Lily wakes to pounding at her door after sleeping deeply, finds a note Atlas left for her, and sees several missed calls from Ryle. A photo from Lily’s mother confirms Emmy is safe, so Lily answers the door and finds Ryle, who enters uninvited because he had wanted to pick Emmy up for a few hours.

Ryle notices signs that someone stayed over: Lily’s clothes on the couch and two wineglasses. When Ryle asks whether someone spent the night, Lily refuses to answer as if Ryle still has a right to control her private life. Ryle insults Lily’s parenting, and Lily defends her rare night away from Emmy, but Ryle’s anger escalates.

Ryle leaves, then returns to ask whether the man was Atlas. Lily does not deny it and tells Ryle she did not leave him for Atlas; Lily left because Ryle mistreated her. Ryle responds by shoving Lily against the door and pressing a hand to her throat, frightening Lily until Ryle realizes what he has done and begins to break down. The incident confirms for Lily that Ryle has not changed and that Lily must stay whole and protective for Emmy.

Lily pushes Ryle away, locks the door, and calls her mother to bring Emmy to the park instead of staying home where Ryle might go. Before leaving, Lily takes Atlas’s note, expecting his words to be the only comfort in a painful day. At the park, Lily reads Atlas’s letter, in which Atlas says he is grateful to be with Lily now, regrets not fighting harder for her when they were young, and promises to move at whatever pace Lily needs.

Lily’s mother arrives with Emmy and senses that Lily is shaken. Lily says she is seeing someone but does not identify Atlas, then explains that Ryle found out and reacted frighteningly. Lily worries about how to handle Ryle’s visits and feels guilty for wishing there had been more to report, but Lily’s mother reassures Lily that protecting Emmy makes Lily a good mother.

As rain begins, Lily and her mother return to their cars. Lily avoids going home or to Allysa’s because Ryle might appear, and Lily feels fiercely protective since Ryle still has legal access to Emmy. Watching Emmy calmly trust Lily from the back seat, Lily admits she does not feel in control but resolves to decide where they can safely go.