15. Ophelia

Ophelia watches Alex play rugby while on a date with Shawn Miller, a wealthy but vapid peer. She discovers disturbing information about Alex's mother and feels unexpected guilt, leading to a charged late-night encounter with Alex in the mansion hallway that complicates her feelings.

Ophelia attends a rugby match with Colette, Magda, and Hattie, where she watches Alex play while Shawn Miller sits beside her. She receives another cryptic email from "Alan Sine" (Carmichael) quoting Shakespeare, which she dismisses with a Jane Eyre quote in reply. Shawn attempts to kiss her beneath the stands, but Alex interrupts the moment. After Alex and Shawn leave, Ophelia goes on her first real date with Shawn at a fancy restaurant overlooking the Northern Minch. During dinner, Shawn shows her a viral video of Alex's mother, Elise Corbeau, a famous model, having a public breakdown in a department store—revealing she has a mental illness, not mere "high maintenance" as Shawn dismisses it. The video deeply affects Ophelia, showing Alex calling out for his eldest son during the incident. On the drive home, Ophelia realizes she doesn't want to see Shawn again and begins reconsidering her judgment of Alex. Late that night in the mansion hallway, Alex emerges from his room and they have a charged conversation about her date. Alex compliments her dress and voice, creating an intimate moment between them before Ophelia retreats to her room. The chapter ends with flirtation and unresolved tension as they banter about pigeons and dates.