Emmerdale spoilers follow.
Emmerdale airs dark scenes for Aaron Dingle next week as he blames himself for John Sugden’s reign of terror. With animosity from his uncle Cain to deal with too, it’s clear that Aaron’s in a vulnerable place.
The villagers are currently picking up the pieces after John’s terrible crimes were finally exposed, but as he still hasn’t been brought to justice, there’s no sense of closure for anyone.
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In next week’s scenes, Aaron continues to recover in hospital following his devastating cliff fall. While the physical wounds are healing, it appears that the emotional impact of John’s behaviour will be much more difficult to deal with.
As Aaron wrestles with dark thoughts, he’s surprised as Ruby Miligan comes to visit him.
ITV
Related: Emmerdale confirms John Sugden’s next target in bombshell blackmail twist
“Ruby is keen to support Aaron in any way she can,” our Emmerdale source explains. “Aaron was a real rock to her when she opened up over her ordeal with her abusive father Anthony earlier this year – and she hopes that bond can work both ways.
“Desperate to get Aaron back on an even keel, Ruby makes comparisons to how he feels after being manipulated by John, and her own upset over Anthony.”
The heart-to-heart is only partly successful, as Aaron is grateful for Ruby’s support but still blames himself for not spotting the warning signs sooner. Ruby reiterates that it wasn’t his fault.
Ruby and Chas also tempt fate by promising that the dramas surrounding John are over, but Aaron is sceptical and knows that John should never be underestimated…
ITV
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“Cain is also making life very difficult for Aaron,” our source adds. “He’s grieving for Nate and clearly lashing out at anyone he can – which includes unfairly blaming Aaron for being fooled by John.”
Meanwhile, John’s former workplace – the Brook Cottage Surgery – doesn’t escape the scrutiny surrounding its former employee.
The staff hold crisis talks as they fear that John’s crimes could come back to haunt them, risking their reputation.
Manpreet Sharma suggests being proactive by conducting a thorough audit of the surgery – but what will it bring up?
Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.
Read more Emmerdale spoilers on our dedicated homepage
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