Chapter summaries In the Likely Event Rebecca Yarros

Chapter 13 Summary & Analysis – In the Likely Event

⚠️ 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

In November 2021, Izzy travels to Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan, and reunites with her older sister Serena, a war journalist. Despite Izzy’s having pulled strings to replace another aide, Serena angrily refuses to leave because she still has thirty days on her assignment. Serena also refuses to abandon her interpreter Taj Barech, whose visa is not yet approved. During their confrontation, Serena accidentally reveals to Nate that Izzy took a job with Senator Lauren specifically to end the war that kept pulling Nate away. Nate is stunned. As Izzy and Nate return to the embassy, they encounter Jeremy Covington, Izzy’s fiancé, who has flown in unannounced. When Jeremy grabs Izzy’s arm, Nate violently intervenes, then learns that Izzy is engaged. The chapter ends with Nate’s cold remark, “You’re marrying Dickface.”

Key Events

  • Izzy hugs Serena at the rendezvous point, overjoyed that she found her sister.
  • Serena is furious that Izzy came to a war zone, insisting it’s too dangerous.
  • The operators allow Serena’s interpreter Taj to join the group.
  • Nate explains the country is collapsing; three provinces have fallen in 24 hours.
  • Serena refuses to evacuate, citing her duty to her assignment and to Taj.
  • Nate pleads with Serena to leave for Izzy’s sake, showing his personal side.
  • Serena blurts out that Izzy took her job with Senator Lauren because of Nate, revealing Izzy’s hidden motive.
  • Nate realizes Izzy’s political career has been an attempt to end the war that separated them.
  • Izzy and Nate return to the embassy in Kabul, where Jeremy steps out of a doorway.
  • Jeremy angrily grabs Izzy’s arm; Nate slams him against the wall.
  • Izzy identifies Jeremy as her fiancé; Nate registers the engagement ring.
  • Nate sarcastically calls Jeremy “Dickface,” signaling his hurt and contempt.

Character Development

Izzy shows fierce determination and loyalty by risking her safety to bring Serena home. Her emotional vulnerability deepens when Serena dismisses the rescue. The revelation that Izzy’s career choice was motivated by her feelings for Nate adds complexity to her character—she has been fighting a silent battle to change the circumstances that keep them apart.

Nate demonstrates his protective instincts both as a professional operator and as the man who still cares for Izzy. He pleads with Serena, drops his professional wall when he learns the truth about Izzy’s job, and reacts violently when Jeremy grabs her. His final line reveals raw jealousy and disappointment.

Serena embodies dedication to her profession and loyalty to her interpreter. She refuses to abandon her story or Taj, even under direct threat. Her insight into Izzy’s feelings for Nate shows that she sees her sister more clearly than Izzy does.

Jeremy appears as an entitled, aggressive figure who touches Izzy without consent. His presence forces the emotional collision between Izzy’s past with Nate and her present engagement.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Sacrifice vs. Self-Preservation: Serena chooses to stay in a collapsing country for her work and for Taj. Izzy sacrifices her safety and her relationship with Nate to attempt a rescue. Both women make choices that prioritize others over personal safety.
  • Hidden Agendas: Izzy’s true reason for working in politics remains a secret until Serena exposes it. The engagement ring becomes a symbol of the life Izzy has been pretending to want.
  • War’s Toll on Relationships: The ongoing conflict in Afghanistan has repeatedly pulled Nate away from Izzy, and it now threatens Serena’s life. The chapter illustrates how war forces individuals to choose between duty and love.
  • Physical Violence and Control: Jeremy grabbing Izzy’s arm and Nate’s immediate response highlight the contrast between a possessive touch and genuine protective instinct. Nate’s use of force is shown as justified, while Jeremy’s is invasive.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 13 is the emotional turning point where Izzy’s hidden motivation and current engagement collide. Serena’s refusal to leave escalates the stakes for Izzy, and Nate now understands the depth of Izzy’s past attachment to him—making his discovery of her engagement devastating. The arrival of Jeremy introduces immediate external conflict and sets up the central romantic tension for the remainder of the story. The chapter also deepens the theme of sacrifice, as both sisters choose dangerous paths out of loyalty.

Study Questions

  1. Why does Serena refuse to leave Afghanistan? What does her decision reveal about her values?
    Serena believes she cannot abandon her journalistic assignment or her interpreter Taj. She prioritizes bearing witness to the collapse and protecting Taj over her own safety, showing that professional integrity and loyalty to others matter more to her than personal security.

  2. How does Nate react when he learns Izzy went to work for Senator Lauren because of him?
    Nate’s shock is immediate; a muscle in his jaw ticks and he locks eyes with Izzy. He drops his guarded expression, revealing raw emotion. The knowledge changes how he sees her—she has been fighting on his behalf without telling him.

  3. What does Jeremy’s arrival and his physical grab of Izzy suggest about their relationship?
    Jeremy’s aggressive grab indicates a lack of respect for Izzy’s boundaries. His anger at having to “wait all day” and his condescending attitude suggest a controlling dynamic. The contrast with Nate’s protective intervention underscores that Jeremy is not a supportive partner.