When Corrie’s Shona Ramsay learns that Bethany Platt’s boyfriend is the same Nathan Curtis who was abusive to her, it looks like someone’s finally going to rescue the vulnerable teen.
But, sadly, Shona ends up unconscious after a beating and that leaves Nathan free to subject Bethany to even more horrors.
Nathan’s barely even rattled when Shona threatens him and as she tries to call the police on her way home, two thugs come up behind her and viciously attack her.
Meanwhile, Bethany is falling further under Nathan’s spell, but she’s wary when he announces he’s throwing another of his parties.
Knowing exactly what that means, having been forced into having sex with one of his friends before, Bethany is upset when Nathan removes her engagement ring, insisting they don’t want the other party-goers to get jealous of their relationship.
Read more: Shona beaten up by Nathan in Corrie
Bethany’s thrown by the move, but still agrees to go along with it.
As the party gets underway, Nathan’s annoyed when she makes a show of herself. He takes her off and punishes her by burning her with a cigarette.
As soon as he’s dished out the discipline, he turns the charm back on, apologises and begs her to return to the party.
In a complete state, Bethany is confused when she’s followed into the bedroom by three men who have given Nathan cash.
“Bethany knows full well what Nathan expects of her,” Lucy Fallon, who plays Bethany, revealed to Inside Soap. “The next thing she knows, she’s in a room with three men and she’s shouting for Mel.
“It’s the first time that Bethany really starts to think, ‘Why are Nathan and Mel letting this happen to me?'”
Back on the Street, Shona has discharged herself from hospital and told David Platt what she knows. Realising his niece is in trouble David, along with sister Sarah and her boyfriend Gary Windass, race round to the flat to save her.
But will they get there in time?
Read more: Corrie’s Ken confronts his attacker
Even if they do manage to save her this time, Lucy also revealed to the magazine that just because Bethany’s family are in the know, it still might not be enough to get her away from creepy Nathan.
“When people start telling her she’s being groomed, she can’t accept it.
“An important part of telling this story is that a lot of survivors still couldn’t see what was happening until a long time after it had been exposed.”