As Dean strode into the office after a long day, Nora waited with a fury burning in her eyes, gripping a USB flash drive in her clenched fist. "How could you betray me like this?" she spat, her voice trembling with anger. Suddenly, the clock seemed to rewind, taking them back a week in time.
Darren Dunn, Karen's superior, shook his head resolutely, claiming ignorance of the house's haunted past before its sale to the Brannocks. When Dean threatened with a lawsuit, Darren stood firm, arguing that it would only harm the family and not his agency. He insisted that all transactions were conducted legally, leaving no room for suspicion. As the LLC was involved, New Jersey state law prohibited him from divulging confidential information.
Dean mentioned Andrew Pierce, but Darren dismissed it, claiming it had no bearing on the sale. Karen tried to diffuse the tension, but the Brannocks were unmoved. Dean had procured the 1995 yearbook of Westfield High School, hoping to uncover the mystery behind Jasper's silence. He skimmed through the pages, jotting down the names of the Graff members. With a heavy heart, he left the office, canceling all his work meetings to delve deeper into the evidence. His boss noticed his distraction, which was all the justification he needed for Dean's failure to be promoted to partner.
Dean pondered why Chamberland had entrusted him with this incriminating evidence, knowing it would expose the police department's malfeasance and the town's dark secrets. Nora once again invited Dean for some "intimate moments," but he remained oblivious to her advances. From the shadows, a pair of eyes watched the house intently, waiting for the next chapter in this ominous tale to unfold.
Elsewhere, Ellie sent Dakota a series of intimate photos, and he reciprocated with his own. When he stumbled upon Ellie and Dakota flirting again, he confronted them with a stern gaze. Theodora, Dean, and Nora gathered to discuss the case, and for the first time, Dean mentioned the Graff in front of Nora. Her face darkened, and she was visibly upset. Dean felt like he was reliving the nightmare of their bankruptcy, wondering if they would ever emerge from this darkness. Theodora suggested that perhaps Dean had encountered an impostor, but the truth remained shrouded in mystery.
He grapples with the predicament and proposes they unload the house. Nora flares up, accusing him of backing down on his promises. Theodora steps in to diffuse the tension, offering a theory that Dakota might be the elusive watcher, given his online gaming alias "the watcher" and his vested interest in selling products for his business. They employ a hacker to intercept data from his laptop.
In the kitchen, the Brannocks briefly reconcile, with Dean claiming that the matter has transcended mere monetary concerns and now threatens his mental well-being. He suggests they delve into Ellie's phone records and scrutinize her chats with Dakota. They carry out this plan with a comical yet strained parental duet, but Dean's anger erupts when he stumbles upon intimate photographs. Ellie, justifiably outraged, is grounded by her parents in her room, a decision that later seems misguided.
The next morning, Dean physically confronts Dakota when he arrives to install new surveillance cameras. Ellie calls the police, implicating her own father. It's a humiliating scene for Dakota as the officer arrives, but since Ellie is a minor and Dakota is a legal adult, the officer declares their private affairs are none of his concern and cannot arrest Dakota solely based on the letters. The young man breaks down in front of his mother, and they head to the station with a lawyer. Dakota voluntarily submits a DNA sample to Chamberland and answers any inquiries. The Brannocks once again leave a bitter impression on Chamberland, who departs in disdain.
What transpires next will astound you, but it's imperative to view it from Ellie's perspective. Not from the comfort of your own assumptions. She uploads a scathing message on social media, accusing Dean of barring her from associating with an African American man and insinuating his racism. Karen alerts Nora, and Dean is summoned by his superiors to address the video. They confront Ellie, who argues that this is their retribution for meddling in her life and pushing her into a corner. This is a devastating blow to the family, potentially jeopardizing Dean's career and reputation in public. He could lose his job, and they could lose the house due to the inability to repay their hefty loans. Karen's membership is also temporarily suspended. She insists that Nora must sell the house in this predicament. Now, Nora has no choice but to divorce Dean and put the house up for sale. Karen demands $1.9 million, while the Brannocks initially paid $3.3 million for it. Nora vehemently refuses, suspecting Karen's involvement in the conspiracy.
Nora and Dean's boss receive envelopes inscribed with "Watch Me," containing a shocking video of Dean sleeping in his bed as a teenage girl with pigtails approaches and lies down next to him, nude. The footage originates from Dean's bedroom. Dakota admits he was the perpetrator but, seeing Dean's reaction to the girl, he regrets his actions. Dean also apologizes to Dakota for exposing him publicly. Dean is further accused of authoring the letters himself in an attempt to salvage the blunder of purchasing the house. This is precisely what agitated Nora initially. She demands that Dean vacate the house and relocate to a motel. He tries to show her that the dress in the video is identical to the one worn by Pat Graff in the evidence. But Nora is resolute; she files for divorce, and they prepare to sell the house.
Dean catches a glimpse of a familiar face in a television advertisement: Andrew Pierce. What?! Was Dean truly being framed? Was Andrew hired by "the watcher"? Dean sits vigilantly in his car outside the house, spotting Pearl peering at him through her window before the light goes out. Then, to his astonishment, he sees a taxi pull up to Mo and Mitch's house. It's the couple themselves, and Mo even smiles at him through the window. What enigmatic scheme is unfolding?
