That night, Hawthorne House hosts a formal dinner for Thea’s visit, with Mrs. Laughlin preparing an elaborate meal that makes Avery feel the household values Thea more than her. The guests include the Hawthorne brothers, Skye, Zara, Constantine, Thea, Libby, Nan, and Avery. Thea immediately needles Avery about Country Day sports, while Xander defuses the exchange with joking commentary and Thea pushes back against how her ambition is judged.

Skye, already drunk, unexpectedly proposes a toast to Avery. Avery expects an attack, but the family raises their glasses, and Avery realizes that although they may resent her, challenging Tobias Hawthorne’s will has become dangerous and self-defeating because Avery controls the money.

Thea then twists the moment by adding a toast to Emily, keeping her eyes on Jameson. The mention of Emily shocks the table: Jameson abruptly lowers his glass and leaves, while Grayson visibly tightens his grip on his own glass. Constantine rebukes Thea, but Thea pretends innocence.

After waiting a few minutes to avoid seeming too obvious, Avery excuses herself and goes to the hidden coat closet, expecting Jameson to have gone into the Black Wood. Before Avery can leave, Grayson appears and tells Avery he will not ask what she and Jameson are doing because he already knows.

Grayson reveals that he was at the bridge the previous night and that he later examined the Red Will using red acetate. He has independently understood that Westbrook, Davenport, Winchester, and Blackwood are both last names and locations, and he found the bridge clue after Avery and Jameson left. Grayson warns Avery that if Avery is smart, Avery will stay away from Jameson, the game, and Grayson himself, declaring that the Hawthorne family destroys everything it touches.