The chapter follows Peter's life over several weeks after his disastrous dinner with Ivan. On the day of Naomi's eviction, Peter texted Sylvia about it, and she responded warmly, restoring their ordinary communication. He told Sylvia that Naomi would be staying at his flat, and Sylvia said she was glad, never betraying any jealousy. Peter requested to see Sylvia that week, and she agreed. Meanwhile, Peter struggled with his work as a barrister—feeling overshadowed by seniors, resentful of privileged colleagues, and nostalgic for the cultural richness he'd painstakingly acquired on his own as the son of an immigrant.

After the failed dinner with Ivan, Peter returned home to Naomi. She mentioned her friend Janine was upset about Naomi living with Peter. Naomi obliquely referenced a past relationship with someone who "wasn't a very nice guy." When Peter mentioned his brother, Naomi remembered Ivan's name and laughed approvingly at the news of Ivan's older girlfriend. The next day, Peter visited Sylvia at her office for their usual sandwich lunch. Sylvia challenged Peter's view of Ivan as socially stunted, suggesting Peter himself might have an inhibiting effect on Ivan. She encouraged Peter to text Ivan, arguing that Ivan told Peter about his relationship because it mattered to him. Peter, moved, composed an apologetic text to Ivan and sent it—but Ivan never received it, having apparently blocked Peter's number.

Weeks pass. Peter juggles legal cases, tax deadlines, and teaching duties while Naomi settles into his flat, becoming the unspoken center of his domestic life. He and Naomi develop an easy, intimate routine—cooking, watching YouTube, socializing with his friends—while Peter remains emotionally entangled with Sylvia. He attends a screening of The Thin Man with Sylvia, and they share a long, intellectually exhilarating walk through Dublin, discussing literature, history, and religion. At her door, he kisses her cheek, wanting more but holding back. Sylvia tells him to say hello to Naomi.

Back home, Naomi probes the nature of Peter's relationship with Sylvia, observing it's unclear who he's cheating on. Peter deflects. At the Law Library, Peter wins a discrimination case and feels a flash of professional triumph. He and Naomi exchange flirtatious texts, but when she implies the only thing she wants from him is money, Peter spirals into momentary self-doubt and shame. That evening, after Matt's birthday drinks, Peter returns to find Naomi in the bath. They share an intimate, emotionally raw scene: Naomi expresses genuine gratitude for Peter's decency, saying people in her life have never treated her this way. Peter tells her he doesn't want her gratitude—he just wants her to be happy. She is moved, and they go to bed together.

The next morning, Peter's mother Christine calls. After small talk about work and a court case, she raises Christmas plans and then reveals her suspicion that Ivan has been lying about attending chess competitions—she checked online and found no tournament in Cork. Peter deflects, protecting Ivan's secret. The conversation escalates into a bitter argument about Christine leaving the family when Ivan was five, Ivan's painful childhood visits to her new husband Frank's house, and Peter's accusation that Ivan was never made to feel welcome. Peter hangs up abruptly. Alone, he reflects on his guilt—how he pursued his own ambitions while Ivan and their father endured. He tries calling Ivan, but the call fails. Peter is left wanting to tell Ivan he's on his side, though he's never shown it.