Chapter 40 (Chapter 41) Summary & Analysis – The Housemaid’s Secret
⚠️ 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 cannot stop shaking during the entire subway ride back to the Bronx. She knows she shot a man in the chest and admits she wanted him dead, though she did not intend for events to unfold as they did. She tells herself that Wendy will stick to their story and that the police will have no reason to suspect Millie’s involvement. Yet she must now face the fact that she has killed a man – again. When she exits the subway, she sees missed calls and voicemails from her boyfriend Brock. Remembering they were supposed to have dinner that night, she calls him and fakes a stomach bug that is “coming out of both ends.” Brock offers to bring soup and rub her back, but Millie refuses, saying she just needs to be alone. After hanging up, she feels guilty for lying and wishes she could talk to Enzo, but she knows that would be a bad idea. She decides to go home and try not to think about what happened.
Key Events
- Millie rides the subway back to the Bronx, trembling and hugging herself.
- She reflects on killing a man: she shot him in the chest and acknowledges she wanted him dead.
- She references having “been through this before,” implying a prior killing.
- She expects Wendy to maintain the story and keep Millie’s role hidden.
- After exiting the subway, she sees missed calls from Brock and returns his call.
- Millie cancels their dinner date by inventing a stomach bug.
- Brock offers to come care for her; Millie declines.
- Millie feels guilty about lying to Brock and considers confiding in Enzo but decides against it.
- She resolves to go home and put the events behind her.
Character Development
- Millie: Her internal turmoil deepens as she grapples with taking another life. She shows a pattern of violence and rationalization, noting that she has “been through this before.” Her deception toward Brock reveals her desire to protect him from her dangerous reality, but also her isolation. She avoids turning to Enzo, indicating self-awareness that such a conversation would be risky.
- Brock: He remains considerate and caring, offering to bring soup and rub Millie’s back. His trust in Millie’s lie underscores their relationship, yet Millie’s guilt hints at a growing divide between her public persona and her hidden actions.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Guilt and Repression: Millie tries to suppress her guilt by convincing herself the situation is under control, but her physical shaking and sleeplessness betray her inner conflict.
- Deception and Secrecy: The chapter centres on Millie’s lies: first the fabricated stomach bug, then the larger secret about the murder. She maintains a façade of normalcy while hiding a traumatic event.
- Double Life: Millie’s ability to switch between a loving girlfriend and a killer continues to develop, reinforcing the motif of a dual identity.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 40 provides a crucial emotional aftermath following the shooting. It deepens Millie’s character by revealing her history of violence and her strategy of compartmentalisation. The failed dinner with Brock increases the tension between her ordinary life and her secret actions. The chapter also sets up future conflict: Millie’s guilt may eventually surface, and her avoidance of Enzo suggests unresolved ties to another dangerous element of her past.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Millie lie to Brock about having a stomach bug?
She does not want to drag him into the murder she just committed. She needs time alone to process the event and cannot risk Brock sensing something is wrong.
2. What does Millie mean when she thinks, “I’ve been through this before”?
She implies that she has killed someone previously, indicating a pattern of violence and suggesting that she has experience covering up a death.
3. Why does Millie consider talking to Enzo but decide against it?
Enzo is the only person who might understand her situation, but she recognises that involving him would be a bad idea, likely because he is entangled in her dangerous past and could threaten her current cover.
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