Chapter 56: Millie Locked in the Attic – Andrew's True Nature Revealed

⚠️ 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

Millie wakes to find herself locked in the attic bedroom. Three textbooks—Guide to US Prisons, History of Torture, and a phonebook—are now on the floor; her phone is gone. Through the locked door, Andrew explains that he locked her in (accidentally or intentionally) and demands she balance the books on her stomach for three hours as punishment for leaving his books in the living room. When Millie refuses and begs to use the bathroom, Andrew offers a bucket. He then reveals he can see her through a hidden camera and has been watching her for weeks. Millie realizes Andrew is not the kind, supportive partner she believed him to be. He leaves her trapped, saying he will return later to see if she has obeyed.

Key Events

Millie wakes to find the attic door locked from the outside and three books on the floor that were not there the night before.
Her phone is missing; she searches the room but cannot find it.
Andrew speaks through the door, confirming he has the key.
He orders her to lie on the floor and balance the three textbooks on her stomach for three continuous hours.
Millie argues, needing the bathroom; Andrew reveals a blue bucket in the closet.
When she pretends to follow his command, Andrew says he knows she is lying because he can see her.
He admits to hiding a camera in the room and has been watching her for “a few weeks.”
Millie pounds on the door and demands release; Andrew calmly says she must earn her freedom by completing the punishment.
He leaves her alone, saying he will return later.

Character Development

Millie moves from confusion to frustration to fear as she grasps the true situation. Her initial assumption that the lock is accidental crumbles when Andrew’s tone turns cold and controlling. Her desperation grows as her physical needs (a bathroom) are weaponized against her. This chapter forces Millie to confront the fact that Andrew, whom she saw as her rescuer from Nina’s abuse, is himself an abuser.

Andrew undergoes a complete reversal. Earlier chapters painted him as the rational, kind husband who protected Millie from Nina’s accusations. Here, he speaks dismissively (“since you’re a maid and all”), demands humiliating compliance, and reveals he has been spying on her. His calm, methodical cruelty—offering a bucket, knowing she is lying via camera—shows he is a controlling predator, not a victim of Nina.

Nina is not present but is referenced indirectly. Millie originally thought Nina was the crazy one; now she wonders if both husband and wife are disturbed. The chapter hints that Andrew and Nina may be working together, though that is not confirmed here.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Imprisonment and Isolation
The locked attic door literalizes Millie’s captivity. The room—formerly a closet where she was hidden from guests—now becomes a prison. The bucket symbolises the complete removal of her dignity and autonomy.

Surveillance and Power
The hidden camera turns the room into a panopticon. Andrew’s statement that he has been watching “only since a few weeks ago” suggests long-term manipulation. Millie is denied privacy, and her every move is monitored and judged.

Punishment and Control
The demand to balance heavy books—especially titles about prisons and torture—on her stomach for hours is a psychological torture dressed as a “fair” consequence. Andrew frames it as a logical penalty for her supposed transgression, revealing his need for total submission.

Reversal of Roles
Millie believed she had escaped one abuser (Nina) by aligning with Andrew. Now she discovers that Andrew is equally dangerous. The chapter shatters the binary of “good husband / bad wife” and shows that the household is built on mutual manipulation.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is the story’s decisive turning point. Until now, Millie’s greatest threat appeared to be Nina; Andrew was her ally and love interest. Chapter 56 exposes Andrew as a manipulative, controlling figure who uses hidden surveillance and sadistic “punishments” to dominate Millie. The revelation forces the reader to reinterpret every previous interaction between Andrew and Millie—his kindness may have been a grooming tactic. The chapter also sets up the final act: Millie is trapped, isolated from her phone and from help, with no clear escape. The power dynamics shift entirely, raising the stakes for the novel’s climax.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Andrew choose the specific punishment of balancing books on Millie’s stomach?
Answer: The three books—Guide to US Prisons, History of Torture, and a phonebook—are heavy and humiliating to balance. The act forces Millie into a submissive, motionless position for hours. Andrew frames it as a logical consequence for Millie leaving his books out, but the choice of titles underscores his desire to terrify and control her.
What does the hidden camera reveal about Andrew’s character?
Answer: It shows that Andrew has been premeditating his control over Millie. He admits to watching her for weeks, meaning he spied on her before he locked her in. This destroys any remaining trust Millie had and paints Andrew as a calculating predator rather than a loving partner.
How does Millie’s perception of her relationship change during this chapter?
Answer: She begins the chapter assuming the lock was an accident and that Andrew will help her. By the end, she realizes Andrew and Nina may both be dangerous. Her earlier belief that Andrew was her protector is shattered, leaving her isolated and terrified.