In Hawthorne House’s largest library, Avery Kylie Grambs searches for hidden passages while Alisa Ortega presses her to discuss her approaching eighteenth birthday. Avery notes that turning eighteen will not immediately give Avery the Hawthorne fortune; Avery must first complete a full year living in Hawthorne House, which will happen in early November.

Avery is more focused on winning a bet against Jameson Hawthorne by finding every secret passage in the house. Jameson is away on the other side of the world, Grayson has not called since leaving for Harvard, and Xander has taken it upon himself to keep Avery distracted in their absence. Xander briefly interrupts with an offer of a potentially explosive diversion, but Avery sends Xander away.

Nash Hawthorne appears and makes it clear that Nash does not fully trust Alisa’s intentions. After Avery tells Nash that Avery is fine, Nash leaves but correctly guesses that Alisa wants to discuss establishing a trust. Alisa then shifts to plans for Avery’s birthday, pushing the idea of a public party with celebrity guests, while Avery repeatedly refuses because Avery does not want the attention or the optics Alisa keeps promoting.

As Alisa continues talking, Avery studies the library and notices one wrought-iron staircase differs from the others. Avery climbs it, finds a hidden release beneath a shelf, and opens another secret passage, marking the twelfth Avery has discovered. Ignoring Alisa’s party plans, Avery reasserts that there will be no party and disappears into the wall.