Summer Bay is no stranger to heartbreak, but next week’s episodes of Home and Away deliver one of the most devastating emotional blows in recent memory.

Just as young Cohen begins to rebuild his fractured world, another father figure vanishes — leaving Roo Stewart scrambling to hold the pieces together.

Only weeks after discovering the identity of his biological father, Cohen now faces the unthinkable: abandonment for the second time in a matter of months.

A Father Found — And Lost

Cohen’s journey has already been turbulent. After his mother Samantha relinquished custody following her arrest, Roo stepped in as his foster carer, offering stability, warmth, and the promise of permanency. Adoption proceedings had quietly begun, and for the first time since losing his grandmother, Cohen dared to feel secure.

Then everything changed.

A discovery at Yabbie Creek Police Station revealed that Adrian — Samantha’s former boyfriend — had once posted bail for her while she was pregnant. Suspicion quickly turned into possibility: could Adrian be Cohen’s father?

Summoned to the station, Adrian confessed he had always believed the boy was his. According to him, Samantha denied his paternity before abruptly leaving him when Cohen was just three months old. A DNA test was ordered, with plans to shield Cohen from the emotional fallout until confirmation arrived.

But Adrian couldn’t wait.

Spotting Roo and Cohen at the Surf Club, he introduced himself prematurely, triggering confusion and anxiety. Cash had to intervene, while Roo was left explaining a bombshell that would reshape Cohen’s life forever.

When DNA results confirmed the truth — Adrian was indeed the biological father — the victory felt hollow for Roo. She knew what it might mean. Loving Cohen as her own suddenly came with an expiration date.

A Fragile Bond Begins to Form

Despite the upheaval, Cohen’s first real meeting with Adrian went surprisingly well. A simple game of footy broke down walls, and in a moment that melted hearts, Cohen tentatively called him “Dad.”

But the following day, cracks began to show.

Adrian tried to explain his absence, insisting he never walked away — that Samantha had lied and taken Cohen from him. Fiercely loyal to his mother, Cohen recoiled at the suggestion. Hurt and confused, he lashed out, rejecting Adrian’s narrative entirely.

Roo, secretly relieved at the setback, kept Adrian at arm’s length. But wisdom came from an unexpected place. During a quiet fishing trip, Alf encouraged Roo to consider Adrian’s side of the story. If Adrian truly had been denied his son, wasn’t he owed a chance?

Harper later delivered a harsher warning: if Roo continued blocking Adrian’s involvement, she risked losing her status as Cohen’s foster carer altogether. The law favored biological ties.

Reluctantly, Roo stepped back.

Father and son agreed to start fresh.

Excitement — And Unease

Next week, optimism briefly returns. Adrian joins Roo and Cohen for dinner, and Cohen is buzzing with excitement. A simple message from Adrian’s mother ignites a new wave of joy — Cohen realizes he has another grandmother.

Soon he learns about a grandfather, an aunt, an uncle, and cousins he’s never met. For a child who recently believed his family was shrinking, the sudden expansion feels miraculous.

But while Cohen glows with anticipation, Roo notices something troubling.

Adrian doesn’t look comfortable.

The next day, Cohen is distracted while helping Alf sort fishing tackle. His thoughts are consumed by questions about cousins, holidays, and family gatherings. Having already lost his mum and grandmother, he can hardly believe his luck — Roo, Alf, a father, and now an extended family waiting somewhere beyond Summer Bay.

The possibility of belonging feels intoxicating.

Roo, however, senses tension beneath Adrian’s surface calm. Determined to address it, she arranges to meet him privately at the Diner.

Her question is simple: Is it truly okay for Cohen to meet the family?

Adrian’s response is anything but.

“It’s not happening,” he blurts out.

Stunned, Roo presses him, but Adrian doubles down. He won’t take Cohen to meet his relatives. In fact, he suggests that coming to Summer Bay at all was a mistake.

Then he walks out.

Abandoned Again

Roo chases him to the car park, pleading for explanation. If he’s pulling back, he needs to tell Cohen himself.

But Adrian is already emotionally retreating.

He climbs into his ute, delivers a hollow apology, and drives away — leaving Roo staring after him in disbelief.

When she returns home, Cohen is still animatedly questioning Alf about his own ancestry, unaware that his newfound father has just vanished.

Sensing Roo’s distress, Alf gently suggests Cohen head upstairs to look at the Stewart family tree. Once alone, Roo delivers the crushing update: Adrian has left, and she doesn’t know if he’s coming back.

Cohen’s world shatters.

Confused and devastated, he blames himself. What did he do wrong? Why does everyone leave?

For Roo, the moment is unbearable. She has fought to protect him from pain — yet here it is again, raw and unavoidable.

A Battle Against Procedure

Refusing to accept Adrian’s disappearance, Roo heads to Yabbie Creek Police Station, demanding his address.

David and Cash insist their hands are tied. Privacy laws prevent them from disclosing personal information.

Cash’s discomfort is visible. Though he supports David publicly, privately he questions whether strict adherence to protocol is morally right in this case.

That evening, Cohen barely touches his dinner before retreating upstairs. Roo feels powerless.

Then comes a late-night knock at the door.

David stands outside Summer Bay House. Without fanfare, he places a piece of paper on the table.

“You didn’t get this from me,” he says quietly.

It’s Adrian’s address.

By the time Roo looks up to thank him, he’s gone.

What Happens Next?

The question now hangs heavy over Summer Bay: will Roo find Adrian — and can she convince him to stay?

Adrian’s panic suggests deeper fears at play. Is he overwhelmed by the responsibility? Pressured by his own family? Or haunted by guilt he cannot confront?

For Cohen, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Another rejection could cement wounds that last a lifetime.

For Roo, this is no longer just about fostering. It’s about fighting for a child who deserves stability, truth, and love — no matter where it comes from.

As the week unfolds, viewers brace for emotional fallout that could permanently reshape Cohen’s future — and Roo’s place in it.

In Summer Bay, family isn’t always defined by blood. But when blood walks away, the scars can run deepest of all.