7. Ophelia

Ophelia attends lectures and discovers that Professor Bancroft knew her mother, triggering painful memories. She is paired with Alex for a psychology essay project and later receives his phone number and a text invitation to meet in his room, which she refuses and blocks. After dinner, she makes a breakthrough call to Nicholas Papadopoulos, a helicopter engineer involved in pre-flight checks before her parents' crash, but he abruptly hangs up after learning what she wants.

Ophelia struggles with sleeplessness and receives a text from Divya about red maintenance boxes kept by Chancellor Carmichael that might contain information about her parents' helicopter crash. During her Psychology lecture, Professor Bancroft remarks that she looks like her mother, causing Ophelia emotional distress but also comfort—he describes her mother as popular and bright. In Social Psychology class, Shawn gives her his phone number, Vincenzo annoys her with notes and questions, and Professor Andersson pairs Ophelia with Alex for a conformity essay despite their mutual reluctance. Divya later texts that someone named Nicholas Papadopoulos sent Carmichael's PA a preflight check photo before the crash. After class, Alex confronts Ophelia in a hallway about her false background story and her parents' non-existent government work, then insists they meet in his room at eight—Ophelia refuses and blocks his number. At dinner, Ophelia receives a text from an unknown number revealing it's Alex; she demands they meet in the library instead. Sofia attacks her in the foyer, accusing her of stealing an iPad, but Ophelia recovers it from Sofia's wardrobe. That evening, Ophelia calls Nicholas Papadopoulos and mentions the helicopter accident; he becomes enraged, says "You people" told him to stay quiet, and hangs up. Ophelia reflects on losing her parents and recognizes that finding out who caused the crash is what keeps her alive.