Emmerdale fans were left sobbing and "broken" after harrowing scenes showing Vanessa Woodfield tell Charity about her bowel cancer diagnosis last night.
This comes after the pair's heartbreaking reunion and emotional conversation after she was finally freed from Pierce Harris' clutches.
Vanessa (Michelle Hardwick) had discovered that she had cancer moments before being captured by rapist-turned-murderer Pierce and held hostage, however Charity had initially believed that her wife had left the village to go on holiday with son Johnny.
During the episode, Charity (Emma Atkins) cried as she told Vanessa that she felt like she "couldn't breathe" after discovering her passport and realising her wife hadn't been on holiday.
A sobbing Charity said: "What he might have done to you..."
"But he didn't," Vanessa tried as she attempted to comfort her wife.
"He would've killed you," Charity insisted, adding: "If I could've taken your place, I would've done and I'm a selfish cow so that's saying something.
"I don't think I can live without you."
At the end of the episode, however, Vanessa finally told Charity the devastating news about her diagnosis.
Charity began by saying: "We're gonna stop sweating the small stuff and we're gonna start focusing on the future.
"Getting a proper home for us, going on more holidays, we'll start with the honeymoon."
But Vanessa interrupted: "We can't."
"With the kids, obviously," Charity insisted obliviously. "We'll get Johnny the counselling he needs and then we'll start to make loads of beautiful memories and wipe out Pierce.
"We won't let this destroy our lives a minute longer, ok?"
Vanessa replied tearfully: "That's not the reason. Just before Pierce took me, there was something I needed to tell you because I wanted to be certain. I didn't want to worry you."
A nervous Charity asked: "Babe, what are you talking about?"
"If this could come at any other time," Vanessa sighed in distress. "I'm so sorry. I had some tests done at hospital and I've had the result. I've got bowel cancer."
Devastated viewers flocked to Twitter over the scenes, with one tweeting: "IT HURTS SO MUCH....... IM BROKEN."
While another commented: "these #vanity scenes are ripping my heart to freaking shreds #emmerdale."
A third wrote: "She’s so devastated I’m beyond words! #emmerdale."
*Emmerdale airs weekdays at 7pm, with additional episodes on Thursdays at 8pm on ITV
