Oliver claims there’s a misunderstanding, and Travis comforts Gabe, who’s in disbelief. Gabe tells Sydney that he was listening to music, as he does each night. He emphatically denies having any desire to harm his best friend. Convinced of his innocence, Sydney apologizes. She blames the chewing gum, which Gabe found in a kitchen drawer—someone from a party must’ve left it there.

In Sydney’s house, Oliver lets her cry. Sydney admits her accusation lacked “logic,” and Oliver refers to trauma as a “vicious cycle.” For 22 years, Oliver fought battles internally; Sydney, however, responds outwardly to trauma.

In bed, Sydney looks at Edgar’s photographs and wonders why she never noticed Bradford in the neighborhood. She looks at photos of Clem sitting with Travis, and she remembers Travis telling Clem that Clem must be on his Capture the Flag team, as Oliver and Sydney are always on the same team. Sydney is about to say Travis’s name out loud when Travis suddenly wraps his palm around her mouth and she loses consciousness.

The chapter is narrated by Bradford, so it’s the only chapter not in the voice of Oliver or Sydney. The chapter carries two dates. The first half of the chapter is dated July 2, 1998; the second half is dated July 4, 1998.

On July 2, Bradford is watching a King of the Hill (1997-2009) marathon when Travis knocks on his door. Travis knows about Bradford due to Earl Hubbard (the Matchmaker), whom Bradford describes as an “asshole.” Travis and Bradford’s dialogue indicates that Bradford is a contract killer; his last assignment led to a “home invasion” that killed his wife, son, and parakeet. Now, Bradford is done with the business. He’s miserable and his house is dilapidated but he’s too much of a “coward” to die by suicide.

Bradford’s past targets were questionable people, so he instantly says no to killing Oliver. After Travis offers Bradford $100,000, Bradford agrees. He’ll use the money to begin a new life and family. Travis hates “loose ends,” so if Oliver escapes, he will come for Bradford.

On July 4, Bradford is in his car watching Oliver, who reminds him of his son Tommy. Bradford feels sick; he’s aware he’s categorically wrong, yet he doesn’t leave. Travis calls Oliver a “troublemaker,” which is Bradford’s cue. Travis claims he forgot his wallet on the playground and leaves Oliver alone, who hums “Puff the Magic Dragon” (1963)—a song that Bradford listened to with Tommy.

Bradford quickly apprehends Oliver. He tells Oliver to be quiet and watch the fireworks: He’s taking Oliver to a “special” place. Oliver is quiet, which rattles Bradford further. When they get to his home, he notices Tommy’s bicycle, which Bradford couldn’t move. Instead of bringing Oliver to the prepared grave, Bradford brings him inside.

Oliver was in the shower when he heard Travis attack Sydney. When Travis saw Oliver, Travis knocked out Oliver. Oliver comes back to consciousness. He’s tied to the bedframe with Sydney, and Travis points a gun at him. Travis refers to the situation as “loose ends,” and Oliver connects Travis to the Faceless Man. Oliver promises to save Sydney. Travis mocks him and his comic book.

The ensuing dialogue between Oliver and Travis clarifies what led to the present. Bradford betrayed Travis’s “trust,” and Travis wishes he could bring Bradford back to life so he could bash Bradford’s head. When Oliver returned, Travis believed Oliver would tell Sydney about what he saw. Travis was prepared to move to Central America. Once Travis learned Oliver lacked memories, he changed his plans. He attacked Sydney. He first invaded her home to “bug” her laptop; once she spotted him, he had to do more. He spent extra time with Gabe to spy on Oliver. He wanted Oliver to live with him so he could watch Oliver even closer.

Oliver returns to the memory of the abuse. As Clem and Travis took a long time to hide the flag, Sydney suggested that Oliver spy on them. He heard Travis call Clem “babygirl” and he saw him abusing her. He ran to his mother, but before he could explain, Travis appeared and made his mother believe Oliver was upset over cheating at the game. Alone, Travis told Oliver that he would permanently separate Oliver from Sydney if he told anyone what he saw.

Back in the present, Travis plans to start a fire that’ll kill Sydney and Oliver and leave no fingerprints or witnesses. However, the bedposts are loose due to Alexis’s clawing. Sydney breaks free. After Oliver knees Travis in the groin, Sydney hits his head with a lamp. Sydney can’t untie Oliver, but she refuses to leave. Travis regains his strength and tackles Sydney. He knocks over a set of candles, and a fire starts.

The last part of the chapter is narrated by Sydney. Lorna saves Sydney by hitting Travis on the head with her cane. As Lorna finds Alexis and leaves the burning home, Sydney desperately tries to free Oliver. Finally, Sydney gives up and commits to dying with Oliver in the flames. However, Gabe arrives, saving Sydney and Oliver.

Oliver and Sydney’s burns aren’t as bad as Gabe’s. Travis survives with terrible burns; once he leaves the hospital; he’ll likely face a lengthy prison sentence. While people fix Sydney’s home, Sydney and Alexis move in with Oliver and Gabe. Gabe jokes that Sydney and Oliver owe him “big time.” Sydney’s choice to almost die with Oliver has accelerated their passion.

Clem feels responsible and blames her “years of silence.” She felt ashamed and self-hatred. Travis told her that people wouldn’t believe her. She told Sydney the abuser was Bradford, because it was “easier.” Sydney tells Clem not to blame herself. Oliver vows to create a future free of Travis.

Oliver draws the fireworks scene from their childhood. Sydney wished to be with Oliver, and she wrote it down, which, according to Sydney, is why the wish manifested. Sydney wrote “lotus” on Oliver’s arm, but Oliver had read it upside-down. When read right-side up, “lotus” becomes “sn + ol” (Sydney Neville plus Oliver Lynch)

The chapter occurs six months later on July 4. Sydney and Oliver return to Sydney’s home, where they grow vegetables and deal with the rather unruly Alexis and Athena. They remain deeply sexual, and Gabe walks in on them and jokingly wishes he could “unsee” the “perverted level of Hell” (677).

At the July 4 party, Clem appears “amazing.” She’s attending therapy and becoming a public figure. Gabe and Tabitha remain together, and Gabe is an admirable father figure for Hope. Sydney and Oliver watch fireworks from the hill—a moment that Oliver already drew in his comic books. He draws a marriage proposal; in real life, he asks Sydney to marry him.

Sydney and Oliver have a daughter, Charlene (the name of Oliver’s mother), and Oliver faints while Sydney gives birth. With Charlene, Oliver and Sydney finally watch The Parent Trap. Gabe posts pictures of Oliver’s comics on social media, and Oliver and Sydney’s story goes “viral.” Sydney now designs art for wealthy clients, and Oliver receives a profitable publishing contract for a new version of The Lotus Chronicles.