The Inheritance Games Chapters 10–17 Summary & Analysis

Summary: Chapters 10–17

Chapter 10

While Avery sits completely stunned by the will, the members of the Hawthorne family express their shock and anger. They assume a mistake has been made, but Mr. Ortega insists that everything is correct and warns them against challenging Avery’s inheritance. He explains that Avery owns all of Mr. Hawthorne’s properties, including the house. As Avery realizes how many enemies she now has, Oren puts himself in between her and the irate Hawthornes. Zara accuses him of betrayal, but he emphasizes that he is honoring Mr. Hawthorne’s last wish by working for Avery.

Chapter 11

Avery runs outside, although Libby follows closely behind and tries to emphasize how wonderfully life-changing the inheritance will be. Nash passes by them as he heads to his motorcycle in the driveway. When Avery insists that she must leave, Oren drives her and Libby to a fancy hotel where Alisa is waiting. She reveals that Avery now owns the hotel and that the law firm will cover any expenses until all of the paperwork is finalized. At the hotel, Avery finally has a chance to read through the will herself. The only stipulation to her inheritance is that she must live at Hawthorne House for a total of one year. If she refuses, her portion of the inheritance will go to charity.

Chapter 12

That night, Avery calls Max and tries to rationalize why she has inherited the Hawthorne fortune. Max encourages her to open the letter from Tobias that she received at the reading of the will, but as she begins to open the envelope, she hears a knock at the door. Oren announces that it is Grayson, and Avery begrudgingly lets him in. Full of measured anger, he threatens to get to the bottom of whatever “con” she has pulled off and defend his family. Avery slams the door on him, opens the letter, and discovers that the message simply reads “I’m sorry.”

Chapter 13

Tobias Hawthorne’s message continues to haunt Avery the next morning. She finds Oren and Alisa whispering softly in the kitchen, but they quickly turn to her and explain the types of security threats she now faces. They also reveal that Libby has flown back to Connecticut to retrieve their belongings so she can move into Hawthorne House. When Libby returns, Avery is appalled to see her with a black eye. Even bigger problems arise, however, when paparazzi show up outside of the hotel.

Chapter 14

Alisa learns that Drake was responsible for alerting the press. This revelation causes Libby to break down as she admits to having told him everything, hoping that he would forgive her for leaving without telling him. Instead, he beat her and, after she broke up with him, went to the press. Oren and Alisa guide Avery through the paparazzi and drive her back to Hawthorne House. Once she arrives, Alisa realizes that the family locked all the doors and left Avery a giant keyring to get inside, with about a hundred keys. Avery studies the keys and realizes that one is slightly different from the rest. Sure enough, that key unlocks the door.

Chapter 15

As they make their way into the house, Alisa rattles off the locations of different rooms and the various amenities that Avery can access. Nash appears as Alisa leaves, and he comments on Libby’s black eye. Oren escorts her deeper into the house to meet Hector, the head of her security detail. Noticing the way he looks at her as she leaves, Avery warns Nash to stay away from her sister. They hear a loud thud in the distance, and Nash invites Avery to follow him.

Chapter 16

Nash leads Avery into an expansive library where Grayson and Jameson are standing on opposite sides of the room. Avery cannot help but take in the beauty of the space while Nash confronts his brothers, both of whom express frustration with his interference. Xander arrives not long after and, sensing that a fight had been occurring, eagerly tackles Nash. When Avery tries to leave, Jameson reveals to his brothers that she “solved the keys” faster than they had. Grayson is particularly irritated that Jameson allowed her to participate in such a challenge. As their argument continues, Xander escorts Avery to her wing of the house.

Chapter 17

On the way, Xander and Avery stop by the kitchen for scones, a treat about which Xander claims to have expertise. Avery rolls her eyes and asks him to point her in the direction of her room, but he admits that Hawthorne House is notoriously difficult to navigate. After some banter, Xander finally explains that if she gets lost, the portrait of Tobias Hawthorne is a good landmark. She looks at the painting, noticing all the similarities he shares with his grandsons, and emphasizes that she has never met him.

Read analysis of a quote from Xander about Avery’s relationship to Tobias Hawthorne.