a financially motivated esme enters into a complicated and largely physical relationship with julian; who is still in love with eve russell and expecting a child with valerie davis. esme has also enlisted ethan winthrop's help to legally adopt viki. during the summer of 2008, esme befriended town witch tabitha lenox who subsequently revealed her secret to her, as well as the fact that her niece murdered all of her lover's, contributed to the death of alistair, and was responsible for severely injuring julian. a devastated esme confronted viki, who along with vincent clarkson-crane poisoned many of the citizens of harmony with a deadly mushroom sauce. viki further admitted that she killed her parent's for trying to send her away to boarding school, and admitted all of the murders were so she would not be parted from esme. a furious esme struck her niece, informing her that she loved her, and did not have to resort to murder just to stay in harmony. she convinced tabitha to help save the citizens of harmony by sacrificing her powers. with everyone restored, viki and vincent were arrested, leaving esme to turn to liquor as usual. in the series finale, an intoxicated esme showed up late for the four consecutive wedding ceremonies. however, she did view ethan's marriage to theresa lopez-fitzgerald, the downfall of gwen and rebecca hotchkiss, and the baptism of her friend tabitha into the catholic faith.