In Emmerdale, emotions run high as MacKenzie Boyd quietly spirals into heartbreak, caught between his love for Charity Dingle and the deepening rift caused by her decision to become a surrogate for her granddaughter Sarah. While the village continues to buzz over the controversial arrangement, Mac is retreating into himself — unable to reconcile his grief with Charity’s determination to go through with the pregnancy.

It all began when young Sarah, whose dreams of motherhood were shattered following a life-saving hysterectomy, found hope in an unconventional plan. Desperate to give Sarah a second chance at motherhood, Cain Dingle floated the idea of surrogacy. But after formal agencies rejected Sarah due to her Fanconi anemia diagnosis, and informal routes led nowhere, it was Charity who stepped in — resolute and unshaken in her decision to carry her granddaughter’s child.

Emma Atkins, who plays Charity, explained that her character throws herself into decisions without fully calculating the fallout. And this time, the consequences are tearing her marriage apart. Charity quietly underwent tests to determine if she could carry the child — intending to discuss it with Mac once she had answers. But before she could break the news herself, Eric Pollard stepped in, worried about his grandson Jacob’s involvement as a donor. Mac, blindsided and hurt, was devastated to learn about the plan from someone else.

For Mac, the betrayal runs deep. Not long ago, he and Charity were dreaming of growing their family together. But after the trauma of an ectopic pregnancy, Charity closed that door. Now, watching her risk her health and emotional stability for Sarah — while denying them the same future — leaves Mac confused and heartbroken. His pain isn’t just about the surrogacy itself, but what it represents: a love he thought was mutual, now seemingly diverted elsewhere.

This week, the heartbreak intensifies. As Charity and Sarah prepare to head to the hospital for an important procedure, Mac claims he has work at Butlers Farm — a transparent excuse to avoid facing the emotional weight of what’s happening. But fate intervenes when he runs into Aaron Dingle. Aaron, ever perceptive, doesn’t buy Mac’s story and bluntly asks why he isn’t at the hospital supporting his wife.

Mac deflects, but Aaron’s words strike a nerve. With Cain, Sarah, and Charity united in their cause, Mac feels more isolated than ever. His anger simmers not just at Charity, but at himself — for not knowing how to handle his grief, for not being able to support the woman he loves without betraying his own needs.

Meanwhile, Charity wrestles with her own demons. Though outwardly committed, cracks begin to show. She’s juggling her physical limitations, the emotional toll of the past, and the growing silence from Mac. She wants to be there for Sarah — but at what cost?

As Emmerdale fans watch this family unravel, one question looms: can love survive when its foundation is shaken by sacrifice and silence? Or is Mac and Charity’s marriage already broken beyond repair?

Only time — and truth — will tell.