Markus’ sudden and tragic death has left a vacuum in both the family and the business. As friends and foes alike gather in somber anticipation, it is clear that the contents of his will could redefine the future — not just for the Schwarzbachs, but for everyone tied to the Fürstenhof hotel. And in true Sturm der Liebe fashion, nothing is as simple as it seems.

Katja Takes the Spotlight

The episode opens with an atmosphere thick with tension. Katja, Markus’ widow, enters the grand salon of the Fürstenhof, the weight of grief etched into every movement. Dressed in somber elegance, she is both widow and warrior, prepared to speak truths that could unravel reputations and decades-old relationships.

The entire Schwarzbach family is present — and fractured. Markus’ brother Robert paces nervously, suspecting that the will may not favor him as he had hoped. Meanwhile, Leonie, Markus and Katja’s daughter, hides a secret of her own, her face a mask of worry that cracks with every sidelong glance.

Katja begins with a short, heartfelt tribute to her late husband, painting a picture of a man both loving and complicated. Then, with a deep breath, she opens the envelope containing the testament that Markus himself had revised just weeks before his untimely death.

What follows is a shockwave that reverberates across the room.

A Will That Changes Everything

As Katja reads aloud, the air thickens. Markus has not left his empire — nor his substantial fortune — solely to his wife or daughter, as many had presumed. Instead, in a move that blindsides the entire family, Markus names Simon Riedl as a major beneficiary. Simon, a former protégé of Markus and a hotel manager with ambiguous ties to the family, is granted partial ownership of Markus’ hotel shares and a voting seat on the Fürstenhof board.

Gasps fill the room. Simon, seated quietly in the back, appears as stunned as the rest. Or does he? A fleeting smile plays at the edge of his lips — barely perceptible, but enough to fuel speculation. Had he known this was coming? Was his relationship with Markus more than just professional?

The immediate fallout is fierce. Robert storms out, calling the will a “betrayal of blood.” Leonie confronts Katja, accusing her of orchestrating the entire affair behind closed doors. But Katja, calm and resolute, insists that Markus made the decision on his own, months before his death.

“It was his way of securing the future of the hotel,” Katja says, her voice steady but firm. “Markus admired Simon’s vision — and his loyalty.”

But not everyone is convinced.

Suspicion and Power Plays

In the hours following the reading, rumors begin to swirl. Whispers echo through the Fürstenhof corridors: Had Markus truly intended to favor Simon? Or had someone influenced his final decisions? The timing of the will’s revision — just days after Markus and Katja’s public argument over the future of the hotel — raises eyebrows.

Werner Saalfeld, patriarch of the Saalfeld family and longtime ally of Markus, voices concerns to Christoph: “It doesn’t feel right. Markus was a traditionalist. Naming Simon as a board member? That’s not the man I knew.”

Christoph, ever the opportunist, senses a fracture he can exploit. As one of the Fürstenhof’s senior figures, he begins to court Simon, painting visions of a modernized hotel chain — one where old loyalties give way to ambitious growth.

Meanwhile, Leonie secretly begins digging into her father’s last weeks, determined to find evidence that the will was tampered with. What she uncovers leaves her reeling: a mysterious meeting between Katja and a lawyer from Munich, dated just one day before Markus’ death. Could her mother have manipulated the contents of the will after all?

Katja’s Dilemma

Katja’s internal struggle begins to surface. Though she maintains a stoic exterior, flashbacks reveal a woman tormented by guilt and conflicted loyalty. Her marriage to Markus had been fraying, strained by his refusal to retire and his obsession with legacy. In private moments, Katja confides in Hildegard, the ever-wise housekeeper and confidante.

“I loved him, but we were drifting,” she whispers. “He couldn’t see the future unless he controlled it. Maybe this was his way of letting go. Or maybe… it was his final test.”

Katja is caught between defending Markus’ last wishes and protecting her family from collapse. With Leonie growing more distant, and Robert threatening legal action to contest the will, she must make a choice: honor her husband’s legacy, or restore peace through compromise.

Simon’s Rise — And Mystery

Simon Riedl’s sudden rise to power is met with skepticism by most, but admiration by some. The staff respect his work ethic, and he begins to assert himself with surprising ease. Yet his past remains murky. A phone call late at night — answered in secret — hints at hidden allegiances and possibly deeper motivations for his involvement with Markus.

“You got what you wanted,” the voice on the other end says. “Now don’t screw it up.”

Is Simon truly a devoted protégé? Or is he the architect of a much larger plan, one that Markus never fully understood?

The Stage is Set for a Family War

As episode 4406 draws to a close, alliances are shifting rapidly. Robert has vowed to fight the will in court. Leonie plans to confront her mother with the documents she found. Katja is left standing at the heart of the storm — a woman both empowered and endangered by the truth she carries.

The last scene is haunting in its silence: Katja alone in Markus’ study, holding a photo of the two of them from happier times. She places the frame face down on the desk and turns out the light.

At Fürstenhof, the battle for Markus’ legacy has only just begun — and the ghosts of the past are watching.