Emmerdale twist leaves fans outraged as Ruby Fox-Miligan learns Ethan's cause of death

Emmerdale's Ruby Fox-Miligan (played by Beth Cordingly) was on the verge of confessing to Charles Anderson (Kevin Mathurin)

and Manpreet Sharma (Rebecca Sarker), but a shocking revelation about Ethan Anderson's (Emile John) true cause of death halted her in her tracks.

Beth, who portrays the guilt-ridden character on ITV, has been tormented by the belief that she caused Ethan's demise after hitting him with her car last month.

The conniving character has been haunting a devastated Charles and Manpreet, seeking solace for her troubled conscience, but during a tense face-off with her son Nicky on Wednesday, she resolved to hand herself over to the authorities.

In Thursday's episode (June 13), viewers saw Ruby attending to Charles and Manpreet as they braced themselves for Ethan's funeral amidst their own relationship turmoil.

However, just as Ruby was offering comfort, a bombshell dropped: Charles got a call from the coroner stating that Ethan had succumbed to a brain aneurysm at 28, a tragic fate his grandfather had also met.

Ruby discovered that the aneurysm might be hereditary and could strike "at any time", leading her to hastily retreat to Mill Cottage to reunite with her family and share the relieving news with her spouse Caleb Miligan (Will Ash).

Despite Ruby being exonerated, the plot twist left many Emmerdale fans outraged, criticising the storyline for its perceived injustice and leaving them bereft of closure.

One disappointed viewer took to Twitter, expressing their frustration: "They're trying to say the hit and run injuries didn't play a part in causing Ethan's death."

Another chimed in with: "Even if Ethan's death wasn't anything to do with Ruby surely she'll still confess? She can't live with herself, or so she says", while a third predicted: "The coroner will say Ethan had something wrong with him so the witch gets away with it So predictable."

A fourth fan bemoaned: "Aneurysm was the cause of Ethan's death... notice how quickly Ruby didn't care any more", and another added to the outcry: "I'm actually disgusted that Ruby is off the hook for Ethan's death. Caleb can wave bye bye to having that ammo over his missus."

In a twist of fate, Ruby's son Nicky (Lewis Cope) was far from thrilled about his mother's narrow escape from justice.

Upon his return home, he was embroiled in a heated clash with his father Caleb, who has always shared a tumultuous bond with him.

The tension escalated as Nicky, also a friend of the deceased Ethan, couldn't bring himself to rejoice in his mother's acquittal, culminating in him striking Caleb. This altercation foreshadows Nicky's impending departure from the iconic village.

Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV and ITVX.