Chapter Twenty-one

Summary

• Eliza expresses sympathy to Maddie for the loss of her father, sharing her own experience with grief.
• Maddie waves goodbye to Nia and experiences the weight of silence in her empty home, trying to fill the time with TV and phone scrolling.
• Unable to focus on reading, Maddie ponders going to Ben's CEO's birthday as an escape from her solitude.
• She decides to go to the party, reflecting that only Ben knows about her recent hardships.
• Upon arrival at the party venue, Maddie is struck by the lavish setting including a large aquarium at the reception area.
• Maddie feels out of place as the only Black person at the party, except for some of the waitstaff, but is experienced in navigating predominantly white spaces.
• When Ben sees her, he reacts with surprise and tells her to stay put while he gives a speech, which Maddie reluctantly agrees to.
• During Ben's speech, Maddie encounters Sophie, who reveals that she is also dating Ben and had recently met his parents.
• Shocked and hurt, Maddie realizes Ben has been seeing both of them simultaneously after Sophie mentions Ben spent the previous night with her.
• As Sophie diminishes Maddie's relationship with Ben, an awkward silence falls over the party due to the public confrontation.
• Sophie leaves Maddie feeling insignificant and heartbroken before rejoining the party.
• Maddie hides in a dark corridor, overhearing Ben and Sophie arguing about the situation before they return to the party together.
• Ben seems to apologize to the room or to Sophie as they leave Maddie alone.
• Maddie eventually crawls out and leaves, the receptionist showing concern as she departs disheveled with her shoes in hand.
• The Uber driver, sensing her distress, doesn't engage in conversation, and Maddie weeps silently on the ride home.