A crushed Erik returns after several hours of searching for Helene, who has vanished without a trace. He blames Aksel for pushing her too far, and fears that something has happened to her.

Aksel turns directly to Eva with his suspicions of incest, but she denies everything. He then goes to Kristoffersen and accuses him of ignoring the obvious out of consideration for the powerful Hansteen family.

The court case is about to begin and open up old wounds for everyone involved. Eva has hired a hard-hitting defence lawyer who stirs up public opinion against Aksel.

It is now Aksel's word against Eva and William's, and there are few signs that Aksel will be believed. Aksel challenges Eva to tell the truth but gets nowhere.

While Lifjord is shaken by another tragedy, Aksel calls the police and demands his brother's release. The only people with a motive for killing Helene are William and Eva, who knew the truth and could expose their lies.

After the trial's outcome, Aksel is furious and insists on fighting for the truth until his final breath. Karoline tries to get him to realise that he can't win this fight.

Lifjord is left shaken after William's suicide attempt, while Aksel is impatient for the world to know the truth about Karine's death.

Shock overwhelms Lifjord after William's revelations. Aksel is convinced that he is lying. When Karoline encourages Aksel to take the stand and give his own account of what happened the night of the murder, he refuses.

After business success in Asia Aksel Borgen is back in his small town in Norway saving an important local firm. 20 years ago he was acquitted for the murder of a high school sweetheart. And his new family don't know much about his past.

The fight. Aksel do not want to give up the fight for a majority shareholder in Solar Tech. More and more people in the village are starting to see Aksel as an asset to the company and are willing to forget the past. Hansteen family is divided, part of the family do better bankrupt than to sell to the enemy.

The fragmentation. Aksel will have to stay in Lifjord until he found a new leader of Solar Tech. A conflict arises in Hansteen family and Lars loyalty to the mother is tested when he is offered the job as CEO. Aksel's family was hit hard when he disappeared and he is trying to put things the old. Tonje seems Aksel's only friend in the village.

When Angeline and her son Tim comes to Lifjord becomes Aksel had to tell Tonje about Karine and her past, but omit some. It's fine for Solar Tech, but when Lars makes a gaffe must Aksel ask Angeline for help. Eva're looking for things that the police may have missed, something that can direct the investigation towards Aksel.

Angeline no longer believe that Aksel is innocent, and to convince her he needs Tönjes help. William're looking for a new investment opportunity, and glances at the hotel. Eve tries to get Eric to testify that Aksel gets violent when he drinks, all to the suspicion must be brought again.

After receiving revealing images of Karine want Aksel take up the hunt for the killer. Solar Tech must do away with people and Lars will be forced to terminate their friends. Eva continues locate evidence against Aksel, and now it Tönjes testimony she has doubts. And the more Aksel looking for Karines killer, the more doubts the people of his own innocence.

Aksel is still looking for the person who took the nude photos of Karine. His suspicions towards Per Olav increase when Aksel finds out he is beating his girlfriend, Åse.

Aksel discovers more people have been lying to him about the night of the murder. He is deeply conflicted and determined to leave Lifjord, but for his son's sake, he decides to believe in his own innocence.

The police are searching for Aksel’s bloody t-shirt from 20 years ago. Aksel still can’t remember anything from the night Karine died, but confesses to the murder anyway.

As Aksel reconciles with his past and hometown, Angeline returns to Lifjord. Tonje and Aksel are still caught up in an affair, and Aksel realises that he's going to be forced to choose between his two lives.