When Evelina Cole brings her grandson Toby Cole to the city for kindergarten, a vicious dog attack leaves him critically injured. Evelina knocks the dog out to save him, only to discover the owner is Toby's stepmom, Nell Rowan. Nell demands Evelina pay for her dog's life and screams that Toby is better off dead, delaying his urgent treatment. She refuses to pay the medical bills and threatens to use her rich husband to silence everyone. Unable to reach her son Graham Cole, Evelina calls Toby's birth mother, Skye Sterling, whom Nell publicly humiliates. When Graham arrives, he initially scolds his ex-wife, but upon realizing his own son is the victim, he furiously kicks Nell out with nothing.