, moments after the verdict, Cindy is arrested for attempted murder when Ian's associates persuade the hitman to admit to Cindy's involvement. Cindy is taken into custody and charged. At this time, she is pregnant with her fourth child (this time to boyfriend, Nick). However, after realising Cindy is responsible for attempting to kill Ian, Nick decides he wants nothing more to do with her and leaves her in prison without any money for a lawyer.
On Bonfire Night 1998, Ian receives news that Cindy has died in childbirth. The baby survives, and is named Cindy by Ian, in her mother's honour. Custody is given to Cindy's sister, Gina Williams (Nicola Cowper).
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