The next day, sensing the heavy weight on Cohen’s shoulders, Alf takes him on a serene fishing trip down by the river. It’s a classic Alf move, providing a calm, natural setting away from the chaos of Summer Bay House. As they cast their lines into the water, Alf gently coaxes the truth out of the boy, creating a safe space for him to open up. He doesn’t push, but he lets Cohen know he’s there to listen.

After a long silence, Cohen finally reveals the source of his anger. He explains that Adrian, in his desperation to connect, had been painfully honest about the past. Adrian had laid the blame squarely on Samantha, revealing her deception to him and saying she was the one who kept him in the dark about being Cohen’s father. This revelation was a punch to the gut for the young boy.

Cohen had just begun to process his feelings for his birth mother, a mix of disappointment and a faint, distant hope. Now, he was forced to confront a new, and in many ways, more painful truth: his mother had not just abandoned him, she had actively and maliciously lied, not only to Adrian but to Cohen himself. This act of deliberate deception, this cruel manipulation of his family’s history, didn’t sit well with him at all. It was one thing to be left behind, but it was an entirely different and more personal betrayal to realize his mother had lied so callously, stealing a father from him and a son from Adrian. This new knowledge didn’t just hurt him; it made him furious. The anger wasn’t directed at Adrian, but at his mother’s profound deception, a wound that felt fresh and deeply personal.

Back at the house, Roo’s resolve to protect Cohen is met with a harsh reality check. Social worker Harper calls over once more, her demeanor serious and her message a firm, unmistakable warning. She makes it clear to Roo that her continued efforts to block Cohen’s contact with Adrian are not only inappropriate but also against what is considered to be in the boy’s best interest.

Harper delivers the grim ultimatum: if Roo persists in her actions, the matter will have to be escalated. This isn’t a simple threat; it’s a statement of official policy that could have devastating consequences for everyone involved. The escalation could mean a formal review of the situation, which might ultimately lead to the unimaginable: Cohen being removed from Roo’s care and placed with a different foster carer. Harper’s words are a heavy blow, forcing Roo to confront the painful truth that her protective instincts, while well-intentioned, could cost her the very relationship she’s fighting so hard to save.