Monique sits in shock, cycling through memories of her father until she seeks out Evelyn in the kitchen. She confronts Evelyn about being lured under false pretenses, and Evelyn admits she used the Vivant assignment as cover after reading Monique’s right-to-die article and deciding Monique could handle the complexity of her life story.

Evelyn praises Monique’s work and claims Monique is the best person to write the book, but Monique accuses Evelyn of self-interest. Evelyn counters that Monique has benefited too, challenges her to burn the notes and recordings, and, when Monique refuses, asserts that people are neither pure victims nor victors.

Monique declares she hates Evelyn. Evelyn accepts the hostility and clarifies her purpose in sharing the letter: to show that James chose his family out of love. Monique grapples with Evelyn’s moral ambiguity—capable of placing James’s body to protect Harry yet preserving the letter for decades so Monique would know she was loved.

Shifting to logistics, Monique asks when the book can be released. Evelyn reveals she has breast cancer and needs to move quickly, showing little visible emotion. Monique feels conflicted—ashamed that she cannot fully pity Evelyn, yet unable to ignore the gravity of the diagnosis.

Evelyn explains she is putting her affairs in order: finalizing her will, ensuring Grace is provided for, consigning her iconic gowns to Christie’s, and finishing the letter and the book. Overwhelmed, Monique ends the conversation for the day. As she leaves, Evelyn reminds her of the scheduled photo shoot tomorrow, which Monique hesitantly considers.