Vanessa sits on the floor of the dressing room, thinking about her replacement. She admits to calling the woman on a burner phone, remarking upon the carefree tone of her voice. As Vanessa thinks about her ex-husband’s new fiancée, she reveals that they were seeing each other while Vanessa was still married to him. Vanessa wonders if her replacement feels guilt or triumph.

Caught in the dressing room by her boss, Vanessa is sent home from work under the pretense of being ill. She walks home, suddenly wondering why she didn’t ask for more than a small sum from Richard when the marriage ended. She initially thought she didn’t deserve anything, considering herself a bad wife for not having worked or birthed any children and having been deceitful. But now, as an image haunts her of her replacement using the china she picked out, she wishes she had more. What tortures her most, though, is the thought that if she had had a child, Richard might not have let her leave.

Vanessa stops to pick up wine for her Aunt Charlotte’s party and decides impulsively to add two bottles for herself.