Episode 2 · Nora, Lucian Ashford, Bianca
Nora remembers Lucian kissing her and giving her a house key. In the present, she sweeps her old lock parts into a trash bag and dumps them into an outside bin. She stays up all night at her tattoo studio painting a chained phoenix breaking free. In the morning, Summer calls her in a panic and tells her to check Lucian's Instagram page immediately. Nora reluctantly opens the app.
In a flashback, Lucian kisses Nora inside the apartment. He places a house key into her hand and tells her that the place is her home as well. Nora holds the key and looks at him.
Back in the hallway, Nora sweeps the replaced lock cylinder and spare key into a trash bag. She ties the plastic bag shut, walks outside, and drops the entire bundle into the outdoor trash bin.
Nora sits at her tattoo studio through the night, painting a phoenix breaking free from heavy chains. She works continuously until dawn fills the room. Once the piece is finished, she collapses onto her bed and falls asleep.
A loud ringtone wakes Nora up in her bedroom. Her business partner Summer speaks frantically over the phone, warning Nora that she needs to open Lucian's Instagram page right away to see his newest public update.
“Nora, this is your home too.”
“Nora, check Lucian's Instagram right now!”
“What did he post? Going public with Bianca?”
“Worse than that. Just look.”
Nora holds her phone while still lying in bed. She opens Lucian's Instagram profile and finds a fresh update posted just ten minutes earlier. The screen loads as Summer stays on the line. What did Lucian share online that Summer described as worse than a public relationship announcement?