The Inheritance Games, #2
The Hawthorne Legacy
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Contents
CHAPTER 63
Overview
Avery and Grayson’s carefully managed interview collapses when Monica Winfield reveals she has uncovered the possibility that Toby Hawthorne is alive and may be a competing heir. Grayson repeatedly protects Avery on camera, first by steering questions away from vulnerable subjects and then by ending the interview when Monica produces Harry’s photograph.
The chapter sharply raises the stakes by turning Avery’s private suspicions about Harry/Toby into a public threat to her inheritance and identity. Avery nearly reveals that she believes she is Toby’s daughter, but Grayson stops her with a performative kiss that protects the secret while deepening their unresolved tension.
Summary
After the tense sword-practice encounter with Grayson, Avery cannot sleep and tells herself the reason is Libby and Nash’s continued silence. Avery’s texts remain unread and unanswered, leaving Avery worried before the major interview Alisa arranged to counter Skye and Ricky’s accusations.
The next evening, Avery and Grayson sit under studio lights with Monica Winfield. Avery handles early questions about Tobias Hawthorne’s will and her mother by following Landon’s advice: stay brief, sincere, grateful, and relatable. When Monica pushes toward rumors about Avery’s mother, Grayson smoothly redirects the conversation with jokes about tabloid stories and Hawthorne secrecy.
Monica then presses Grayson about Zara’s earlier suggestion that the family might challenge the will. Grayson insists Tobias Hawthorne did not leave loopholes, then supports Avery when Monica asks about Libby and custody. Avery praises Libby’s love and sacrifice, and Grayson warns Monica away from attacking their siblings. He frames Avery as part of Tobias Hawthorne’s legacy and publicly claims that he and his brothers accept the will and will make their own way.
Avery gains confidence when discussing how unreal the fortune feels, but Monica abruptly reveals the real trap: she asks whether Avery and Grayson know there might be another heir. Monica introduces the inheritance-law term pretermitted and suggests it could apply not only to an unborn heir but to someone assumed dead. Avery realizes Monica knows about Toby, while Grayson tries to contain the damage by giving a narrow legal answer and pretending not to understand the broader implication.
Monica displays the same pictures of Harry that Avery had shown Mrs. Laughlin and asks whether the man is Tobias Hawthorne II. Avery identifies him only as her chess friend Harry and tells a partial truth about their breakfast bets. Monica keeps pressing, calling Toby the true heir to the Hawthorne fortune, and Grayson ends the interview, physically getting Avery away as Alisa struggles with security.
As Monica and a cameraman pursue them, Monica asks about Avery’s connection to Toby Hawthorne. Overwhelmed and unprepared, Avery almost says that she is his daughter. Before Avery can reveal it on camera, Grayson kisses Avery, using the spectacle of the kiss to silence Avery and stop the confession.
Who Appears
- Avery GrambsFaces Monica’s interview, defends Libby and Harry, and nearly reveals her possible link to Toby.
- Grayson HawthorneControls the interview, protects Avery from damaging questions, and kisses her to stop her confession.
- Monica WinfieldInterviewer who ambushes Avery and Grayson with evidence suggesting Toby Hawthorne may be alive.
- LibbyAbsent but central to Avery’s worry and praised by Avery as loving and protective.
- Toby Hawthorne / HarryAbsent figure whose identity as Harry and possible heir becomes Monica’s explosive interview focus.
- AlisaAvery’s lawyer, present offstage and blocked by security as the interview falls apart.
- Nash HawthorneAbsent with Libby, increasing Avery’s anxiety through unread and unanswered messages.
- Tobias HawthorneDeceased billionaire whose will and legacy remain the foundation of the interview’s conflict.
- Zara HawthorneReferenced for publicly implying the family might find a legal solution to the will.