Emmerdale viewers are in for a dramatic series of episodes as the feud between the King and Fletcher families escalates after the secret that led Lucas Taylor to attack Carl Holliday is revealed.

The seemingly unprovoked attack was sparked by a reason that tore both families apart.

It started with a fateful punch

After Carl and Clemmie Reed – Dawn’s adopted daughter – began to bond, Nicola King was delighted that her son had “opened up”.

But things fell apart when Carl was beaten by Lucas at school. Nicola angrily demanded Dawn re-educate him, while Dawn insisted Lucas had done nothing wrong. The police soon got involved, causing further confrontation.

The real reason: Clemmie was hurt

The truth was finally revealed: Lucas beat Carl to protect Clemmie. She had sent Carl a private photo – which he later shared with others. When the photo went viral, Clemmie was devastated and ashamed. Lucas knew about it, and was angry on behalf of his sister, so he took action. Dawn was heartbroken when she heard her son confess, and Nicola was shocked when she realized Carl had crossed the line.

The scene of Clemmie sitting alone crying, Lucas silently bowing his head, and Nicola and Dawn arguing fiercely made the audience choke up. The story goes beyond a school fight – it is a tragedy about trust, foolishness and mistakes in the age of social media.

Two mothers – two pains

Nicola tries to protect her son, while Dawn just wants justice for her daughter. The conversation between them quickly turns into an emotional war. Dawn bursts into tears, recounting her dark past – being taken advantage of and hurt – and cannot bear to see her child follow in her footsteps. Nicola is silent, both loving her child and afraid of what is happening.

Meanwhile, the villagers begin to gossip, blame and scrutinize. Both families are caught in a storm of public opinion, leaving each member traumatised. Jimmy King tries to keep his cool, but the tension in the family is spiralling out of control.

The Price of a Mistake

Police confirm that Carl could be prosecuted for sharing illegal images. Nicola desperately begs for her child, while Dawn just wants Clemmie to find peace. Lucas, despite his heroic actions, faces punishment for violence.

No one wins in this story – only hurt, torment and late realization. Coronation Street ends the week with the image of three children standing in an empty schoolyard, in a dim light – a metaphor for a generation growing up in a world where the line between right and wrong is blurred.