After the book club ends, Celeste stays behind at Madeline’s house, quietly cleaning until Madeline insists she sit for tea and Jane’s muffins. They discuss the shunning of Jane and Ziggy, and Madeline is relieved that the women at the gathering will not support the petition against Ziggy.

Madeline admits that she searched online for Ziggy’s father, Saxon Banks, after Jane told her his name. Celeste reacts sharply to the name because Perry has a cousin named Saxon Banks who is also a property developer, matching Jane’s description of the man who assaulted and humiliated her.

Madeline shows Celeste the online photo, and Celeste confirms that the man is Perry’s cousin. Celeste is shaken because she has always liked Saxon and believed him to be warm, funny, devoted to his wife, and incapable of such cruelty. Both women notice a possible resemblance between Saxon and Ziggy.

Celeste wrestles with what responsibility she now has, but the situation is murky: they cannot prove Jane identified the right man, and they are unsure what could be done even if Saxon is guilty. Madeline acknowledges that Saxon’s actions were assaultive and vile, but both women cling to the possibility that there could be another Saxon Banks.

Celeste worries about telling Perry because Saxon is close family and because Perry might become angry with her. Madeline advises secrecy, including keeping the information from Jane, though Madeline privately knows she would struggle to do so herself. The chapter ends with Madeline admitting she is bad at keeping secrets and Celeste replying that she is quite good at it.