Meanwhile, in a moment of sheer desperation and hope, Adrian crosses paths with local Sergeant David. David, a man who has seen his share of family drama, recognizes the pain in Adrian’s eyes. Offering some unexpected fatherly advice, he gently encourages Adrian to keep trying, reminding him that a father’s bond with his son is one worth fighting for. Buoyed by these words, which feel like a lifeline, Adrian’s shattered hope begins to knit itself back together. He decides to take a massive risk, showing up uninvited at Summer Bay House, the very place he knows Cohen now calls home. It’s a last-ditch effort to bypass the red tape and the emotional walls, a heartfelt plea to see the son he’s just found.

He approaches the familiar house with a knot of anxiety twisting in his stomach, but his resolve is firm. He pictures a simple conversation, a quiet moment to explain himself to Cohen. But before he can even lift his hand to knock, the front door swings open, and there stands Roo, her face a mask of stone. Her expression is not one of surprise, but of immediate, icy disapproval. She knew this moment was inevitable. Roo intercepts him on the doorstep, her body language a clear and unmistakable barrier. She doesn’t need to be told why he’s there; his presence is an unwelcome intrusion. Her voice is low and controlled, but filled with a steely resolve as she makes it absolutely clear that he isn’t welcome.

Adrian, taken aback by her cold reception, tries to plead his case. “Roo, please, I just want to see him,” he begins, his voice laced with desperation. But Roo cuts him off, her protective instincts overriding any sense of empathy. To her, this isn’t a father trying to reconnect; it’s a threat to the fragile peace she has worked so hard to build. She sees his unannounced arrival as an act of disrespect, a violation of their trust. “You need to leave,” she says, her words a chilling ultimatum. She explains that Cohen is already upset and needs space, and Adrian’s appearance is only making things worse.

Her anger and fear are palpable. She reminds him of the trauma his existence has brought back into Cohen’s life, and her voice tightens as she explains that her only priority is to protect her son. The standoff escalates, with Adrian’s pleas for a simple chance to talk falling on deaf ears. Roo is not swayed by his desperation; she is unwavering in her defense of Cohen’s emotional well-being. She gives him a final, grave warning, her eyes fixed on his. “If you try this again, if you show up here uninvited, I will call the police.” The threat hangs in the air between them, a final, unyielding boundary. It’s not just a warning; it’s a statement that she will use the full force of the law to keep him away. Adrian is left with no choice but to retreat, his hope utterly crushed, leaving Roo alone to deal with the immense emotional fallout of having to protect her foster son from his own biological father. She has won the battle for now, but the war for Cohen’s heart and future is far from over.