Emmerdale star Paula Lane has expressed her hope for Ella Foster and Liam Cavanagh to rekindle their romance. After Ella’s dark past was revealed, her furious ex-boyfriend Liam ordered her to leave the village. Last week, Ella made a dramatic return to the Dales, only to be involved in a car crash that landed her in the hospital. There, she confessed her pregnancy to Mandy Dingle. When Liam discovered the shocking news, he angrily demanded a paternity test, leaving Ella humiliated. “It really hurt her. The trust was already broken, but questioning if he’s the father is like a double whammy,” Lane told Inside Soap.

In upcoming episodes, Ella’s scan leads to more heartbreak when the sonographer cannot find the baby. Liam immediately accuses Ella of lying about her pregnancy and storms off, leaving Ella without the full picture. Despite their ongoing conflict, Lane still hopes the former couple will find a way back to each other. “I love working with Johnny McPherson, and I feel like we’re getting to know each other’s rhythms,” she said. “That goes for the characters as well. The more the writers see of them, the more material they can create from that.”

Teasing the pair’s future dynamic, Lane added, “It’s going to be a bit of a will-they-won’t-they.” She revealed that she has signed a new contract, keeping her in the role until next year, which gives Ella and Liam plenty of time to potentially patch things up. “I hope I’m doing enough to develop a character that has some staying power because I’m very settled here,” she shared. “I couldn’t have asked for more.”