I’ve figured out the formula:

It starts with a character’s bad decision, or outright mistake. This causes a person to feel shame over something that they must now keep as a horrible secret, because letting that truth out would hurt the people they love.

So they lie to cover up the decision/mistake, which forces another lie. And another. For weeks on end, they have to hold in the truth, despite repeated reminders of their lies. It grates on their very soul.

Finally, they break down and reveal the truth, usually around the time of a Nelson ratings sweeps period. Then, the chips fall in newly arranged stacks and everyone has to recover from them. New decisions must be made, new lies are told, and the circle of lies continues.

Everyone has a secret. Everyone lies. Everyone fesses up eventually, by hook or by crook.

And so the soap opera world revolves.