Hey guys—welcome back to Nine Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days, season 8, episode 17. Today we’re jumping straight into the chaos, starting with Sheena and Forest… because what was supposed to be a calming, romantic spa day turns into a warning sign, and by the time they finally face the real issue, the tension is already too big to ignore.

First up: Sheena and Forest. They decide to go somewhere “relaxing”—a banana leaf rack treatment at the spa. Picture it: Forest is wrapped up in this leaf like it’s some kind of cocoon, and the moment he doesn’t even seem sure why his clothes are still on, you can tell the vibe is supposed to be soothing. The sun is hitting them, it should feel like peace… except it doesn’t.

Because the air changes.

The sky doesn’t match the mood. It looks like a storm is coming—thick, ominous, like the calm is only temporary. And that’s exactly what it feels like with their relationship. Forest is trying to focus on the present, but Sheena’s mind is already on the bigger question they can’t outrun: what happens next.

And then the talk slips into what they’ve really been planning—staying in the Philippines.

Forest starts talking about staying, and he’s even trying to figure out how he’d support himself there, how he’d find a job, how he’d make this work. Sheena, though? She loves that idea. It’s like she’s been waiting for him to choose the path that allows her to stay where she feels connected, grounded, and close to her own life. She doesn’t just agree—she’s already thinking practical.

She tells him that she kept praying he would stay. She says she wants to prepare things too—help him with finding work. And if the job search doesn’t go the way they hope, she even offers a backup plan: she could work on her own, find something better, keep them afloat. In other words, she’s trying to show him that this isn’t fantasy—it’s strategy.

But even in the middle of the spa calm, something cuts through.

Because as soon as Sheena starts laying out that plan, one of the viewers listening in—someone close enough to question it—basically interrupts the moment with a reality check. The focus shifts from romance to logistics, from “we’ll figure it out” to “wait… who’s doing what?”

They don’t even let it breathe. The conversation immediately turns into the uncomfortable question: if Forest stays in the Philippines, does that mean he’s working—or is he staying home while Sheena handles everything?

And the critique comes fast: that doesn’t sit right with the group. If he’s staying, they push back on the idea that he’d just remain a passenger in their shared future. The suggestion is blunt—put him to work. Get him working at Sheena’s family’s bed-and-breakfast or doing something concrete. Not because anyone hates him, but because bills don’t care about feelings. Somebody has to cover the costs.

And that leads to the next question, the one that always makes relationships feel like they’re speeding up without warning: are they even thinking about having kids?

Because if kids are in the picture, it flips everything. Now it’s not just about where you live or who works—it’s about whose stability becomes the foundation of a whole future. Someone points out that Forest could be a great stay-at-home dad… but then they challenge the other side of the logic: a stay-at-home husband might be a different story. The roles matter. The expectations matter. And if those expectations aren’t aligned, what looks like “support” can quickly turn into imbalance, resentment, and blame.

The mood gets even colder with each question.

In the middle of all this, Sheena tries to reassure everyone—and herself—that Forest’s decision to stay depends on whether his family will respect it. She says she hopes his mom can accept their plan. Forest, however, admits the truth nobody wants to hear: his mom has been blowing up his phone. Constant. Aggressive. Unrelenting.

And then Forest reveals something that shifts the entire tension level—what started the real conflict wasn’t just the decision to stay. It was what he told his mom.

Ever since Forest proposed to Sheena, he felt like he needed to communicate clearly. He felt like he had to keep his mom from spiraling, so he texted her after meeting with an immigration lawyer—explaining what they discussed and what the situation required.

That’s when everything exploded.

His mom didn’t calm down. She escalated. And Forest is left stuck in the middle: he’s trying to plan his life