Fans will remember that Moira and Nate had an affair years ago, shortly after Nate arrived in the village, which nearly destroyed Moira’s marriage to Cain. While the trio had managed to move past those events, the old tensions were reignited this week. Cain’s anger reached a peak on Monday’s episode, where he confronted Nate and physically attacked him, leading to a dramatic disowning of his son, despite Nate’s emotional denial of any wrongdoing.

Things took a darker turn later in the episode when Ruby Fox Milligan arrived to provoke Moira. Moira, already stressed, accidentally spilled tractor fuel in the barn. As Ruby’s voice began to blend with that of Emma Barton—Moira’s former nemesis whom she had killed in 2017—Moira, disoriented, mistook Ruby for Emma. In a shocking twist, Moira aimed her shotgun at Ruby, causing panic. Moira fired a warning shot that hit a light bulb, sparking a dangerous fire.

The situation escalated as Moira knocked Ruby unconscious during a struggle over the shotgun. When Moira regained her senses, she was confused and horrified by the chaos. The spilled fuel quickly ignited, turning into a fire, leaving Moira standing frozen beside Ruby’s body.

Viewers have expressed growing concern about Moira’s erratic behavior, memory lapses, and violent outbursts. Just before the fire, Moira had mistakenly attacked Ruby, believing she was involved with Cain, despite Ruby’s innocent explanations. Moira had agreed to undergo medical tests to uncover the cause of her behavior, but she had completely forgotten about the appointment, leaving Cain frustrated and causing him to storm off.

Fans have been vocal on social media, criticizing Cain for failing to recognize that Moira’s actions are out of character and blaming him for believing Caleb’s accusations without question. Caleb, who is known for his scheming and had an affair with Nate’s estranged wife Tracy earlier this year, is seen by fans as unreliable. One viewer expressed frustration over Cain’s quickness to trust Caleb’s word, questioning why he would side with Caleb after recent events involving Ruby and Tracy.

Another fan highlighted the quickness with which characters believe the worst of their loved ones, especially when the information comes from a known troublemaker like Caleb. Some are concerned that if Nate dies in the fire, and Moira’s illness is revealed, the fallout will be devastating, leaving everyone with a heavy burden of regret.