55 pages • 1 hour read
Danielle SteelTriangle
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2024A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 5-8Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 5 Summary
Amanda attends an exclusive art fair in London, while Olivier participates in a similar literary event. They discuss their work, and Amanda is pleased to discover how well they complement each other as a couple—something she found lacking in her past relationships. Over the five days in London, she starts envisioning a future with Olivier. On their last night, they celebrate at an elegant restaurant and even plan a weekend in Saint-Tropez.
Toward the end of dinner, however, Olivier reveals that he is married, though he claims to have an “understanding” with his wife, Stephanie. Shocked, Amanda demands to know why he had not mentioned this sooner. Olivier explains that he wanted her to get to know him first and understand his freedom despite his marriage. Olivier describes Stephanie as “cold” and primarily focused on her equestrian pursuits, admitting that their marriage was a mistake complicated by their two children. Olivier explains that he raised the children independently, as Stephanie is often away. He confesses that she still lives with him when she is in Paris and claims he sees no point in divorce.
Although Olivier assures her that their marriage is one of convenience, Amanda is deeply unsettled, viewing his actions as infidelity. She shares her experience with Gregoire, recounting the pain of discovering that his “understanding” with his wife was a lie. Olivier insists that he is different, honest about his situation, and does not deceive her. Still, Amanda struggles to reconcile this with the emotional scars from her past and feels his explanations echo the same excuses she has heard before. When Olivier asks if she wants children, hinting that this could complicate things further, Amanda says she does not believe so. At the end of the evening, Amanda tells Olivier she needs time to think and refuses his attempt to kiss her goodnight. Despite Olivier’s continued texts professing his love, Amanda remains silent, resolving to end the relationship.
Back in Paris, Amanda cancels a planned dinner with Olivier and continues to wrestle with her feelings. She picks up her dog, Lulu, from Pascal, who immediately senses her distress. When Amanda confides that Olivier is married, Pascal tries to comfort her, suggesting that perhaps Olivier is being truthful about the relationship and that, unlike Gregoire, Olivier never lied to Amanda. Amanda admits that she loves Olivier but resolves once more to break things off, aware that her history makes it difficult to move past her trust issues. She sends a final message to Olivier, explaining that she cannot see him again. Olivier replies that he is deeply saddened but understands her decision.
Chapter 6 Summary
Amanda has not heard from Olivier for several days. She mourns the loss but firmly rejects the idea of becoming his mistress. When Tom invites her to lunch, Amanda reluctantly accepts, resolving to keep their relationship platonic during his sabbatical. Tom, however, continues to press for more, though Amanda makes it clear she is not interested. When he asks about Olivier, Amanda shares that the relationship ended after a disagreement but avoids explaining the details. She hopes this conversation will finally convince Tom that she is not interested in a romantic relationship.
Returning to the gallery, Amanda finds Pascal in a heated argument with one of their artists, Johnny Vegas, who is notorious for his substance abuse issues. Johnny, already overdue on delivering two paintings, becomes physically aggressive, swinging at Pascal. In response, Pascal fires him on the spot, pushing Johnny out and locking the door. Pascal explains to Amanda that Johnny’s recent breakup is likely causing his behavior but insists that the gallery cannot afford to represent someone so erratic.
Ten days after London, Olivier arrives at the gallery, looking exhausted and carrying flowers. Their meeting is brief but emotionally charged as Olivier proposes that they date exclusively for a year, promising to divorce if things progress. Amanda hesitates, doubting his commitment to follow through. They discuss their situation over dinner yet remain at an impasse—Olivier is still married, and Amanda refuses to settle for being his mistress.
Olivier drives her home, and after a lingering kiss, they take a short walk. Amanda suddenly feels watched and wonders if Johnny, Stephanie, or perhaps her imagination is responsible. As they approach her door, the sound of screeching tires startles them, prompting Olivier to question if Johnny is watching them. He suggests Amanda consider hiring security.
Later, as she prepares for bed, Amanda receives several text messages from Olivier. When her phone rings, she answers, assuming it is him—only to hear nothing but breathing before the call abruptly ends. This happens three more times, each with a blocked number. The following day, Amanda tells Pascal about the calls, though the lack of caller ID makes it difficult to report to the police.
On Saturday, Amanda receives a florist box. It is large and heavy, and a gutted fish spills out when she accidentally drops it. She calls Pascal, who suspects Johnny might be behind it and advises her to avoid the gallery. Shortly afterward, Olivier calls, and Amanda explains the situation. He arrives within 10 minutes, helping her clean up the unsettling gift and taking her for a drive to help her clear her mind. During the drive, she asks about his adult children, seeking to understand more about his life.
By the time they return, her apartment has aired out. They spend hours discussing their families, pasts, and complicated histories. The conversation brings them closer, and soon, their chemistry ignites, leading to an intimate moment that marks a new phase in their relationship.
Chapter 7 Summary
Amanda and Olivier spend the day together, and as they talk, Olivier begins to recognize the futility of staying married to a woman he no longer loves. After dinner, Amanda receives a phone call, and when Olivier sees her look of fear, he answers, threatening the caller on her behalf.
They spend the weekend together, but on Sunday night, Olivier returns home, as Stephanie will be stopping by briefly between horse shows. He explains that while he plans to discuss ending their marriage, he wants to avoid broaching the topic when she is home for just a few hours. Amanda agrees as it is still too early in the relationship.
At work, Pascal notices Amanda’s refreshed demeanor and mentions his new relationship with Delphine, who insists on taking things slowly. Pascal admits that Delphine refuses to be intimate until he can prove he is serious about their relationship.
When Amanda and Olivier take a trip to Saint-Tropez, Amanda invites him to attend an art show in Venice with her. However, Olivier apologizes, explaining that it is Stephanie’s birthday weekend, and both his sons will be visiting. Though he rarely gets to see them, his decision to stay with his family makes Amanda feel sidelined, more aware than ever of her role as “the other woman.”
The “breather” phone calls continue sporadically. When Olivier is around, he answers the calls himself and suggests Amanda change her number, though she finds the idea inconvenient. She assumes the caller is a stranger, as Johnny Vegas is in rehab and has even sent her and Pascal a written apology for his previous behavior.
Gradually, Amanda and Olivier fall into a routine, with him spending more nights at her apartment. However, her jealousy flares again when he returns home for Stephanie’s birthday. The experience leaves Amanda feeling conflicted and disheartened.
Soon after, Tom reaches out again, asking her to dinner. When Amanda declines, citing work obligations, he pointedly asks if Olivier is at her apartment and hints at jealousy over her relationship. Irritated by his tone, Amanda ends the call swiftly.
Chapter 8 Summary
Amanda and Pascal work together to prepare the gallery for an upcoming show, during which Amanda shares her frustrations about Olivier’s complicated family situation. Pascal listens sympathetically, offering support, but is distracted when he sees someone lurking outside. Pascal sees a man in a beanie and face mask, but the figure quickly disappears. Unnerved, Pascal wonders if he imagined it but recalls that the rehab program recently released Johnny. Concerned, he drives Amanda home to ensure her safety.
Meanwhile, Stephanie returns home with her close friends—Lizzie, Valerie, and Veronique—discussing their recent equestrian show performance. All four women fund their hobby through their families, except Lizzie, who relies on financial support from Stephanie.
Olivier reflects on his 26-year marriage, devoid of intimacy for over two decades. He and Stephanie share a cold, distant relationship, having lived separately within their home for nearly the entire marriage. Olivier began seeking relationships outside their marriage only a few years after their wedding. As he texts Amanda, Stephanie offhandedly remarks that he must be seeing someone new and warns him against causing a public scandal. Olivier brushes her comment aside and calls Amanda instead. The conversation quickly fades between Olivier and Stephanie, with her friends drifting in and out of the house as if he is not there.
After the first night of the art show, Amanda returns home to a disturbing scene—her bedroom window, door, and closet are all open. Panicked, she grabs Lulu and runs to the street to call the police. She also contacts Olivier, who rushes over immediately. When the police arrive, they examine her apartment and determine that the intruder scaled the wall, using architectural features as handholds, before entering through her bedroom window. The thief stole nearly all of Amanda’s underwear and dirty clothes. The police conclude this is a crime of obsession rather than a simple burglary, explaining that the intruder likely has an erotomaniac fixation on Amanda.
Later that night, Amanda receives another “breather” call. This time, the caller’s behavior escalates to masturbation, leaving her even more unsettled. She refuses to answer the phone for the rest of the evening.
Olivier drives Amanda to work the next day and promises to pick her up afterward. She explains the break-in to Pascal, who realizes that Johnny is probably not the culprit.
Chapters 5-8 Analysis
In these chapters, Steel continues to develop The Link Between Love and Marriage through Olivier and Amanda’s evolving dynamic. Steel subtly foreshadows Olivier’s marriage early in the novel, with Pascal persistently urging Amanda to question Olivier’s marital status—a suggestion Amanda initially ignores. When Olivier finally confesses, a month into their relationship, that he is married with two adult children, Amanda is devastated by what she perceives as a lie: “He was a married man, and he had lied. Sins of omission seemed to her as grave as sins of commission” (72). While Pascal argues that Olivier technically did not lie, the situation echoes Amanda’s previous entanglement with a married man. Olivier’s withheld truth forces Amanda to confront the ethical boundaries she has set for herself as she struggles with the question of whether she can continue a relationship with a man tied to another woman. Her hesitation reveals the depth of her conflict: Though she loves Olivier, she is haunted by the damaging effects of extramarital relationships and the impact they can have on families.
Olivier’s marriage, however, is a hollow commitment that reflects the theme of Appearances, Perceptions, and Reality. While he appears to be in a loving marriage, in reality, he describes his relationship with Stephanie as “loveless” and lacking physical intimacy for over two decades. The rationale he offers for staying married—tradition, financial stability, family expectations—reveals the societal pressures that shaped his choices: “Tradition, her family […] no one in either of our families has ever been divorced […] eventually you settle into a way of life, and it’s easier not to take everything apart” (71-73). Over time, his marriage devolved into a convenient yet stifling routine. Meeting Amanda exposes him to the idea that his choice to remain married may have been less about love or duty and more about comfort and a fear of upheaval. He sees Amanda’s point, recognizing that “what they had wasn’t a marriage and never had been. It had been a travesty, but they had stayed married anyway. It was the only victory they could claim” (124). This admission marks a critical moment of self-reflection for Olivier as he begins to see the emptiness inherent in his marriage.
Olivier’s realization triggers deeper introspection about the tensions between outward appearances and reality. His home life, he realizes, is little more than a façade—a “hollow shell with no love in it, or too little” (124). He feels “love-starved” and begins to suspect that Stephanie might feel similarly, raising questions about whether their commitment to marriage has been fair to either of them. He also reflects on his role as a “responsible and respectable family man” in front of his children and how this self-imposed persona has kept him from showing his true self to his family members (125). Olivier’s difficulty in being genuine with his family while feeling himself unreservedly with Amanda underscores why she becomes central to his life in such a short time—she offers him an emotional authenticity he has long denied.
Amanda initially intends to end her relationship with Olivier upon learning he is married. However, extenuating circumstances complicate her resolve and see her increasingly Embracing Vulnerability in Interpersonal and Romantic Relationships. Though generally self-reliant, Amanda finds herself in a vulnerable state due to a stalker whose increasingly intrusive actions shake her sense of security and identity. Olivier’s presence during this time gives her a sense of stability and reassurance—a key reason to keep him close despite her ethical misgivings. His support in navigating the stalker’s harassment subtly reinforces their bond, even as their relationship remains morally fraught. Without the external threat of the stalker, Amanda may have been less inclined to reconcile with Olivier.
The conflict between Amanda’s values and her attachment to Olivier deepens further during a family gathering for Stephanie’s birthday. Although Amanda understands Olivier’s need to spend time with his family, particularly with his sons, who rarely come home, she cannot suppress her feelings of jealousy and inferiority: “There were his family, and Stephanie was his wife, with all the dignity that entailed, and Amanda felt like the woman / ‘slut’ that he was sleeping with” (107). This internal conflict lays bare Amanda’s discomfort with her role in Olivier’s life, a role she views as morally compromising. Furthermore, their visit to Saint-Tropez brings them into the orbit of other couples in similar extramarital situations, which amplifies her unease. These interactions underscore Amanda’s moral conflict: Though she is deeply uncomfortable with the situation, her love for Olivier blurs the lines between her values and desires. In attempting to navigate love and loyalty simultaneously, both characters confront how their past choices and societal expectations have shaped them. Their question of whether they can compromise on core values for love further contributes to the novel’s narrative tension.
