Verity wakes six months after the twins’ birth from a vivid nightmare in which an older Harper appears to smother Chastin. The dream leaves Verity shaken because, for the first time, she feels real fear and grief at the thought of losing one of her daughters. Verity interprets that pain as proof that she has finally bonded with Chastin, but she hides this emotional shift from Jeremy by initiating sex rather than answering his questions.

During their intimate conversation, Verity focuses on Jeremy and their physical connection, using desire to keep him distracted. When one of the babies begins crying, Jeremy wants to check on her, but Verity delays him so they can finish. Afterward, Verity volunteers to handle the baby herself, expecting to enjoy this new maternal feeling.

In the nursery, Verity is pleased at first because Chastin is asleep, and she takes Chastin from the crib to hold her. While rocking her, Verity convinces herself that the nightmare was either a premonition or a warning that Harper will someday kill Chastin. As Harper continues crying, Verity’s irritation turns into a delusional resolve that killing Harper now would protect Chastin, and she begins trying to harm Harper by forcing her fingers down the infant’s throat.

Jeremy enters before Harper dies, forcing Verity to stop and quickly pretend she is only struggling to soothe the baby. Harper vomits and resumes crying, and Jeremy takes over, concerned only for his daughter. Later, when Verity sees Jeremy reconnect the video monitor, she is horrified to realize he could have witnessed everything. She spends the night wondering what Jeremy would have done if he had discovered her attempt to kill Harper.