Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) is enduring a harrowing ordeal, but she refuses to reveal the truth to her family. The evil GP Doctor Todd (Caroline Harker) has been relentlessly targeting Jacob Gallagher (Joe-Warren Plant) with workplace bullying at the hospital, but recently found a new target. Todd discovered Charity's explosive secret: the surrogate baby Leyla, carried for step-granddaughter Sarah Sugden (Katie Hill) and Jacob, is actually the result of a one-night stand with Ross Barton (Michael Parr). This revelation would devastate Charity's family and her marriage to Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb).
Todd blackmailed Charity, demanding escalating sums that reached one hundred grand. Desperate to pay off Todd before Sarah's 21st birthday, Charity tried to convince Kim Tate (Claire King) to buy her shares in the Woolpack, but the deal fell through. Resorting to crime, Charity and a reluctant Chas Dingle (Lucy Pargeter) broke into Home Farm to steal from the safe, but were caught by Lydia Dingle (Karen Blick), who let them go. Despite Chas's insistence on telling Sarah the truth, Charity secretly plotted to rob a depot by stealing keys from Noah Dingle (Jack Downham). She and Chas learned Billy Fletcher (Jay Kontzle) had noticed missing items and called Caleb Miligan (William Ash). Charity secured £30k from the depot robbery and handed it to Todd, but it wasn't enough.
Todd threatened to expose the secret at Sarah's birthday unless Charity paid the rest. Overwhelmed with guilt and drinking heavily, Charity called Todd's bluff. Todd reluctantly backed down, feebly justifying her blackmail and admitting to enjoying Charity's chaotic life. However, Todd's monstrous nature resurfaced, and she sexually assaulted Charity.
In upcoming episodes, Charity hides her ordeal by faking a serious mental condition. When Manpreet (Rebecca Sarker) visits, Charity lies that her breakdown is due to postnatal depression. Manpreet prescribes medication and leaves. When Mack returns, Charity is upset to learn he told Sarah about her troubles. Alone, Charity washes down sleeping pills with wine. The next day, Sarah feels guilty, believing her gran's presumed PND is a result of being her surrogate. Charity hints at something more but deflects back to PND. Mack consoles a distraught Sarah, who blames the surrogacy.
Charity struggles to come to terms with the assault, unable to confide in loved ones and forced to internalize the trauma. Emmerdale Producer Sophie Roper highlighted the storyline's importance: 'Charity's storyline will explore the impact of sexual violence, and though this heinous act is fundamentally about power, we'll explore the complexities of how Charity processes her trauma when the perpetrator is a woman. With little conversation surrounding female-on-female assault, we'll explore the overwhelming feelings of isolation many survivors experience and will examine the disparity between the legal term sexual assault and the fact that many women in Charity's position feel this minimises what's happened to them, because they feel like they've been raped.'
Star Emma Atkins reflected: 'This has been one of the most demanding and significant storylines I've had to navigate as Charity. We know her as a tough, resilient character, but this trauma will expose a deep, raw vulnerability that has been heartbreaking at times to play. I hope this storyline gives even one person the courage to speak out or helps others understand the quiet devastation of trauma.'
