Arlene is an alcoholic, and one night after she drinks and drives, she crashes into a car being driven by Jackson Montgomery, with a pregnant Brooke English inside.

Hayley witnesses this and Alec is eventually sent to jail for trying to kill Arlene through alcohol poisoning.

Virtually no one is glad to see her, but it's revealed that Hayley is the one who called Arlene and asked her to test to be a possible donor for Enzo.

Later, Arlene retreats to a nearby bar to drown her sorrows, where she is found by Mateo, who was the most suspicious of her motives.

Bolstered by Mateo's words, Arlene departs from Pine Valley, leaving the bar—and her drink—behind, indicating that there is finally hope for her and her future sobriety.