Coronation Street‘s Bernie Winter-Alahan will be forced into a horrific situation this week, as she tries to protect her loved ones from Mal Roper. When Mal claims Dev Alahan was responsible for his attack, Bernie agrees to sleep with her stalker so he drops the charges.

Poor Bernie has been tormented by sinister Mal ever since their drunken night at Chariot Square Hotel. After finding out where she lives, Mal hung around Weatherfield for weeks, hoping to begin a romance.

In a bid to protect his mum, Kit Green attacked Mal, landing him in hospital. Though Mal remembered who the perpetrator was, this week’s episodes see him pointing the finger at Bernie’s husband Dev.

While Dev is hauled in for questioning by the police, Kit assures his mum that there isn’t any supporting evidence. However, when Mal tells Bernie to meet him at the hotel, she feels she has no choice but to accept his terms in exchange for Kit and Dev’s freedom.

A newly released spoiler clip sees an anxious Bernie in the hotel room, scarfing down a cheese and onion sandwich. Unfortunately, her attempt to put Mal off doesn’t work, so she suggests they have a few drinks.

“I fear I haven’t exactly covered myself in glory. You’re here under duress,” Mal says, addressing the elephant in the room.

“Well, we both know that I’m here to protect my son,” Bernie confirms.

Mal explains that he isn’t trying to be “the villain” and he only wants to “deepen [their] connection”, so Bernie tells him she’s there to listen. The stalker claims that “just being in the same room” as her “is everything”, though he makes it clear that he expects intimacy.

“The best is yet to come,” he adds, ignoring the pained expression on her face.