Lincoln returns home and finds Imogen in the library. He immediately notices a sadness in her eyes, which she attributes to the melancholy book she is reading. Though she is physically affectionate and responsive when he carries her to bed, he senses something is wrong. During their lovemaking, she tells him she loves him, but her underlying sadness persists. Lincoln wonders whether her sadness is merely a reflection of his own and feels guilt over betraying the man he loved like a brother by corrupting his innocent daughter.

Lying beside Lincoln, Imogen reflects on her shattered reality. She traces his scars and acknowledges she once found them beautiful, though that feeling has shifted since learning who he is. Torn between her grandfather’s version of events and the kindness Lincoln has shown her, she concludes that she cannot trust her own judgment. However, she holds onto two facts: He is not who he says he is, and he has lied to her from the beginning. This solidifies her decision to escape and uncover the truth on her own. When Lincoln instinctively pulls her closer in his sleep, she steels her resolve, determined to survive.

A few days later, Lincoln remains concerned by Imogen’s quiet sadness. He voices his concerns to Pierre, who suggests she may want more freedom. Lincoln decides he must test her loyalty more decisively. He devises a plan to stage a business trip to New York. He informs Imogen of the trip, and though she says she will miss him, he remains suspicious. Despite his conflicting feelings and a desire to trust her, he commits to seeing the test through.

The narrative flashes back 18 years. Lincoln arrives at a Brotherhood safe house to find a bloody scene. He discovers Luca DeMotta (Imogen’s father) dying; Luca fought off the members of the Brotherhood who attacked him, but was left fatally wounded. In his last moments, Luca tells Lincoln that his wife and daughter have fled to a safe house and Vermont. He makes Lincoln swear to protect his baby (Imogen). Lincoln is overwhelmed by guilt because his own decision to abandon the Brotherhood led directly to Luca’s death.

Lincoln invites Imogen to the garage. She notices the security measures, unaware that Lincoln is staging the escape opportunity in order to test her. Lincoln cuts his finger and asks Imogen to return the car key to the cabinet while he seeks first aid. Left alone in the garage, she discovers a spare key for the SUV. She quickly confirms it works before hiding it in her pocket, believing she has found her means of escape.

Lincoln doesn’t seem to notice that the spare key has gone missing and Imogen plans to attempt escape. She dresses, retrieves the hidden spare key, and slips down to the garage. Finding the main door still open, she hides in the trunk of the SUV just before Lincoln gets in to depart. As he drives away listening to music, Imogen tries to remain calm, anticipating her imminent freedom.

The car stops abruptly. From inside the trunk, Imogen hears sounds of shouting and gunfire. The trunk is thrown open, and Imogen is pulled out by her grandfather, Saul DeMotta. She is shocked to see Lincoln being held at gunpoint by Saul’s men. Saul makes statements that imply that Imogen has conspired to lead Lincoln to them; Imogen observes that Lincoln believes she has intentionally betrayed him. Larissa, Imogen’s former caretaker, also appears and praises Imogen for leading them to him. Horrified, Imogen tries to tell Lincoln she didn’t betray him, but he looks at her with fury and threatens, “I’m coming for you” (358).

Suddenly, shots ring out. As Larissa and Saul drag Imogen to safety, she sees that the shots fired by an unknown individual have killed the man who was holding Lincoln at gunpoint. As soon as he is free, Lincoln begins firing and kills several of Saul’s men. A car pulls up and Lincoln leaps in, escaping from the scene. Imogen is left with her grandfather and the weight of Lincoln’s threat.