Coronation Street spoilers follow for the latest episode to air on ITV1 and stream on ITVX and YouTube. This article also contains discussion of sensitive subject matter such as rape and coercion.
Coronation Street has revealed the outcome of Bernie Winter-Alahan’s horrendous ordeal tonight, as Mal Roper tries to force her to come to the Chariot Square Hotel and sleep with him so he will drop the charges against Dev.
Tonight’s episode saw Bernie try and hide her nerves to Gemma and Dev in the café, making excuses about needing to go the dentist.
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Later on, she turned up at the hotel and tried to compose herself as she knocked on Mal’s door, while Ryan Connor looked on, concerned.
In the room, she downed some wine, deliberately ate a smelly cheese and onion sandwich, and made it clear that she was only there to protect her family, but Mal genuinely believed that she’ll one day reciprocate his ‘romantic’ feelings.
“I believe that you believe all that,” she said.
Bernie suggested getting some brandy in and pretended to order to room service, and left the phone off the hook without Mal noticing.
Mal started to get irate that Bernie was dragging things out, and when she mentioned that he was still grieving the loss of his marriage, his temper got even worse, accusing her of “patronising” him and “stringing me along from the get go”.
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He started to insult her, calling her “a drug-addled train wreck”, raising his voice and advancing towards her, as she put a corkscrew between her fingers, ready to defend herself.
That’s when Ryan burst into the room and held Mal back, telling Bernie to call the police.
But she had other ideas, demanding that Mal himself immediately go to the police and withdraw his charges against Dev. Bernie burst into tears as she hugged Ryan and thanked him.
Later on, Bernie spoke to Kit Green at her place, and he asked her why Mal retracted his case.
She feigned innocence, stating that he must have had some sort of “crisis” that caught him to lose whatever fight he had in him.
Is her nightmare finally over?
Coronation Street airs on weeknights at 8.30p m on ITV1 and streams on ITVX and YouTube.
Read more Coronation Street spoilers on our dedicated homepage
If you’ve been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can access more information from Rape Crisis England and Wales, which works towards the elimination of all forms of sexual violence and sexual misconduct, on its website or by calling the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 0808 802 9999. Rape Crisis Scotland’s helpline number is 08088 01 03 02.
Readers in the US are encouraged to contact RAINN, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800-656-4673.