At the bank, Mr. Mouton explains to Ophelia and Genevieve that Tessie stopped making payments on Grimm Manor earlier in the year after taking out a cash loan against the house for personal use. Only a small portion has been repaid, foreclosure began two months earlier, and the sisters now have thirty days before the bank takes the property. Mr. Mouton adds that demolition is already planned because the city wants the land for modern development, then pressures them to sign papers acknowledging the situation.

As Ophelia studies the repayment records, she notices that two of the checks do not match Tessie’s usual handwriting and realizes the signatures were forged. Genevieve’s silence makes Ophelia immediately suspicious. Refusing to accept the bank’s advice or surrender the manor, Ophelia rejects the papers, sweeps them off Mr. Mouton’s desk, and storms out, with Genevieve following her.

Outside, Ophelia hides in an alley and struggles to steady herself while clutching the documents. The Shadow Voice taunts her for already failing her family and tells her to knock on the wall three times, which she does. When Genevieve catches up, Genevieve argues that if they are buried in debt, giving up the manor might finally free them to leave New Orleans and begin a different life, but Ophelia cannot accept losing the home that holds her family’s legacy and memory.

The sisters’ grief and frustration turn into a sharper personal fight. Ophelia lashes out, saying Genevieve’s impulsiveness always leaves others cleaning up after her, and Genevieve insists she is trying to help. Ophelia then directly accuses Genevieve of forging the checks, and Genevieve effectively confirms it, saying she did what she thought was right and bought them time, but refusing to say where the money came from.

Because Genevieve will not explain the source of the money, Ophelia concludes that Genevieve has involved herself in something dangerous and that this secrecy has worsened their situation. Hurt by Ophelia’s words, Genevieve runs from the alley. Ophelia immediately chases after her, but Genevieve disappears before Ophelia can catch up.