The eighth episode of "The Better Sister" kicks off with Nicky recounting to Chloe the events of the night Adam met his demise. Now, who wielded the fatal blow, and what prompted such a drastic action?
Nicky, who occasionally visits Debbie, Adam's mother, to check on her well-being, finds herself at her place when Ethan's call interrupts. He shares with Nicky a tale of conflict, his fear for Chloe palpable. Nicky's heart races as Ethan unveils Adam's frequent abuse towards Chloe. Determined to confront Adam, she prepares herself mentally. Debbie's casual remark, hinting at a strained relationship between her and her son, adds fuel to Nicky's resolve as she suggests Adam and Chloe have abandoned them all, love seemingly lost in the wind.
Arriving at the beach house, Nicky issues a stark warning to Adam, threatening to expose his true nature. Eager to speak with Chloe, she is instead grabbed by a drunken Adam, who attempts to force her out. In a fierce struggle, he chokes her, leaving her with no choice but to defend herself with a pocket knife, its blade finding its mark in his flesh.
After her escape, Ethan enters the scene, discovering Adam's lifeless body and mistakenly believing Chloe to be the culprit. In a desperate bid to shield Chloe, Ethan stages a break-in, preparing to flee until Adam stirs. But instead of summoning help, Ethan's moral compass fails him, allowing Adam to succumb to his wounds.
Meanwhile, Nicky rushes back to Debbie's, her mind racing. She scavenges for pills, ultimately settling on antibiotics to treat her wounds. These are the pills she consumes when the authorities call, her actions a testament to her chaos-laden evening.
How does Chloe tackle Adam's murder case with finesse? Nicky's anxiety spikes, fearing that Nancy might land her behind bars, despite it being a case of self-defense. Chloe, with a reassuring vow to rectify the situation, takes possession of the incriminating knife. As for the gun involvement, Nicky's intention to create a commotion had Ethan been convicted is revealed.
Enter Jake, who confides in Chloe about the Gentry Group's illegal construction probe. They find themselves entangled in a web woven by both Gentry and Olivero, relentless predators who won't relent until they secure their prize. The leverage Adam held over the Gentry Group only complicates matters further.
Chloe, bold and decisive, reports Olivero for his despicable acts of sexual harassment and physical abuse. She then embarks on a search, uncovering the Gentry files, which include a damning recording where Bill instructs Adam to extort the Gentry Group. She swiftly makes a copy and dispatches it to Matt, offering the originals to Bill as a gesture of truce. While Bill is momentarily diverted, Chloe slyly conceals Nicky's knife, the murder weapon, within the confines of Bill's study.
Upon Chloe's departure, Matt, armed with a search warrant, uncovers the knife. In a swift turn of events, Bill is apprehended for corruption and suspected involvement in Adam's murder. The drama unfolds, casting a shadow of suspicion and intrigue over all involved.
Why can't Nancy lay a finger on Nicky? She delves deeper into Debbie's troubled past, marked by a fraud conviction that involved using Adam's social security number. A rift has widened between Adam and his parents, stemming from their wayward ways that he couldn't abide. A police officer pays Nancy a visit, probing into Nicky's whereabouts. Debbie spills the beans, mentioning that Nicky left her phone behind when she stepped out momentarily on the day Adam's life was cut short. Upon returning, Nicky announced that Ethan had been knifed.
Debbie clams up when Nancy's suspicion towards Nicky becomes palpable. Nancy, swift on the uptake, figures out that Nicky employed her phone's location to fortify her alibi. She sends a text to forensics, instructing them to cross-check Nicky's DNA with the samples from Adam's clothing.
Unfortunately for Nancy, McCabe discovers her brutal altercation with Eddy. However, Eddy isn't the trafficker she sought – instead, she had lashed out at an innocent Black man. Nicky hands over the incriminating evidence to Catherine, who, without hesitation, makes it public. This forces the Lieutenant's hand, compelling him to bench Nancy from the case and place her on leave. Her request to forensics falls by the wayside. He also underscores that Debbie's testimony, stemming from a mother's grief, is hearsay, and Bill stands as the primary suspect.
What's the true nature of the Gentry Group's involvement? Bill sacks Jake to curry favor with the Gentry Group, as Jake is the sole other confirmed FBI informant within their ranks. Bill informs the Group that they also have an informant, who had affirmed Adam's collaboration with the FBI. However, Bill remains vigilant towards Chloe and steadfastly declares that he will shield her from any harm.
Jake hurries to Chloe, unveiling that Gentry has constructed a stadium using forced labor, which not only breached human rights but also violated several regulations. Adam, burdened with guilt, approached the FBI. Following his demise, Agent Olivero coerced Jake into aiding him. In a dramatic twist, Jake is discovered deceased in "The Better Sister" Episode 8, presumably a victim of Gentry's wrath for being their mole.
As for the Macintoshes, their saga takes a poignant turn. Ethan is disgruntled with Chloe for choosing Adam over Nicky. Nicky steps in to defend Chloe, asserting that her decision was solely driven by her concern for Ethan's welfare. Later, Ethan confesses his guilt over Adam's demise, feeling like the villain in the scenario. Nicky offers solace, expressing his desire to accompany Chloe if she decides to leave New York.
When Nicky visits Catherine to expose Nancy, the editor inquiries about the book deal, which seems all but sealed. Nicky confronts Chloe, who admits she had forgotten to mention it amidst the turmoil. However, Nicky's priorities lie elsewhere; she's only concerned about her family. She questions Chloe's loyalty, and Chloe emphatically asserts that her allegiance is with Nicky and Ethan. Convinced by Chloe's framing of Bill for Adam's murder, Nicky believes her.
By the beach that night, Nicky and Chloe share a smoke, with Chloe confiding that the stories worth telling are the ones they share. Nicky, touched, agrees to the book deal.
