After Xander leaves, Avery explores the wing assigned to her and is overwhelmed by its scale: multiple enormous suites, extravagant bathrooms, and an office that appears to have belonged to Tobias Hawthorne during his final months. In the office, Avery finds a desk with a bronze compass built into it. When Avery turns the compass northwest, a hidden compartment opens, revealing grooves shaped like the letter T, though Avery cannot trigger anything further.

Avery searches for clues about why Tobias chose her over his family, wondering whether Avery or her mother somehow impressed him. The locked desk drawers offer no answers, but nearby shelves display patents, trophies, records, medals, and creative works credited to the four Hawthorne grandsons. The display looks like a tribute to their brilliance, making Tobias's decision to disinherit them in Avery's favor even harder for Avery to understand.

Libby arrives and reacts with amazement to Hawthorne House. Avery notices that Libby's black eye looks worse and asks whether Libby is truly finished with Drake. Libby says she chose Avery, but Avery pushes back that Libby needs to choose herself. Libby then reveals that her mother used to hit her and that her history helped shape the way she tried to understand and excuse Drake's behavior, though she now admits Avery was right about him.

Libby and Avery step onto the balcony, where Avery sees Grayson swimming laps below and is momentarily distracted by him. Libby then tells Avery that, while being introduced to her security detail, Libby overheard Zara's husband say they are running a DNA test on Avery. Avery recognizes the implication: the simplest explanation for Tobias leaving everything to her may be that Avery is biologically connected to the Hawthornes.

The news shakes Libby because, if Tobias were Avery's father, then Avery and Libby might not share a father. Libby worries that this could change whether Avery sees Libby as her sister or wants Libby at Hawthorne House. Avery firmly rejects that fear and promises Libby that she wants her there no matter what.