How long did it take you to figure it out?

I was expecting to see either the sibling or dad as an exalted enemy. What we got was a surprise and better than my expectations.

However, the twist is brought down by inconsistencies... Kid Ryder is certain that mom is dead, so how exactly did Alec go about hiding her? Was there no funeral or memorial? Did she consent to have her two children being lied to and subjected to a terrible heartbreak? Or did she just slip into coma and Alec stowed her away without her knowing it? Did he just lie to his children, telling that their mom is dead and watched them mourn her? Stone cold.

I thought the reveal might have been that Ellen was part of SAM.

Well, now I am going to think of SAM being there with me for every LI scene. Squick

I know SAM disables logs when you're with Cora, that didn't come up with Peebee, so I assume SAM continues logging, don't know about the rest.

I thought of this way before I even started my romance. I've headcanoned conversations with SAM about it. But I did like that we could have a sort-of conversation about romantic attachments where Ryder can say what it means to them.

Aw I wish I had seen this in my romance. How does it come up?

I'll just assume that SAM does it for everyone, but that Cora gets a mention because her romance scene got a lot of attention overall.

I am of course referring to the Alec Ryder memories, I became suspicious after the first memory, but it was not until the memory where they're all together and mom Ryder was dying, that's when my suspicion solidified, how long dd it take you to say "oh yeah, I know the big reveal already."

SAM: Pathfinder, your penis is rising.
Scott: Gah!
SAM: Penis returning to normal levels.

For Ellen, Alec could easily have said she was cremated, or whatnot. We know he lied, so it's easy enough to invent some details for him. I don't think the lack of an in-game reference affects the viability of the ruse at all.

Alec's not getting a funeral is a reasonable point. These are the same people who didn't even give Thane a second thought, let alone a funeral. The idea probably didn't occur to them. If it did, they must've decided that it would be a drag so early in the game.

As to anyone thinking that he is still alive, there's no way. Cora, Liam, Dr. Carlyle and Hayes were present, bare minimum, when Ryder is picked up. (Fischer and Greer were definitely present for the ride back to the Nexus.) Alec was right next to his child. If asked, they specify exactly how he died-- saving his child. There is no ambiguity simply because they don't show a corpse. What a macabre, unnecessary scene that would be.