Eve wakes on her kitchen floor, disoriented, bleeding from the head, and in severe pain. She realizes Nate is standing over her with her phone, and as her memory returns, she remembers telling Nate she wanted a divorce, catching him with Addie, and then being attacked in her house by Addie with a frying pan.

Eve asks for her phone and tells Nate to call 911. Instead of helping, Nate questions her memory and quickly shifts the conversation to protecting himself. When Eve says Addie attacked her and must be reported to Higgins, Nate reacts with hostility because exposure would ruin his life and career.

Nate drops to his knees and begs Eve not to tell Higgins, framing her decision as cruelty rather than accountability. Eve, dazed and in pain, says she has no choice and insists that reporting the attack is the right thing to do. Her refusal confirms for Nate that she remains a threat.

Nate then makes his decision explicit. He refuses to call an ambulance, says he will not let Eve destroy his life, and puts his hands around her neck. Because Eve is already weakened from the head injury, she cannot fight him off.

As Nate strangles her, Eve understands that her husband is willing to kill her to protect his reputation. Her vision fades as she thinks briefly about who might care that she is gone. The chapter ends with Eve dying at Nate’s hands.