Avery and Libby enter the Great Room for the will reading. Grayson leaves them in wingback chairs and joins the lawyers, Zara, and Zara’s husband at the front. Avery observes the assembled family and associates, including an older couple, a watchful Black man with military bearing, Xander, and another Hawthorne brother, Nash.

An elderly woman called Nan arrives, and Nash offers her an arm, but Nan chooses Xander’s help instead. Xander introduces Nan to Avery and Libby as his great-grandmother. Nan’s gruff comments reveal affection for Tobias Hawthorne, who was her son-in-law, and Xander notes that Tobias was her favorite. The room’s grief reminds Avery of losing Avery’s mother, overwhelming Avery despite Avery’s attempt to stay composed.

Avery tells Libby that Avery needs air and heads out. Zara’s husband tries to stop Avery by grabbing Avery’s elbow because the will reading is about to begin. Avery pulls free and points out that one Hawthorne grandson is still missing, making it clear that Avery will return shortly and will not be handled.

Outside in the expansive backyard, Avery takes in the estate’s fountain, statue garden, greenhouse, and seemingly endless land. From a balcony above, a drunk shirtless boy poses a riddle to Avery while balancing dangerously on the railing. Avery warns him that he will fall, but the boy treats the danger lightly and calls Avery “Mystery Girl.”

Avery realizes the boy is Jameson Hawthorne, the missing grandson. Jameson continues to act recklessly, standing and then dropping from the balcony after a controlled twist and grab. He lands beside Avery, and the encounter becomes a tense, flirtatious exchange. Avery answers Jameson’s riddle with “two,” earning Jameson’s amused approval as he brushes past Avery and calls the answer a touché.