Episode 4 of "Apple Cider Vinegar" unfolds in 2015, where Lucy embarks on a quest for tranquility in Peru. However, the cancer retreat she seeks refuge in proves to be exorbitantly priced, and the medication administered leaves her feeling nauseated. Disheartened yet undeterred, she encounters a shaman who urges her to maintain an open mind. As night descends, Lucy ventures out to search for cell service, only to find herself being chased by an unseen figure. In her haste to escape, she loses her voice and is horrified to discover leeches clinging to her body.
Flashing back to 2014, Chanelle and Justin refuse to relent in their pursuit of the truth, insisting that the evidence against Belle is purely circumstantial. For Chanelle, this is deeply personal; she believes Belle must face the consequences of her actions. The scene then shifts to the 2013 Cosmo afterparty, where Chanelle and Belle form an immediate bond. Belle subtly disparages Milla by critiquing the generosity of Chanelle's gift, hinting at her disdain for Milla's financial status.
Upon returning home, Milla warns Chanelle about Belle's questionable motives and points out inconsistencies in Belle's story. However, Chanelle brushes these concerns aside. Belle's relentless attention soon wins Chanelle over, and she is touched and pleasantly surprised when Belle offers her a position as her manager. This turn of events upsets Milla, who also uncovers Belle's derogatory comments about her on social media. Despite Milla's misgivings, Chanelle remains oblivious, claiming that she needs Belle's financial support to escape her parents' home. In pursuit of this goal, she even skips Milla's juice range launch.
In 2014, Chanelle confesses to journalists that she was once blind to Belle's obvious manipulation tactics. As Belle's influence continued to rise, Milla's business suffered a decline.In 2013, Chanelle generously offers to leverage the intelligence she gleans from The Whole Pantry to propel Milla's business forward, but Milla, dismissing social media as a false and corrosive realm, declines her offer. Milla harbors other concerns, compelling Tamara to undergo the Hirsch treatment for her predecessor. Joe is distressed, fearing that Milla's adoption of fraudulent alternatives could prove fatal to Tamara.
In parallel, Belle forms an alliance with Apple, befriending the team and indulging in their escapades. When Clive's father suffers a stroke, Belle proves unsupportive, instead conjuring a novel initiative to provide nourishing sustenance to ailing children. Her endeavor garners positive feedback during initial gatherings, while Milla's traditional, offline, word-of-mouth marketing strategy for her juice line falters.
Following one such meeting, Belle crosses paths with Hunter, a young boy battling brain cancer. Stricken with guilt, she launches a crowdfunding campaign on his behalf. Reactions to her efforts are mixed; some condemn her as heartless for neglecting her own son, while others admire her compassion. The situation is exacerbated by her son's yearning for her attention, as Clive is away visiting his father. The child, in a fit of frustration, smashes the television and dashes around wildly, leaving Belle at her wits' end as she attempts to lull him to sleep. When her efforts prove futile, she resorts to locking him in a room, tears streaming down her face as his cries echo through the air.
The next morning, Belle discovers her son is ill and panic sets in. Chanelle, who has dropped by, hastily drives them to Dr. Phil, a family physician whose clinic is nestled in an abandoned warehouse, a fact that stirs suspicion in Chanelle. However, Dr. Phil's expertise is undeniable as he diagnoses the child with a stomach bug. He also examines Belle, delivering a shocking revelation: she has liver cancer. Tears well up in her eyes as he reveals that her son is terrified of her, haunted by the fear of losing her to this deadly disease.
Meanwhile, Milla's streak of misfortune persists with her juice venture. Deeply distressed, she experiences a flare-up on her arm, adding to her woes. A hippie store proprietor, noticing her plight, offers her some illicit black salve as a remedy. During a brief respite, Milla reaches out to her mother, finding solace in her presence. Joe, though reluctantly, has lent a hand with the Hirsch treatment, yet his discontent is palpable.
A conference Milla organizes attracts only a handful of attendees, leaving her to stumble through her presentation. Subsequently, she succumbs to an emotional meltdown in a restaurant, her frustration reaching a crescendo. Seeking to regain composure, she impulsively decides to whisk Tamara away to Mexico upon discovering painkillers at home. Joe implores Tamara to seek medical attention, but his pleas fall on deaf ears as he cannot bear to disappoint Milla.
At the airport, the men bid Tamara farewell, Joe's parting bittersweet. Arlo's smile fades as he catches sight of Milla's bandaged and discolored arm, a stark reminder of her struggles.
On the same day, Belle hosts a birthday bash for her son, amidst simmering tensions with Clive's return. He contends that his parents urge him to leave Belle, eventually accusing her of fabricating her cancer diagnosis. Belle, in turn, attempts to gaslight him, accusing him of stealing her son, leaving him utterly confused.
At the party, Belle's attention is scattered, repeatedly brushing past Chanelle, who had lent a hand in the preparations. When Chanelle ventures out for ice cream, she discovers the food she prepared for Hunter tucked away in the freezer, a revelation that angers and confuses her. She ponders over the authenticity of Dr. Phil and Belle's mysterious ailment.
Suddenly, Belle suffers a seizure and collapses, shocking her son and prompting Clive to usher him away. Nathan, who attends the party, intercepts any attempts to call an ambulance, knowing Belle's aversion to hospitals. Similarly, Tamara faints upon landing in Mexico.
The climax of Apple Cider Vinegar Episode 4 unveils that Lucy's encounter with leeches and flowers was merely a hallucination. She appears to have undergone a spiritual enlightenment, her spirits lifted. Assuring Justin of her well-being, she decides to extend her stay. The shaman presents a card reader for the additional payment, to which Lucy responds with a serene smile.
