Thinking Ray Walters is just a brutal drug dealer, who would have thought he was more skilled than a devil.

In recent episodes, Ray not only forced April to work but also started seducing Laurel Thomas (Charlotte Bellamy) – the woman the whole village considered a “tearful mother”.

In a scene that shocked Emmerdale fans, Laurel came to Ray to ask for help for April, but he just smiled: “Do you want to help someone, or do you want to understand me better?”

His voice was low, slow, his eyes were both cold and attractive. The scene lasted exactly 15 seconds but made the studio atmosphere as quiet as a sheet.

From then on, Laurel began to be drawn into the psychological game. Ray asked her out for a drink, saying sweet words: “You always think everyone is as good as you. You’re wrong.” Gradually, Laurel did not know if she was investigating him or being controlled by him.

Climax: Laurel accidentally catches Ray delivering drugs with Dylan – April’s friend – in a dark car park. She hides behind a pillar, the camera zooms in on Laurel’s horrified face as she realizes everything. But Ray knows. He turns his head to look straight into the camera – and smiles slyly: “You’re in it too, Laurel.”

From here, Laurel is pushed into a dangerous position. She receives an anonymous text message: “Leave Ray before it’s too late.” But she doesn’t know – the sender is Dawn, who is secretly protecting her. The episode ends with Laurel sitting alone, holding a glass of wine, looking in the mirror and asking: “Am I still a good person?”
A simple scene but enough to make the audience choke up. Because Emmerdale has never made a sinful love story that is both seductive and scary.