Chapter 26 (25. Cadence) – Forced Intimacy and Zane’s Brutal Threats
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Cadence dresses carefully for work, wearing a gray wraparound dress and the pearl necklace, but leaves the clit ring in her hotel drawer. Zane did not return to the room the night before. Over breakfast she watches news of a gruesome murder, then turns it off; her mother’s funeral is that evening. Lincoln drives her to the office, and she feels guilty for his unhappiness.
Inside the bungalow, she sneers at the double blondes and heads to Zane’s office. Through the closed door she hears Zane threatening someone: “keep your mediocre dick away from Cadence or you’ll never work in this town again.” The door flies open and Cruze storms out, pausing to compliment her outfit. He reveals they will be working together before walking away.
Cadence enters Zane’s office. Zane hands her a thick script titled The Supernatural Client List. The pink-marked passages indicate where she will step in for Scarlett as Cruze’s love interest, Felicia Jordan. She protests, saying she cannot be naked and vulnerable with a man she has feelings for. Zane erupts in fury, slams his desk, takes her face, and threatens to have her mother cremated if she does not comply. He then softens and caresses her lip, telling her she will pay for her silence later, and orders her out.
Key Events
- Cadence gets ready for work and thinks about Zane’s absence.
- She watches news of a murder and recalls her mother’s funeral tonight.
- Lincoln drives her; she feels responsible for his stoic mood.
- At the office, she overhears Zane threatening Cruze to stay away from her.
- Cruze exits, compliments her, and hints they will work together.
- Zane gives Cadence the script for The Supernatural Client List.
- She refuses the role because of her feelings for Cruze and her fourth rule.
- Zane threatens to have her mother cremated if she disobeys.
- Cadence submits; Zane tells her she will pay later for her silence.
Character Development
Cadence – Her internal conflict deepens. She acknowledges she prefers her arrangement with Zane to her past life, but the prospect of being intimate with Cruze terrifies her because she has genuine feelings. This chapter shows her growing dependence on Zane’s control, even as she resists.
Zane – His cruelty escalates. He uses the funeral as leverage, revealing he knows exactly how to break her resolve. His possessive threat to Cruze and his violent reaction to Cadence’s hesitation underline his need for total dominance.
Cruze – Although he appears only briefly, his warm compliment and the hint of a forced collaboration suggest he may be a pawn in Zane’s game. He seems attracted to Cadence but knows he cannot cross Zane.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Coercion and Consent – The entire chapter revolves around Cadence being forced into a role she does not want. Zane’s threat to have her mother cremated if she refuses shows how consent is stripped away through emotional blackmail.
Performance and Vulnerability – Cadence must pretend to be Scarlett on screen, acting out a love scene with a man she cares about. This blurs the line between performance and reality, echoing her life as Zane’s “pawn.”
The Pearl Necklace – She puts on the pearls but leaves the clit ring behind. The pearls symbolize the public, acceptable version of her submission, while the ring represents the private, sexual control Zane exerts. Her choice to keep the ring hidden hints at her attempt to retain some boundaries.
The News Murder – The reported murder foreshadows the violence lurking in this world and mirrors the emotional carnage Zane inflicts.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is the moment Cadence’s role in Zane’s scheme becomes explicitly performative and public. Until now, her compliance was largely private; now she must act in front of cameras. Zane’s use of her mother’s funeral as a weapon shows how far he will go, and Cadence’s quiet acceptance sets up the central tension for the second half of the novel: can she play her part without losing herself? The introduction of the film The Supernatural Client List also raises stakes because Cruze is both a love interest and a co-worker, complicating every future interaction.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Cadence initially refuse to take Scarlett’s place on the film?
She explains that being naked and vulnerable with a man she has feelings for violates her fourth rule. The emotional reality of acting opposite Cruze—whom she genuinely cares about—makes the situation unbearable, unlike her transactional encounters with strangers. -
How does Zane force Cadence to comply?
He threatens to have her mother cremated rather than allow a proper funeral. This leverages her grief and guilt, leaving her with no acceptable choice but to obey. Zane’s cruelty is calculated: he attacks her most vulnerable point. -
What does Cadence’s outfit reveal about her mindset?
She dresses softly (gray dress, pink gloss, messy bun) and consciously chooses to wear the pearl necklace but not the clit ring. This suggests she is trying to present a polished, manageable version of herself—one that might appease Zane—while keeping the most intimate symbol of his control hidden away.