Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) and Tom King (James Chase) tied the knot earlier this year.
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In a harrowing plot line in the ITV soap, Tom has subjected Belle to physical and emotional abuse.
Monday’s (June 25) episode took the story in a whole new direction.
After learning Belle secretly aborted their baby, having told him she’d miscarried, Tom went into a blind rage.
While taking out his anger on whatever he could in the barn, the villain hit the rotary isolator with a rusty metal bar, which knocked him unconscious.
Meanwhile, Belle, unaware that Tom had unravelled her lie, had been preparing to flee the village around the same time.
A discussion with her mental health care coordinator helped her see the extent of Tom’s abusive behaviour.
However, Belle’s plans came to an abrupt halt after she was informed Tom’s accident.
As she reached her husband’s bedside, Tom appeared to have forgotten about his discovery of the abortion – or was perhaps maintaining the ruse to string Belle along.
He ominously told her: “The miscarriage. You’ve been through so much, you don’t need this. I thought I lost everything.
“You, us, but I’m here. I’m still here and I am never leaving you.”
Not all of the soap’s viewers have been impressed by the storyline, with several taking to social media to share their thoughts.
On X, formerly Twitter, one penned: “Can you spare us any more of this nonsense and cut this storyline short?”
Another wrote: “Just get rid of him – vile storyline one of many in Emmerdale they cram so much misery, pain, violence, death and cruelty viewers can’t take it seriously.
“Get rid of writers and producer who is just old staff promoted – clean sweep needed!”
While a third commented: “I am fed up of seeing Tom’s storyline going on far to long.
“Hope Belle leaves him.”
EMMERDALE NEWS
Everything you need to know about Emmerdale
Prior to their marriage, Tom and Belle previously dated a decade earlier.
They reconnected a decade later when Tom returned to the village and James Chase became the fourth actor to play the role.
How far will Tom’s horrifying treatment of Belle go?
Emmerdale airs on ITV1 and is available on ITVX.
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