After Jameson disappears through the secret passage, Avery remains unsettled by the idea that Hawthorne House may contain unknown entrances into her bedroom. She takes the envelope Jameson left behind and realizes it is the letter he received at the will reading. Hoping it might explain Tobias Hawthorne's apology in her own letter, Avery opens it.

Jameson's letter is a strange string of familiar sayings about devils, power, gold, certainty, grace, and judgment, ending with Tobias's signature. By morning, Avery has memorized it. Although the message seems manic and nonsensical, Avery begins to suspect that Jameson may be right: Tobias's letters may contain a clue.

Avery then checks her old phone and discovers more than a hundred missed calls and texts, along with thousands of emails and social media messages. People from her past and complete strangers are suddenly reaching out because of her inheritance. The overwhelming attention makes clear why Alisa gave Avery a new phone, and Avery realizes she is not prepared for the public reaction to becoming Tobias Hawthorne's heir.

Alisa arrives after Avery misses breakfast, accompanied by a young staff member who leaves after giving Avery a suspicious look. Alisa explains that the staff are loyal and anxious, and that the young woman is one of Nash's hires: people Nash finds during his wanderings and brings back to Hawthorne House, where Tobias often gave them work. Alisa says many of them would die for Nash, but sharply denies any romantic exploitation, explaining that Nash has a savior complex but would not involve himself with someone under his power.

Avery confronts Alisa about being Nash's ex, and Alisa admits that she and Nash were once engaged. Though Avery is surprised Alisa never mentioned this, Avery decides to keep Alisa as her liaison because Alisa is professional and does not appear loyal to the Hawthornes. Alisa then tells Avery she has enrolled her at Heights Country Day, the school Jameson and Xander attend, and warns her that being the Hawthorne heiress without being a Hawthorne will draw intense attention.

When Alisa sees Avery's old phone, she recognizes the problem and offers to dispose of it. Avery keeps it only long enough to transfer Max's number, then accepts Alisa's warning that she must strictly control access to her new number. Alisa tells Avery that money is power, power attracts people, and Avery is no longer the person she was two days ago, which reminds Avery of Tobias's warning in Jameson's letter: power corrupts.