Gray Atkins' abusive tendencies have once again surfaced in EastEnders.
The lawyer has recently been trying to resolve his heinous behaviour through couples' counseling, in hopes of saving his marriage to wife Chantelle (Jessica Plummer).
In Friday's (December 27) episode, Gray secretly got Chantelle's family to help him plan a surprise marriage vow renewal ceremony at his home – and made his wife believe it was Karen's idea.
Though her dad Mitch (Roger Griffiths) could sense something was off with his daughter, Chantelle decided to go ahead with the ceremony.
As she stepped up to the makeshift altar, Chantelle was startled when Karen whispered to her that she had Gray to thank for putting the vow renewal together.
Before Chantelle could even process her husband's lie, Gray coyly acknowledged his abuse in his vows: "All I want to be is the husband you deserve. I know I'm not the husband I can be, but I'm trying. For you."
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As it came time for Chantelle's vows, she initially got cold feet by saying "I can't", before covering when she saw the anger wipe across her husband's face.
"I can't… I can't… tell you how much you mean to me," she covered up.
The rest of the ceremony went on, but Gray once again turned nasty when the Taylors went home. As Chantelle tried to avoid any intimacy with him, he angrily insisted they try for a baby and pulled her by the arm towards the stairs.
The episode left off with Chantelle appearing hopeless about her situation. Sadly, Gray will turn violent yet again next month when he physically injures his wife over his jealousy.
EastEnders continues on Monday (December 30) on BBC One.
Readers who are affected by the issues raised in this story are encouraged to contact Refuge (www.refuge.org.uk) or Women’s Aid (www.womensaid.org.uk). Both charities run the 24-hour, freephone National Domestic Violence Helpline, 0808 2000 247. The US National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
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