That night, Alisa calls Avery and angrily reprimands Avery for speaking to the press without approval. After the call, Avery checks the news and realizes the story has become a major headline: the media is framing her as the Hawthorne heiress who is hiding secrets.

Avery expects Max to contact her, but Max does not reply even when Avery messages first. Remembering that Avery now knows Emily's last name, Avery searches for “Emily Laughlin” with Heights Country Day School and finds only an obituary. The lack of suspicious news coverage surprises Avery, and Emily's photo gives Avery a clearer, more personal image of the girl tied to Grayson and Jameson.

A sound from the hidden passage interrupts Avery, and Avery quickly closes the laptop to hide the search. Jameson enters through the fireplace passage, and their exchange is tense and flirtatious. Jameson reveals that he saw Avery's statement to the press and asks whether Avery lied about knowing why Tobias Hawthorne chose her.

Avery admits that Avery lied, because Avery still does not know the truth behind the inheritance. As Jameson moves closer, Avery recognizes the danger of being drawn to him, especially after recent moments of attraction involving both Jameson and Grayson, and tells Jameson not to touch her.

Jameson shifts to the puzzle and says their reckless drive helped him think differently. Avery reveals that Avery has also solved part of the clue: Blackwood and Westbrook are not just middle names but places, “the Black Wood” and “the West Brook,” while Davenport and Winchester remain uncertain. Jameson frames the discovery as something they will solve together, and despite Avery's distrust of his motives, Avery asks if Jameson wants to go for a walk.