Coronation Street has never shied away from scandal, but the storyline involving Abi Webster and newcomer Carl Webster is shaping up to be one of the most combustible plots in years.

When Carl first appeared on the cobbles earlier this year, he was welcomed into the Webster family as Kevin and Debbie’s younger half-brother.

What followed, however, was anything but wholesome family reunion.

The spark between Carl and Abi started in the unlikeliest of places: a tense confrontation in Freshco’s car park.

Carl, cocky and sharp-tongued, made a cutting remark about Abi’s bad mood, unaware that she was weighed down by the grief of Mason Radcliffe’s death and Kevin’s ongoing cancer treatment. Abi didn’t hesitate to put him in his place — literally, with a punch to the face. That fiery introduction would soon give way to something much more dangerous.

Abi’s shock deepened when she discovered the man she had just confronted was none other than her husband Kevin’s brother. The awkward connection didn’t cool Carl’s interest. On the contrary, he leaned into the tension, making it clear he was attracted to her. For a while, Abi resisted. After years of turmoil and rebuilding her life following her battles with addiction and the devastating loss of Seb, the last thing she wanted was to jeopardize her fragile stability with Kevin. But Carl was persistent, and temptation gnawed away at Abi’s resolve.

The turning point came when Abi discovered that Kevin had lied about his health. After secretly receiving the all-clear from cancer treatment, Kevin chose to keep it hidden, leaving Abi feeling betrayed and sidelined. That lie was the crack in the armor that Carl needed. Hurt and angry, Abi sought solace where she knew she shouldn’t — in Carl’s arms. From that moment, the affair was born, and both characters set foot on a path of deception, passion, and inevitable destruction.

For months, viewers have been watching with a mixture of shock and fascination as Abi and Carl’s relationship unfolded. Their stolen kisses and secret meetings provided the kind of dramatic tension Corrie is famous for, while also setting the stage for a bombshell reveal. To make matters worse, Tracy Barlow, Weatherfield’s queen of chaos, quickly caught on to the affair and began blackmailing Carl. With her sharp tongue and ruthless streak, Tracy’s involvement guaranteed that the affair would never stay hidden forever.

But as fans have learned over the years, the cobbles have a way of throwing in twists no one sees coming. Just when Abi thought she had Carl wrapped up in secrecy, his impulsive nature was about to take him — and her heart — in a whole new direction.