The Emmerdale divorce between Laurel and Jai is currently playing out. And we’ve certainly taken sides.
What was she ever thinking in saying ‘I do’ to him, without that sentence ending with ‘want to push him into a massive cow pat?’
There are many, many reasons why we cannot understand how Jai wormed his way into marriage with Laurel. And here are just a few why we’re so glad she’s almost shot of him.
Jai just can’t be trusted
A habitual liar, Jai only ever looks out for himself – and to line his pockets.
Any of his shameful approaches to the division of assets as the former couple plan for their lives without each other demonstrate just how low he’s prepared to go to stash away his pennies.
And even in the past week he’s been caught fibbing he was skint during a mediation session… and this comes despite making a few quid on her share purchase relating to The Hide!
He’s also plotting with Caleb, who Jai is daft for turning to in the first place. Fingers crossed the two rogues will soon turn on each other.
Additionally, amid Laurel and Jai being on-off on-off before they got hitched, she previously took him back in early 2022 after a break up relating to money.
He’d taken a loan out in her name, saying he needed to pay off fines… and she let it go!
He’s after her house!
Of course, pilfering Jai has eyed up other assets belonging to Laurel, too, beyond that loan application.
The sneaky so-and-so also wants to walk away with Laurel’s house – the home she and and her late husband Ashley lived in for years.
Yes, she may have found ways to move on with her life after Ashley’s sad passing in 2018.
But that house has been the foundations for Laurel’s life, and the site of so many important family memories, including where Gabby, Arthur, and Dotty have been raised.
Put simply: Hands off Jai, Mulberry Cottage isn’t up for grabs.
Jai’s at fault
Furthermore, Jai’s being an absolute man-baby about the divorce in general – and particularly when it comes to property, as seen with Laurel’s home..
However, not only has he also flogged off Holdgate Farm and Tenant’s Cottage in order to deny Laurel a share of the proceeds, let’s not forget who’s truly at fault for all of this domestic strife coming to a head in the first place.
After all, it was Jai’s behaviour that’s left the couple on the rocks. Back in June, Laurel rumbled Jai after he was secretive about Amit Sharma’s true role in the death of Rishi Sharma.
And ultimately, Jai wasn’t able to prevent Laurel realising something was up – and he admitted to torturing Amit, forcing him out of the village, and swiping his share of The Hop!
It is hard to see what responsibility Laurel could bear for any of this, including Jai’s unhinged conduct. So he should take his punishment – and a hefty dent in his assets – for lying to his missus in the first place.
Laurel’s been through enough!
It is also worth considering whether Jai may be attempting to kill Laurel off by wearing her down over time.
Earlier this summer she had a heart attack, seemingly brought on by a row with Jai. Laurel collapsed after chucking him out, and was found struggling to breathe by Gabby.
As she recovered in hospital, Laurel revealed to Suni Sharma how Jai had ruthlessly gone after shares in The Hop which he might have expected would come to him.
Laurel also told Jai their marriage was over from her hospital bed. But it seemed to take a good while for him to process what she was saying. And accept they were done.
Please, no more stress for Laurel – we don’t want a funeral happening… Well, not hers, anyway.
Jai’s a plonker
Set aside, just for a moment, everything that has gone on between Jai and Laurel during the course of their relationship.
And now cast your mind back to when they weren’t involved, years ago. When she worked in the factory when she was really struggling with her addiction to alcohol. Jai wanted rid of Laurel, as he didn’t want an alcoholic in his workforce.
Two questions beg: Why wasn’t Laurel straight on to HR? And why the heck didn’t this treatment pop up as a consideration ahead of them getting wed?
And don’t think we’ve forgotten that cheap shot about Ashley that led to Laurel ending up in hospital, either…
Read more: What’s wrong with Moira? 5 theories over what’s really going on
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