Contents
Chapter Fifty
Overview
Stuart takes Blaise to dinner, confides his chaotic home life, and vows to leave once Daisy is safe. Blaise urges him to avoid returning, but Stuart goes back to the Vale house. As he enters, he is violently attacked and knocked out, escalating the danger of his situation with Jessamine.
Summary
Stuart treats Blaise to dinner at a fashionable restaurant, proud of choosing somewhere she enjoys. Blaise shares plans for university in Sydney and her easy Bondi life, which Stuart envies. Despite vowing not to, Stuart confides the wreckage of his home life with Jessamine.
Blaise, alarmed, begs Stuart to avoid going back and stay on her hotel sofa bed. Stuart refuses, fixated on protecting Daisy from Jessamine’s volatile morning rages and promising Blaise he will leave once Daisy is safe.
He taxis back to the far end of the Vale of Health, where even the driver remarks on its remoteness. Stuart approaches the house, hears Hugo bark, and lets himself in.
As Stuart opens the front door, something heavy crashes against his skull. His senses reel, and he blacks out, leaving his fate uncertain and the threat at the house abruptly, violently confirmed.
Who Appears
- StuartTakes Blaise to dinner, confesses home turmoil, refuses to stay away, returns to the Vale house and is assaulted.
- BlaiseNineteen-year-old daughter; shares Sydney plans, urges Stuart to avoid returning, offers hotel sofa.
- JessamineOff-page, volatile presence; her likely rage motivates Stuart to return for Daisy’s sake.
- DaisyStuart’s priority; he fears Jessamine will target her if he doesn’t return.
- HugoFamily dog; barks as Stuart arrives at the house.
- Taxi driverRemarks on the remoteness of the Vale address before dropping Stuart off.