When Selena leaves Cora’s house at the end of Chapter 35, she drives straight to her father’s house. She insists on talking to him about Pearl, even though it is the middle of the night. Her father tells her that he was giving Stella money to support Pearl, but when Stella was murdered, he didn’t try to find Pearl. When Pearl showed up and started following his family around, he thought she was just after money, but she didn’t go away after he paid her off. She made an anonymous call to his work to accuse him of sexual harassment. Many women started to come forward with stories of his abuse, and it turned out that he had fathered many children with other women.

He knows Pearl is seeking revenge and wants to ruin his life; he tells Selena to not give her what she wants because she will ruin her life as well. Selena almost feels sorry for Pearl, whose father was never interested in knowing her and paid her to disappear from his life.

Jumping back in time, Pearl and Gracie are dealing with the aftermath of Pop and Bridget’s murders. They dig a shallow grave, put the bodies in, and cover them with lye so their tissues will break down.