The Final Gambit (The Inheritance Games)
CHAPTER 40
by Barnes, Jennifer LynnThe chapter opens with tension mounting as thirty-six hours pass without contact from Toby’s captor, leaving the Hawthorne household on edge. Avery and the Hawthorne brothers, along with Libby and Eve, exhaustively scour files on Tobias Hawthorne’s enemies, hoping for a breakthrough. Despite their efforts, nothing aligns with their search, leaving them frustrated and emotionally drained. Each character copes differently: Jameson retreats into the walls, Grayson pushes himself in the pool, Nash escapes to a bar, and Xander immerses himself in his lab, while Eve and Avery obsessively reread files, driven by desperation.
A pivotal moment occurs when Avery discovers an empty file labeled “Isaiah Alexander,” which previously contained a single page about a disgruntled former Hawthorne employee. Eve dismisses its significance, but Avery’s curiosity is piqued when she notices the name’s connection to Xander. The missing page gnaws at her, hinting at a potential clue or personal significance. The revelation that Isaiah might be Xander’s father adds a layer of emotional complexity, as Avery realizes Xander’s reluctance to confront this possibility reflects his deeper fears of rejection.
Avery seeks out Xander in his lab, where he deflects her questions with his trademark humor, booping her nose to avoid the topic. Despite his playful antics, Avery persists, appealing to their bond as “Best Honorary Hawthorne Friends Forever.” Xander eventually admits he didn’t take the missing page but confesses he’s researched Isaiah independently, revealing his fear that his father might resent him for costing him his career. Avery’s heart aches for Xander, whose cheerful exterior masks profound vulnerability.
The chapter closes with a poignant moment as Xander shares his lifelong struggle with being misunderstood and disliked, despite his kindness. Avery reassures him fiercely, but his smile hints at unresolved pain. The interaction underscores the emotional stakes of their search for Toby, as personal and familial tensions intertwine with the larger mystery. The chapter leaves readers with a sense of urgency and empathy, setting the stage for deeper revelations about the Hawthorne family’s secrets and Xander’s unresolved past.
FAQs
1. How do the different Hawthorne brothers cope with the stress of Toby’s disappearance and the fruitless search through the files?
Answer:
Each brother exhibits distinct coping mechanisms: Jameson disappears into the hidden passages of the house, Grayson pushes himself physically in the pool to exhaustion, Nash escapes to a bar and returns injured with a rescued puppy, and Xander immerses himself in engineering projects in his lab. These reactions reveal their personalities—Jameson’s need for solitude, Grayson’s perfectionism, Nash’s protective instincts, and Xander’s creative distraction. The chapter emphasizes how their individual struggles reflect shared desperation (pages 156-157).2. What significance does the empty Isaiah Alexander file hold, and why does Avery focus on it?
Answer:
The missing page in Isaiah Alexander’s file becomes pivotal when Avery notices the surname “Alexander” matches Xander’s full name (short for Alexander). This suggests Isaiah may be Xander’s estranged father, a connection Xander avoids discussing. Avery’s persistence highlights her role as an emotional anchor for the Hawthornes, while the mystery of the removed page implies someone may be hiding information about Xander’s past (pages 157-159).3. Analyze how Xander’s dialogue about his father reveals his internal conflict.
Answer:
Xander deflects with humor (“boop” gestures) and avoids direct answers, masking vulnerability. His admission—”What if he hates me?“—exposes deep-seated insecurity about rejection, compounded by learning Isaiah was fired around the time of his birth. The contrast between his usual cheerfulness and this raw honesty underscores the emotional toll of the Hawthorne family’s secrets (pages 158-159). Avery’s reassurance (“No one could hate you”) underscores their bond.4. How does the chapter build tension regarding Toby’s captor?
Answer:
The opening line—”Thirty-six hours passed—no word from Toby’s captor”—sets an urgent tone. The silence fuels characters’ frantic actions (rereading files, physical exhaustion) and underscores their powerlessness. Eve and Avery’s shared but unspoken anxiety (“it fueled us on”) and the repeated phrase “I’ll be in touch” (page 156) create suspense, leaving readers questioning when/if the captor will reappear and what their demands will be.5. Why might the author have included Nash’s detail about bringing home a puppy?
Answer:
This detail humanizes Nash, contrasting his tough exterior (split lip from a bar fight) with tenderness toward the vulnerable puppy. Symbolically, it mirrors the brothers’ need to protect something innocent amid chaos, paralleling their mission to save Toby. The puppy also introduces a rare moment of lightness, highlighting how even small acts of care persist in crisis (page 157).
Quotes
1. “Thirty-six hours passed—no word from Toby’s captor, an ever-growing hoard of paparazzi outside the gates, and too much time spent in the solarium with files on Tobias Hawthorne’s enemies. His many, many enemies.”
This opening line sets the tense, high-stakes atmosphere of the chapter, emphasizing the mounting pressure and frustration as the characters search for answers while dealing with external chaos.
2. “I didn’t want to admit that we’d hit another wall. I didn’t want to feel cornered or outmatched or like everyone around me had taken repeated shots to the gut for nothing.”
This quote captures the protagonist’s internal struggle and determination, reflecting the emotional toll of their investigation and refusal to accept defeat despite setbacks.
3. “Xander gave an emphatic shake of his head. ‘I didn’t even know Isaiah was on the List. I can probably tell you what his file says, though. I kind of spent the past several months making a file of my own.’”
This reveals Xander’s hidden vulnerability and personal quest to understand his father, adding depth to his character and highlighting the Hawthorne family’s complicated dynamics.
4. “‘Avery, people have hated me my whole life.’ There was something in his tone that made me think that very few people understood what it was like to be Xander Hawthorne.”
This poignant moment exposes Xander’s underlying pain and isolation, contrasting his usual cheerful demeanor and underscoring the theme of hidden struggles beneath surface appearances.
5. “‘Do you think Isaiah would hate me?’ Xander asked, his voice small. ‘Because I don’t think I could take that.’”
This raw emotional question encapsulates Xander’s deepest fear about his father, making it one of the most vulnerable and impactful lines in the chapter about family, identity, and rejection.