The third installment of "Good American Family" kicks off with the media hot on the heels of Kristine's arrest, creating a storm of publicity. Kristine, meantime, returns to her son at their motel refuge. The television is blaring with news coverage, and their faces reflect a deepening unease. Kristine firmly assures them that the allegations are mere fabrications, speculating that their father might have manufactured evidence to exact his revenge. She conjures up a scenario where Michael has struck a deal with the authorities, though this proves unfounded. To Michael's astonishment, Detective Drysdale rings to inform him that prosecutors are also leveling charges against him.
Flashback to 2010, when Kristine stumbles upon Natalia's pubic hair, setting off a chain of events. Alongside Michael, she rushes Natalia to their pediatrician, Dr. Steve. Following a thorough examination, Steve suggests they consult another specialist to evaluate Natalia's hormone levels and mentions the necessity of surgery. The Barnetts are baffled, believing Natalia had already undergone the procedure. Kristine then confesses about the pending lawsuit against the adoption agency, catching Michael off guard and filling him with resentment for her secrecy. However, Michael is adamant about not losing Natalia. Kristine persists in her belief that First Path might have deceived them about Natalia's age, insisting that something is amiss. Steve provides them with some referrals for further evaluation.
As the months unfold, the situation grows increasingly arduous. Kristine relentlessly takes Natalia to various doctors, but Natalia's dwarfism complicates efforts to determine her age. Natalia's irritation and behavioral issues escalate.
In an attempt to navigate these tumultuous waters, Natalia and Michael decide to seek the counsel of a therapist. The therapist postulates that Natalia suffers from a reactive attachment disorder, advising Kristine and Michael to treat her like an infant. Kristine is startled by this suggestion, believing Natalia to be a sociopath, albeit a diagnosis that can only be confirmed at age 18. With Natalia's true age a mystery, Kristine struggles to make sense of it all.
Kristine continues her investigation and establishes her website, while Michael endeavors to treat Natalia as an infant, albeit to no avail. His mother urges him to focus on mending his family before lending a hand to others. Treating Natalia like a baby, as expected, proves futile.
On the professional front, Michael finds himself grappling with the dilemma of delaying the inevitable revelation to Kristine about his recent layoff. Meanwhile, Kristine embarks on a mission to acquire Natalia's original birth certificate from Homeland Security. Her day takes an unexpected turn when she receives a call for a television interview, which she eagerly embraces.
As she tidies up their home, Kristine stumbles upon a pair of bloody socks hidden in Natalia's room, instantly realizing that her foster daughter has reached the milestone of menarche. After picking Natalia up from school, she shares the exciting news of the interview with Valika, who warmly invites Kristine over later to select an outfit for the occasion.
During their ride home, Kristine attempts to broach the topic of Natalia's period, but the conversation quickly sours. Natalia becomes defensive, withdrawing into a shell. As Kristine persists with inquiries about her age, Natalia's aggression escalates, culminating in her placing her hands on Kristine's face. In the ensuing distraction, they narrowly avert a car accident, with Kristine crashing into their mailbox instead. She promptly relates the incident to Michael, who hesitates to accept her account.
Later, at Valika's residence, Kristine unburdens herself about Natalia's behavior. Valika responds by sharing a movie she watched depicting a similar scenario and mentions a former military therapist specializing in troubled teenagers. This therapist employs a rigorous, yet loving approach in dealing with such cases. Kristine, intrigued, agrees to reach out to him for guidance.
The following day, Kristine and Jake participate in the television interview, but her attention is momentarily diverted by the sight of a bloody sock, left behind by Natalia, on the set. Post-interview, Jake confesses his disinterest in continuing with such public appearances. Kristine reassuringly tells him that they can discontinue the interviews without issue.
As the evening shadows lengthened, Michael arrived back home with Natalia, promptly encountering Kristine's fiery confrontation. Natalia, donning her innocent mask once more, artfully deflected the blame, casting Kristine in the role of the aggressor. Michael, swayed by Natalia's charm, rushed to her defense, prompting Kristine to accuse him of willful blindness to the girl's manipulative tactics.
The following day, Kristine sought refuge in the advice of a no-nonsense therapist online, attempting to apply the strategies to Natalia. In a cunning counterattack, Natalia revealed that Michael had been laid off from his job three months prior, timing her revelation perfectly to catch him off guard. She then waited patiently for Michael's return, feigning diligence with her household chores while subtly spiking Kristine's coffee with cleaning spray. Again, Michael stood firm in Natalia's corner.
Kristine countered with documents from Homeland Security, revealing Natalia's discrepancy between her claimed age of nine and the starkly different photograph attached. Moreover, she noticed the listed address of Natalia's former family, sparking a trail of curiosity.
Meanwhile, Kristine received an email inviting her and Jake to another television interview, conveniently located near Natalia's past residence. Seizing the opportunity, she unexpectedly showed up at Natalia's former mother's doorstep, pleading for answers. The woman, visibly shaken and reluctant, eventually conceded under Kristine's persistent probing, revealing her suspicion that Natalia was a con artist and likely older than she professed.
Kristine returned to the TV station, tears streaming down her face, relaying everything to Michael. He, however, remained steadfast in his disbelief. Kristine proposed institutionalizing Natalia in a psychiatric hospital, but Michael vehemently refused. A heated argument ensued, with Kristine confronting Michael about his own lies regarding his employment status. Michael retaliated by threatening to expose Kristine's apparent surrender in dealing with Natalia, leading Kristine to reluctantly agree to leave Natalia in Michael's full-time care.
Summoned for the interview, they temporarily buried their differences to present a united front. In front of the cameras and the watching world, they portrayed the semblance of an ideal American family, their smiles masking the turmoil brewing beneath the surface.
