The eighth episode of Season 3 of "The Summer I Turned Pretty" commences with Belly awakening still enveloped in a haze from the preceding night's occurrences. Jeremiah leaves her a voicemail, revealing he's aboard a boat with his father and friends. However, to her astonishment, she finds Conrad still within the confines of their home. He offers an apology for his conduct the night before, pleading with her to erase it from her memory. Yet, she's enraged with him, demanding he depart and refrain from attending the wedding. He insists he cannot stay away and reaffirms his affections for her, but she firmly rejects him.
As he exits, she reflects that severing ties with him entirely is an impossibility. Torn between the two brothers, she concludes that placing all her bets on Conrad alone is too risky. Taylor returns from her jog, sensing something amiss despite Belly's silence. She confronts Conrad, hinting at her awareness of the situation and urging him to release Belly from his grasp.
As twilight descends, preparations for the rehearsal dinner intensify, yet Belly finds no opportunity for a private moment with Jeremiah. The rehearsal unfolds seamlessly, with Taylor apologizing to her mother for their earlier dispute, and Lucinda sharing her new romantic endeavor. Belly and Jeremiah deliver heartfelt speeches, expressing gratitude to all, including Conrad. Subsequently, Adam approaches Jeremiah, commending him on his decision to accept the job at the company—news that startles Belly, who's astonished by his failure to consult her on such a pivotal choice.
Post-dinner, Jeremiah and Belly opt for ice cream, with Jeremiah inviting Conrad but receiving a subtle negation from Belly, prompting his refusal. Meanwhile, Laurel encounters a solitary Conrad, acknowledging his unrequited love for Belly and vowing to support him through his turmoil. Elsewhere, Steven and Denise share a kiss but realize their feelings do not align romantically, opting instead to focus on their business partnership.
That night, Belly tosses and turns, eventually giving in to the allure of a late-night swim. She ponders the dilemma of marrying Jeremiah with such a profound secret weighing on her heart. Emerging from the water, she awakens Jeremiah, confessing the truth. Though furious, Jeremiah admits he had suspicions about Conrad's lingering feelings. Belly reassures him of her choice, requesting to spend the night in his room.
Upon awakening in the morning, Belly discovered to her alarm that Jeremiah was missing, and no soul seemed to have a clue about his whereabouts. His phone remained unanswered, and with each tick of the clock, Belly's panic intensified. She hastily imparted the situation to Steven, who reassuringly vowed to track him down. This led Steven to confront Conrad, addressing years of erratic behavior, including his past disappearances.
Meanwhile, Laurel entered Belly's chamber, presenting her with a letter from Susannah, intended for Belly's wedding day. Laurel revealed that she had entrusted Jeremiah's letter to Conrad, unbeknownst to the intricacies that would unfold.
Conrad embarked on a desperate search, eventually locating Jeremiah in the garden dedicated to Susannah. Tempers flared, culminating in a physical altercation where Jeremiah struck Conrad. In the aftermath, Conrad handed over Jeremiah's letter from Susannah. Upon reading it, Jeremiah's heart hardened towards Conrad, declaring him as good as dead to him and ordering him never to cross his or Belly's path again. A harrowing realization dawned on Conrad—the envelopes had been mistakenly labeled, meaning Jeremiah had inadvertently read Susannah's letter meant for Conrad, revealing her deep admiration for Conrad's unspoken love for Belly.
At the country club, Taylor approached Belly with a poignant question, querying if she truly desired to marry Jeremiah, accusing her of losing herself in their relationship. Belly, enraged, labeled Taylor's concerns as selfish. Taylor, undeterred, offered a parting warning to reflect deeply on her true desires before departing. As Jeremiah returned to the club, he noticed Conrad had left Susannah's ring for him to present to Belly, symbolizing a tangled web of emotions and misunderstandings.
Conrad seeks out Belly in the sanctuary of her dressing room, his heart heavy with remorse. He offers a heartfelt apology for all that has transpired, confessing that his absence from their wedding is a painful concession to spare her further heartache. Yet, he clings to the notion that the journey they shared was invaluable to him.
Elsewhere, Steven attempts to soothe Taylor, whose spirits have been dampened by her recent spat with Belly. As their conversation unfolds, Steven reassures her that his relationship with Denise is devoid of any undercurrents, eliciting a tender smile from Taylor.
Jeremiah arrives at Belly's room, resplendent in his wedding attire, but his demeanor is anything but celebratory. Belly inquiries about his whereabouts, only to meet with stony silence. When Conrad reappears on the scene, Jeremiah confronts Belly, inquiring if she still harbors love for him. She concedes that a fragment of her heart will forever belong to Conrad, but it is Jeremiah she has chosen. However, this confession falls short of satisfying him.
Jeremiah then unburdens himself, revealing that he is aware of Belly and Conrad's Christmas reunion and her subsequent deception. He admits that this discovery fueled his altercation with her during spring break, noting that she never gazes at him with the same intensity she reserves for Conrad. Despite Belly's vehement protests, Jeremiah insists that he craves her undivided affection, not merely a fraction of it. Ultimately, she finds herself unable to utter the words that would bind them in matrimony.
The wedding, consequently, never comes to pass. Belly retreats to the summer house, methodically packing her belongings and leaving her set of keys on the counter as a symbolic gesture of departure. With a heavy heart, she ventures to the airport and purchases a one-way ticket to Paris. Just as she prepares to board her flight, her gaze locks onto Conrad's, drawing her inexorably towards him.
