Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of sexual harassment, death by suicide, child death, death, and cursing.

The Prologue opens with a reflection by protagonist and law firm “fixer” Katrina McHugh about the nature of motherhood. When someone gets pregnant, people give a lot of unsolicited advice. The only piece of advice that she felt was true was that “you will love [your child] more than you ever thought possible” (n.p.). However, that love comes with a price because it causes you to stay up at night worrying about them. She notes that no matter how much you care, you will make mistakes when you’re trying your hardest to protect them, and it is a mother’s job to try to fix things even when it isn’t possible.

Cleo McHugh, Katrina’s daughter and an English major at New York University (NYU), goes to her family’s brownstone in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Katrina insisted that Cleo come over because they needed to talk in person as soon as possible. As Cleo walks up to the front door, she gets a text from her boyfriend Will, asking if they could get together that evening.