TENSIONS boil over next week in the eponymous village as Rhona Goskik faces justice for kidnapping baby Ivy.
But in another shocking Emmerdale twist, the vet played by Zoë Henry receives an offer from Gus Malcolms. Will she accept?
Desperate for a family of his own, Gus (portrayed by Alan McKenna) used his former wife’s identity to gain access to her frozen embryos without her consent.
While she was initially horrified by his actions, Rhona’s shock evaporated the moment she met baby Ivy.
The new-born was left motherless as Gus’ wife Lucy tragically died during childbirth and Rhona jumped to the rescue for her overwhelmed ex-husband.
Unfortunately, the bond she developed with Ivy was strong and uncontrollable, leaving her to kidnap the tot when Gus made plans to leave the UK with his daughter to live in France.
Rhona was charged with the baby’s kidnapping but not before she told the authorities what Gus had done.
In scenes airing next week on ITV, both Gus and Rhona remain at each other’s throats and her current husband Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) is caught up in the middle once again.
Coming up, Marlon is supportive of Rhona but it is clear that her looming court case is affecting them both.
The pair have encountered several hurdles since the beginning of the storyline as Marlon has tried to make Rhona do what was right for Ivy.
Meanwhile, a frustrated April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan) continues to struggle as she’s made it clear she feels neglected by her stepmother Rhona.
Unable to face branding herself a criminal, Rhona tells a worried Mary Goskirk (Louise Jameson) and Marlon in the Café that she intends to plead not guilty at her trial.
Amelia Spencer (Daisy Campbell) later catches April worrying about what will happen to Rhona, and is concerned when the young girl gets on the wrong bus and admits she’s not going to school.
In other scenes, a confident and determined April arrives at shocked Gus’s house to speak to him.
Inside, she begs Gus to tell the police Rhona is innocent, but is caught on the back foot when she accidentally reveals that she intends to plead not guilty.
Gus drops April back off outside Smithy, but is furious that Rhona has pleaded not guilty.
He’s defensive when Rhona moves to see Ivy, and a scuffle with Marlon leads to Gus falling on the floor injured.
There’s soon chaos as angry Gus rejects Marlon’s apology for knocking him over and upset April runs off.
Later, reluctant Rhona’s stunned when he offers her a compromise where both of them change their statements, and work towards not guilty verdicts.
Everything you need to know about Emmerdale
Soon suggesting he could give Rhona access to Ivy and cancel the house sale, Gus puts it all on the line for the sake of the kids, and leaves her with a decision to make.
What will Rhona decide?
In recent scenes of the Yorkshire-based program, Rhona asked for help from local solicitor Ethan Anderson (Emile John) as she sought advice on gaining parental rights over Ivy.
Could she attempt to gain full custody of her?
Will Gus really hold up his end of their bargain?
Emmerdale airs weeknights from 7.30pm on ITV.
