Chapter 23 Summary: Dimitri & Zoe
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
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Summary
The chapter opens on a chaotic day for Dimitri and Zoe as their virtual toddler, Lenny, experiences his third meltdown of the morning. The first tantrum erupted during breakfast when they asked him to use a fork instead of a spoon; the second came when he refused to acknowledge the toddler toilet installed in the bathroom. The cause of the third remains unclear, but the couple suspects it stems from their decision to enforce a screen-free day. Zoe, a teacher by profession, has seen too many children whose lives are dominated by devices, and she and Dimitri want Lenny to learn to entertain himself through play and interaction. As they try to soothe him, Autumn Taylor, the show's host, materialises in their kitchen.
Autumn's arrival immediately shifts the dynamic. Lenny stops crying and points at her, calling her a man, a moment that highlights the artificiality of the avatar. Autumn's laugh is described as fake, and she begins probing the couple about their parenting style. Dimitri responds that they are relaxed parents, but Zoe's internal monologue reveals she has been anything but relaxed for weeks. She has received sealed court documents by hand and has not told Dimitri, fearing his tendency to worry. Every rattle of the letterbox leaves her on edge.
Autumn then asks directly whether this is not their first time as parents. Zoe and Dimitri have discussed their public history during the application process and in their introduction video, but they have deliberately avoided the topic on screen since. Zoe deflects, saying they have drawn from past experiences and know that children are unpredictable. Autumn persists, asking how parenting differs the second time around. Zoe responds that it doesn't fundamentally differ, and that they can love a child who isn't made of flesh and blood. She internally acknowledges that it wasn't Lenny who taught her to love again—that the being responsible is hidden elsewhere in the house, away from prying eyes.
Autumn continues to press, asking if they are trying to recreate what they had first time. They deny this, but Dimitri admits they look forward to opportunities they were denied in the past. Autumn labels this