Down and out?
Shona realises who Bethany’s boyfriend is – and is left seriously injured after she confronts evil schemer Nathan
It’s the first time Bethany thinks something is wrong
It’s ‘party time’ at Nathan’s flat this week, which means poor Bethany is destined for another horrific night of being forced to sleep with strangers.
This time round, her ‘boyfriend’ is taking no chances. Determined not to disappoint his friends, he slips some pills into the teenager’s drink. But could help be at hand?
When Shona reluctantly agrees to be a hair model for David, she finds herself at the salon with Craig, who confides in her that he doesn’t like Bethany’s new man. As he refers to Nathan owning a tanning shop, Shona realises that he’s talking about the same seedy Nathan she used to go out with – and makes it her mission to save the schoolgirl from his clutches.
It’s not going to be easy, though. As Shona hotfoots it to Nathan’s shop and orders her ex to stay away from Bethany, he grabs her wrist and warns her ‘she owes him’.
Shona manages to escape, only to be intercepted by two heavies. As she’s about to call the police, they knock her phone from her hand and beat her up. Craig finds the café worker slumped in an alleyway, covered in blood, and calls for an ambulance.
Back at the flat, Nathan hands Bethany another spiked drink and removes her engagement ring, saying he doesn’t want to make his guests jealous. He punishes her when she makes a drunken show of herself, then begs for her forgiveness and encourages her to go into the bedroom with three of his mates.
‘Nathan says that she doesn’t have to do anything she doesn’t want to, but Bethany knows full well what he expects of her,’ reveals star Lucy Fallon. ‘When there are three men in the room, she shouts for Mel. She’s in shock, and it’s the first time Bethany really thinks something is wrong.’
Meanwhile, a bloodied Shona legs it from the hospital and hurries back to the cobbles to warn David that his niece is in danger. The pair then race over to the tanning salon with Sarah and
Gary in tow, as Shona explains the awful truth about what Nathan has been putting Bethany through.
Kicking through the door, the group bolt upstairs to Nathan’s flat. But will they arrive in time to save Bethany from her latest ordeal?