Lily wakes at five in the morning to a stream of late-night texts from Ryle. After four days of silence following his assault at her house, Ryle has not apologized; instead, the messages accuse Lily of treating him like a monster, say he was happier before meeting Lily, and insult Atlas. Lily recognizes that Ryle was probably drunk, but the texts leave Lily shaken and convinced Ryle has been stewing in anger rather than remorse.

Lily tries to move through her morning with Emerson and then goes to the flower shop, where Lily pretends to be fine while anxiously watching for Ryle to appear or contact her again. Lily tells no one, not Atlas or Allysa, because the messages feel humiliating and degrading. As the day passes without an apology, Lily decides she will not endure seventeen more years of abuse, even if it comes through texts.

After five, as Lily and Lucy are preparing to close the shop, Ryle comes in. Lily quietly asks Lucy to stay nearby, then agrees to speak with Ryle in the office only after making sure Lucy will wait. Ryle apologizes and claims he was drunk and does not remember sending the texts, but Lily refuses to soften in response to his remorse.

When Ryle asks whether Lily told Allysa, Lily becomes angrier because Ryle seems more worried about his sister's opinion than the harm he caused. Lily lies that she has sent the texts to a lawyer, deciding internally that she will document everything from now on to protect herself and Emerson. Ryle reacts by shifting from remorse to anger, blaming Atlas for the renewed conflict and accusing Lily of ignoring the real source of their problems.

The confrontation escalates until Lucy checks on Lily. Ryle leaves furious, muttering about the lawyer and then threatening Lily by emphasizing that he is a neurosurgeon, that Lily works with flowers, and that he pays for Lily's apartment. After Lucy locks the door and comforts Lily, Lily reflects that ending an abusive relationship removes the good moments but does not necessarily stop the bad ones. Seeing that Ryle seemed to leave with a purpose, Lily immediately calls Atlas to warn him.