Grayson and Avery prepare for their interview with Landon. Landon instructs Avery to project gratitude and awe; they are trying to paint the Cinderella story picture. Avery summarizes it this way: “One day, I’m scrounging to pay the electric bill, and the next, I’m Cinderella” (235).

Grayson and Avery leave the mock interview with Landon feeling tense. Grayson proposes they let off some steam by practicing sword fighting. Avery is awed by the longswords he shows her, thinking, “This is what it meant to be a Hawthorne. This should probably be in a museum, but my brothers and I like to hit things with it instead” (237).

Avery and Grayson have the televised interview, which goes well until the end. The interviewer displays photos of Toby/Harry and Avery playing chess together; clearly, someone in Hawthorne House has stolen and leaked them. Avery tells the interviewer that the man is “my friend. Harry” (245). However, the interviewer suggests that it may be Toby. Grayson sees that Avery will crack under the interviewer’s pressure. The interviewer asks, “What is your connection to Toby Hawthorne?” (246). Avery starts to answer, “I’m his—” but is cut off by Grayson: “Before I could get the word daughter out, Grayson leaned his head down and crushed his lips to mine.