Avery bolts from Hawthorne House after learning that Tobias Hawthorne left her nearly his entire fortune. Outside, Libby follows and tries to make Avery see the opportunity in the inheritance: freedom from money worries and the chance to travel to places Avery once only imagined through her mother’s postcards. Avery remains overwhelmed and suspicious, unable to accept the scale of what has happened.

Nash Hawthorne comes outside, and Avery braces for anger over the billions she has inherited. Instead, Nash calmly says he does not want the money and seems almost amused that the will has upset people who may deserve it. After briefly flirting with Libby, Nash leaves on his motorcycle, showing that at least one Hawthorne is not openly hostile to Avery.

Avery decides that she and Libby cannot stay near the Hawthorne family, but John Oren appears and makes clear that he is now responsible for Avery’s security. Avery asks Oren to take them to a motel, but he drives them to an extravagant hotel, where Alisa Ortega is waiting. Alisa explains that Avery owns the hotel and that, while the will is in probate, the law firm will cover Avery’s needs because Tobias Hawthorne had effectively been its only client and Avery has now taken his place.

In their rooms, Avery repeatedly studies the will and learns the key condition attached to the inheritance: she must live in Hawthorne House for one year, beginning within three days. Avery is alarmed because many disinherited Hawthornes still live there, and she is not allowed to evict them except under extraordinary circumstances. Libby fears the family might harm Avery, but Oren assesses the risk as low and says the Hawthorne women are more likely to fight in court.

Alisa clarifies that if Avery dies during probate, the inheritance becomes part of Avery’s estate rather than reverting to the Hawthornes. If Avery refuses to move into Hawthorne House, however, her share goes to charity, not Tobias Hawthorne’s family. Avery presses Alisa about why Tobias would disinherit his family and leave everything to Avery, but Alisa says she does not think even her father knows the reason, then asks whether Avery does.