Chapter 9: Ava – Summary and Analysis
⚠️ 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
Ava meets her friends Jules, Stella, and Bridget at Morning Roast for their weekly Tuesday coffee. Jules dramatically recounts Alex Volkov’s confrontation with Owen from the previous weekend, exaggerating his threats. Ava feels humiliated and guilty for dragging Owen into the scene. She works as an assistant at McCann Gallery, a prestigious photography gallery, and her father tacitly disapproves of her photography career by refusing to fund equipment. Jules proposes “Operation Emotion,” a scheme to test whether Alex can feel emotions, starting with jealousy. Ava resists but eventually gives in to Jules’s persuasion. That night, Ava suffers a vivid drowning nightmare, waking at 4:44 AM. Jules comes to comfort her with chamomile tea. Ava reflects on her recurring nightmares and the “black-out” gap in her childhood memories from age nine onward.
Key Events
- Jules retells Alex’s outburst at Owen, adding dramatic embellishments.
- Ava discusses her job at McCann Gallery and her father’s refusal to finance photography gear.
- Bridget’s royal background as Princess of Eldorra is revealed casually.
- Jules introduces “Operation Emotion” to make Alex display emotions; Ava reluctantly agrees.
- Ava has a drowning nightmare that feels like a suppressed memory.
- Jules wakes up and comforts Ava, showing deep friendship.
- Ava reflects on her traumatic past and the blank period before age nine.
Character Development
Ava Chen – This chapter deepens Ava’s internal conflict: she is strong-willed yet easily swayed by Jules. Her anger at Alex’s domineering behavior is layered with guilt over her role in the Owen incident. Her nightmare reveals profound childhood trauma and a fractured memory, making her vulnerable and emotionally complex. She depends on Jules for support, highlighting her need for trusted allies.
Jules Ambrose – Jules is portrayed as a charismatic, persuasive friend who genuinely cares for Ava. Her theatrical retelling shows her dramatic nature, yet she is attuned to Ava’s distress and offers immediate comfort. Her ability to convince Ava to participate in Operation Emotion demonstrates her influence, but her loyalty remains unquestionable.
Bridget von Thurn – Though her screen time is brief, Bridget is established as a grounded princess who values normalcy. Her curiosity about the Operation Emotion plan hints at her desire for distraction from royal duties.
Stella Alonso – Stella is shy in person but bold online as a lifestyle blogger. She shows curiosity about the experiment, contrasting with her reserved nature.
Alex Volkov – He does not appear directly, but his off-page presence looms. His emotional control (or lack thereof) sparks the operation plan, and Ava’s conflicting feelings about him—anger mixed with a defensive instinct—foreshadow future tension.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Trauma and Memory – Ava’s drowning nightmare is a recurring motif tied to suppressed childhood trauma. The 4:44 AM wake-up time (4 being unlucky in Chinese culture) reinforces her superstition and emotional distress. The “black-out” in her memory symbolizes her mind’s attempt to protect her from pain.
Friendship and Loyalty – Jules’s midnight tea ritual and comforting embrace demonstrate unconditional support. The friends’ dynamic—Jules as instigator, Ava as reluctant participant, Stella and Bridget as curious observers—highlights how friendship can both challenge and sustain.
Control and Manipulation – Alex’s dominating behavior at the shoot drives Ava’s anger. Operation Emotion is a reaction against his control, but it also represents a form of manipulation. Jules’s scheme aims to provoke real feelings, blurring lines between experiment and cruelty.
Class and Status – Bridget’s royal background is treated casually, contrasting with Ava’s financial struggles. The juxtaposition emphasizes that privilege does not shield people from personal issues, as Bridget longs for distraction from family worries.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is pivotal for Ava’s character arc. It provides a window into her traumatic past and explains her guardedness. The introduction of Operation Emotion sets up a central plot device that will drive Ava and Alex’s interactions, forcing emotional vulnerability. The chapter also strengthens the friendship quartet, establishing Jules as both a source of trouble and comfort. Ava’s recurring nightmare hints at a mystery yet to be uncovered—likely connected to her missing childhood memories.
Study Questions and Answers
1. What is “Operation Emotion” and why does Ava agree to it?
Operation Emotion is Jules’s plan to test whether Alex Volkov can feel emotions; she wants Ava to provoke specific feelings such as jealousy, sadness, or fear in him. Ava agrees reluctantly after persistent persuasion from Jules, despite her own misgivings about the scheme being cruel. Her agreement stems from Jules’s charismatic arguments and Ava’s lingering anger at Alex’s behavior toward Owen.
2. How does Ava’s nightmare reveal her past trauma?
The nightmare depicts young Ava drowning in a lake, calling for her mother, and the feeling of being pulled deeper under water. She wakes at 4:44 AM, a time she associates with bad luck. The dream feels more like a real memory than imagination, and she mentions a “black-out” in her recollection before age nine. This suggests a traumatic event involving water that her mind has repressed, possibly connected to her mother’s absence.
3. How do the four friends differ in their reactions to Alex’s confrontation and the Operation Emotion plan?
Jules finds the confrontation hilarious and enthusiastically drives the operation. Stella is initially hesitant but becomes curious, asking about the specific emotions. Bridget shows interest as a distraction from royal duties, though she acknowledges the plan might be “a bit mean.” Ava is the most resistant, feeling guilty and embarrassed, but eventually capitulates. Each friend’s reaction reflects her personality: Jules’s boldness, Stella’s shy curiosity, Bridget’s craving for normal excitement, and Ava’s moral conflict.