Lily reflects on the unusual arrangement she has maintained with Ryle since Emerson was born: they filed divorce papers while signing their daughter’s birth certificate, yet Lily has tried to help Ryle bond with Emerson. Because Ryle’s surgical schedule is unpredictable, Lily has often cooperated with visits, including letting Ryle keep the apartment key he originally received in case Lily went into labor.

When Lily comes home, Ryle is already in Lily’s kitchen after bringing Emerson home and putting Emerson to bed. Ryle has bought Lily dinner from her favorite Thai restaurant, which makes Lily uneasy because Ryle has been acting increasingly comfortable in Lily’s apartment. Lily connects this discomfort to Atlas’s recent text and realizes Lily needs firmer boundaries with Ryle before pursuing anything with Atlas.

During dinner, Lily flinches when Ryle touches Lily’s cheek, and Lily thinks about how any remaining attraction to Ryle has faded because memories of Ryle’s violence always return. When Lily’s phone pings, Lily grabs it quickly, afraid Ryle might see a message from Atlas. The message is only from Lily’s mother, but Ryle notices Lily’s reaction and asks whether Lily is seeing someone.

The conversation shifts from dating to boundaries. Lily tells Ryle that Lily wants Lily’s apartment key back because Lily values privacy. Ryle reacts defensively, framing the request as Lily limiting Ryle’s access to Emerson, then threatens to seek overnights and possibly modify the custody arrangement. Lily stays calm but confronts him, pointing out that asking for the key back should not provoke a court threat.

Ryle asks when Ryle can have Emerson overnight, and Lily says not until Emerson can talk, so Emerson can tell Lily if something happens. Ryle understands the implication, gives Lily the key, and leaves. Lily feels familiar guilt and doubt afterward, but Lily rereads a list of the violent things Ryle did to Lily, reminding Lily that divorcing Ryle and setting boundaries protects both Lily and Emerson.