Contents
Sunday, 21 July
Overview
Alix’s fear and humiliation deepen when Nathan does not come home, does not contact her, and leaves no financial trail after a late-night bar payment. Giovanni’s evasions confirm that he has been hiding a key fact: a young woman named Katelyn spent the night drinking with Nathan and remained with him after the others left.
The chapter shifts Alix’s crisis from suspicion of infidelity to a more troubling disappearance, while also placing Katelyn at the center of Nathan’s last known movements. Giovanni’s confession intensifies Alix’s distrust of Nathan’s friends and leaves Nathan’s fate unresolved.
Summary
Alix spends the night unable to sleep after Nathan fails to come home. Hurt and humiliated, Alix replays Nathan’s moral certainty about cheating against the clues Alix has found: Daisy’s name, cocaine, and room number 23. Alix messages Giovanni, who says the group left Nathan alone at a Soho bar before midnight, but Alix senses Giovanni is lying.
By dawn, Nathan still has not contacted Alix. Petal wakes early, and Alix tries to maintain normality while feeding Petal, calling Nathan, drinking coffee, and waiting. Time slows as Alix becomes increasingly anxious and exhausted, unsure whether Nathan is cheating, missing, or simply still out after a bender.
At nine, Alix calls Giovanni again and demands the truth, but Giovanni repeats that nothing happened. Zoe points out that Giovanni may be protecting Nathan. Alix checks the joint bank account for clues and finds only one pending payment from the West End bar where Giovanni claimed the men left Nathan, with no Uber, hotel, or other charge afterward, which makes Nathan’s disappearance feel more alarming.
As the day drags into afternoon, Zoe and Maxine remain at Alix’s house while Alix searches Nathan’s clothes for more evidence. A storm breaks, Giovanni stops answering, and Alix realizes that once her sisters leave she will be trapped at home with the children. Alix quickly changes and walks to Giovanni’s house to confront Giovanni face to face.
At Giovanni’s kitchen table, Alix shows Giovanni the items found in Nathan’s things and demands to know whether a woman was involved. Giovanni admits that a woman named Katelyn joined the men, drank with them, and went along to the Soho bar. Giovanni insists Nathan talked about Alix, said he was married, and did not seem to be cheating, but Giovanni also admits that Katelyn stayed behind with Nathan and said she would get Nathan home. Alix is furious that Giovanni lied and unsettled by the fact that Nathan vanished after being left with Katelyn.
Who Appears
- AlixSleepless and anxious, Alix investigates Nathan’s disappearance and confronts Giovanni for the truth.
- NathanAbsent husband whose failure to return home drives Alix’s fear, suspicion, and investigation.
- GiovanniNathan’s friend; lies by omission, then admits Katelyn was with Nathan at the bar.
- KatelynYoung woman who joined Nathan’s group and stayed with Nathan after his friends left.
- ZoeAlix’s sister; supports Alix and suggests Giovanni may be protecting Nathan.
- MaxineAlix’s sister; remains at the house during the tense wait for Nathan.
- PetalAlix’s young niece; her early-morning presence briefly contrasts with Alix’s dark thoughts.