Avery refuses to accept that Tobias Hawthorne chose her only because her birthday matches Emily Laughlin’s death date. She thinks of her mother’s hinted secret, Tobias’s apologetic letter, and Nash’s warning that she might be either the glass ballerina or the knife, all of which suggest there must be more behind the inheritance.

Beside Avery, Grayson breaks down and apologizes for Jameson’s reaction. Grayson says he knew from the day the will was read that the whole game was because of him, then clarifies that he believes he caused Emily’s death, not by murdering her, but by bringing her to the place where she died.

Grayson explains the Hawthorne brothers’ long history with Emily and Rebecca Laughlin. As children, the Laughlin girls visited Hawthorne House in summer, and Emily, limited by health problems before her heart transplant, made the boys compete in scavenger hunts. After Emily’s transplant, she became daring and magnetic, and when the Laughlins moved nearby, Tobias paid for Emily and Rebecca to attend private school.

Emily became central to both Grayson and Jameson, turning their feelings for her into a competition. Grayson admits that Emily wanted not only the brothers but also the thrills they could provide: dangerous outings, fast vehicles, parties, and forbidden places. The Hawthorne need to win kept both brothers playing along.

On the night Emily died, Emily called Grayson late and claimed she was finished with Jameson and wanted only Grayson. Emily asked to celebrate at Devil’s Gate, a famous cliff-diving spot. Grayson knew going there at night was dangerous, but he took Emily anyway; Emily jumped from the top despite warnings, survived the dive, and then died on the shoreline from her heart after Grayson went to get towels.

Grayson reveals that Tobias told him after Emily’s funeral that Emily’s death would not have happened if Grayson had put family first and chosen Jameson over the game with Emily. Grayson interprets the 10/18 clue, which links Emily’s death date to Avery’s birthday, as Tobias confirming Grayson’s guilt and making Avery part puzzle and part penance.