Chapter 52

Noelle recounts preparing an overnight escape to Dublin with Poppy after their recent conflict, believing she could outmaneuver Floyd. When she arrives to collect Poppy, Floyd has already removed the child to a friend’s home and invites Noelle in to talk, signaling he is taking control.

In the kitchen, Floyd states Poppy will not return until they agree on arrangements. He deems Noelle toxic and unfit, citing neglect, lack of affection, leaving Poppy alone, poor dental care, recurring nits, and her unstable mental state. He proposes supervised contact at his home aligned with Poppy’s education, implying social services support his stance.

Noelle refuses and, enraged by Floyd’s calm certainty, decides to hurt him with a devastating disclosure. She claims Poppy is not biologically related to either of them: Ellie carried the baby, and the sperm came from an online donor, not Floyd. She describes selecting a young PhD student’s profile and seducing Floyd afterward to create a plausible cover, taunting him about Poppy’s resemblance.

After delivering this revelation and preparing to leave, Noelle watches Floyd’s composure collapse. He lunges across the table, grabs her throat, and knocks her backward, leaving Noelle believing he intends to kill her as the confrontation turns violent.