In the upcoming episodes of Home and Away, viewers are left questioning whether Adrian has truly abandoned his son, Cohen, just weeks after they finally met. Following the arrest of Cohen’s mother, Samantha, back in June, when she and Cohen were discovered living in a tent, Cohen was placed into foster care. This turn of events marked the beginning of a tumultuous journey for the young boy.

After facing multiple theft charges, Samantha shocked everyone by deciding to relinquish her custody rights to Cohen. As Yabi Creek Sergeant David began searching for any relatives of Cohen, Roo, his foster caregiver, chose to withhold the truth about Samantha’s abandonment in hopes that a family member might step forward or that Samantha might reconsider her decision.

Cohen mentioned that he only knew of his grandmother living in Canbor, but David’s attempts to locate her were unsuccessful. It wasn’t until Cash gained Cohen’s trust that he discovered a crucial lead: Cohen’s grandmother actually resided in Queanbeyan, just across the state line from Canbor. Unfortunately, David later learned that she had passed away from cancer just a few months prior, leaving Cohen without any known relatives.

With Samantha’s formal relinquishment of custody finalized and Cohen’s letters to her going unanswered from prison, Roo was finally compelled to break the heartbreaking news to Cohen that his mother had abandoned him. Shortly thereafter, Cohen was admitted to the hospital with tonsillitis, prompting Roo to make a life-changing decision—she wanted to adopt him, hoping to provide the stability he desperately needed.

Cohen was overjoyed at the prospect of being adopted, and Roo wasted no time in initiating the process. However, their hopes were dashed when David uncovered surprising information in Samantha’s old case files. It turned out that when Samantha was arrested as a teenager, already eight months pregnant with Cohen, her bail had been posted by a man named Adrian Purcell. This revelation led David and social worker Harper to conclude that Adrian was likely Cohen’s biological father.

When Adrian was summoned to the Yabi Creek Police Station, he confirmed that he had always believed himself to be Cohen’s father and still carried a photo of Cohen in his wallet. Samantha had taken Cohen when he was just three months old, claiming he wasn’t Adrian’s child, and had severed all ties with him. Although the plan was to wait for a DNA test for confirmation, Adrian couldn’t resist approaching Cohen when he spotted him with Ru. This unexpected encounter left Cohen confused, prompting Cash to step in and Ru to clarify the situation.

When the DNA results came back, they confirmed Adrian’s suspicions—he was indeed Cohen’s father. For Roo, this news was bittersweet; while she was happy for Cohen, it also meant the potential loss of the boy she had come to love deeply. Their first meeting seemed promising, with Cohen even starting to call Adrian “dad” as they bonded over a game of football. However, the following day, Adrian tried to explain to Cohen that he had never abandoned him, insisting it was Samantha who had deceived him.

Cohen, still idolizing his mother, refused to believe that she would lie and angrily rejected Adrian’s claims. Initially, Roo accepted Cohen’s decision to distance himself from Adrian, wanting to protect him. However, during a fishing trip with Alf, Cohen confided the real reason for their fallout. Alf encouraged Roo to reconsider her stance on Adrian, reminding her that this situation was new for him as well.

Meanwhile, Roo faced warnings from Harper that obstructing Adrian’s relationship with Cohen could jeopardize her status as his foster caregiver. Realizing she needed to step back, Roo allowed Cohen to meet with Adrian again, and they agreed to start anew. As the week unfolds, Cohen is eager to learn more about his father. However, when Adrian admits to Roo that he has no idea how to be a father, she worries that he might not want the responsibility, potentially raising Cohen’s hopes for nothing.

While Roo is still navigating the adoption process, the thought of losing Cohen is almost unbearable. Meanwhile, Cohen begins to develop trust in Roo, recognizing her caring nature. During a dinner with Adrian, he excitedly discusses his extended family and promises to introduce Cohen to them. However, the following day, Roo is shocked to find Adrian packing his car, preparing to leave town. Without providing a reason, Adrian simply tells Roo to inform Cohen that he is sorry.

This unexpected decision devastates Roo, as she realizes Cohen is now facing the pain of another abandonment. Having just broken the news about his mother’s rejection, Roo struggles to deliver the heart-wrenching news about Adrian. Nathan points out that Cohen is beginning to fear he has been abandoned once again. Determined to support Cohen, Roo sets aside her own feelings and heads to the police station to ask David for Adrian’s address.

Roo is resolute in her mission to talk to Adrian and convince him to return for Cohen’s sake. But will she be able to persuade Adrian to stay in Summer Bay, or will her efforts only push him further away? Stay tuned for more emotional developments and spoilers in the coming episodes!