In what should have been a celebratory moment at The Woolpack, Sarah Sugden and Jacob Gallagher’s engagement announcement has triggered a ripple of doubt, suspicion, and emotional unease — and not just among locals. One person, in particular, couldn’t hide her true feelings: Victoria Sugden.

From the moment Sarah proudly revealed the news, the reactions were mixed. But none more telling than Victoria’s. “That’s… great news, I suppose,” she said with a brittle smile, her words polite, but her eyes betraying something far more complicated. Sarah, puzzled and defensive, snapped back with, “You suppose?” And Jacob? He rushed to explain, “People move on when they find the right person.” Yet his gaze seemed to linger too long on Victoria.

Their history is no secret. Not to the villagers. And certainly not to themselves.

Just last year, Victoria and Jacob were tangled in a controversial and passionate relationship that cost Victoria her reputation and Jacob his standing in the Dales. It all imploded when David Metcalfe, Jacob’s stepfather and Victoria’s ex-fiancé, discovered the affair. The fallout was catastrophic: David left the village, Victoria ended the relationship, and both promised to move on.

But now, with Sarah’s engagement news, old emotions are boiling back to the surface.

In the same pub where their romance once flourished in whispers and late-night looks, Victoria sat across from Jacob and Sarah again. This time, pretending to be the supportive ex. She toasted their future, even laughed at Sarah’s jokes. But she never quite met Jacob’s eyes. And when she did, there was a hesitation — a flicker of something unsaid.

Eric Pollard, Jacob’s grandfather, also had a hard time masking his feelings. Initially voicing strong disapproval, he later softened, offering congratulations with a strained smile. But even his shift felt forced, as if family loyalty was barely holding back his true opinion of the whirlwind engagement.

And the engagement itself? For some, it feels rushed. Sarah and Jacob have endured plenty — her cancer diagnosis, the emergency hysterectomy, the shadow of family pressure — but is their bond rooted in love… or survival?

Fans have flooded social media with speculation. Some suggest Victoria is hiding heartbreak behind her polished front. Others believe Jacob isn’t over her — and that the real drama is only just beginning.

Could this engagement be a rebound from something unresolved? Could Jacob’s attempt to build a future with Sarah be sabotaged by the one woman he never fully let go of?

In Emmerdale, love rarely comes clean. Secrets simmer beneath polite smiles, and betrayal often comes not from enemies, but from those who once held your hand.

Is Victoria really done with Jacob — or is she playing the long game? And will Sarah be left blindsided by the very woman she trusts most?

What do you think: Is this engagement the beginning of forever — or the start of the end?