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Jessica Sansome & Megan Banner

Emmerdale viewers work out 'sick' paternity twist after Mack's emotional goodbye

Emmerdale fans have spotted a paternity twist after the birth of Mackenzie Boyd's secret son.

Viewers of the ITV soap have been left wondering if Mack is in fact the dad of Chloe's baby, Reuben, after he secretly met up with Chloe after learning she was moving to Scotland in Wednesday's episode of Emmerdale.

Mack enjoyed a one-night-stand with Chloe Harris last year during a tiff with then-girlfriend Charity Dingle. He then gave her the cold shoulder when she repeatedly tried to contact him before Chloe eventually dropped the bombshell that she was pregnant, reports M.E.N.

Read more: Emmerdale viewers 'work out' Tom King's true identity with 'link' to Nicky and Caleb

Charity's granddaughter, Sarah, is one of the only other people to know about their secret. She overheard them talking before staging a panic attack amid her past heart struggles to stop him from telling Charity the truth.

And while he was tying the knot last month, Chloe gave birth to her son Reuben and Mack has clearly been struggling with not being in his newborn son's life. In emotional scenes aired on Wednesday night (May 3), Mack secretly met up with Chloe after learning she was moving to Scotland and the tearful new dad held Reuben for the first time.

But when the baby started crying, he handed him back to Chloe and walked away, devastated to be losing his son. And as Emmerdale fans also become emotional, others were quick to wonder if Mack even is the father after all.

@margy_1954 said: "Still don't believe he is the father." @geraldine.mulcahy commented: "Still don’t believe he the dad. …Mac actually makes Charity more human." Joy Pack wrote on Facebook: "So obvious that the baby is going to turn out not to be his - baby will probably be ill and on checking blood type, they will find he isn't the father. I suspect Nate."

Gillian Griffiths echoed: "I predict this child will need blood and this will prove that Mack is not the baby's father !!!!!" Michaela Garner added: "Great episode. Felt heartbroken for Mac. I’m not convinced it’s Mackenzie’s son."

However, others were earlier left 'sickened' when there was a cosy moment between Mack and Charity and Mack referred to his wife as 'Mrs Boyd'. @Reviewfix tweeted alongside a sick emoji: "Mrs Boyd." @memesemmerdale said: "I’m gonna be sick. Pass me the Sick bucket!!"

Spoilers for next week in the Dales reveal that things start to unravel when Nate worries Mack is deluding himself when he contemplates balancing his marriage with Charity and a secret life with his son. Meanwhile, Chloe reels when she’s told that there’s a possibility Reuben might have a bleed on his brain.

At the Woolpack, Dan tries to stay positive about Reuben’s chance but Mack reaches breaking point and Charity’s astonished when a drunken Mack punches Dan and stalks off into the night. Later, a worried Mack sits outside the hospital, unable to bring himself to go in. He ignores a call from worried Charity who starts to worry about what is truly causing their rift.

Chloe’s desperately worried when the consultant tells her they’ll need to do another scan on an unimproved Rueben. Soon, realising Mack's concern, Nate urges Mack to see Reuben in hospital. But with Charity already fishing for answers on Mack’s unusual behaviour, Mack is soon risking his relationship as he heads to be with his son.

Soon, both parents are utterly relieved when the consultant tells them Reuben is showing no signs of brain damage. Mack jumps at the chance when Chloe asks him to come and see his son. Meanwhile, Charity and Amy arrive at the hospital and plan a surprise visit when they hear that Rueben is on the mend.

But Charity is in for a shock when she spots an unaware but emotional Mack with Reuben and she’s soon hit with the realisation that Mack is Reuben’s dad.

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