The Next Mrs. Parrish

Chapter 2 is told from the first-person perspective of Jackson’s ex-wife, Daphne, as she reflects on the deep emotional scars left by her abusive relationship with Jackson. Her trauma continues to manifest in her daily life through her toxic habit of keeping a food journal—a tool that Jackson once used to control her. She also has recurring nightmares in which she is once again at his mercy. Daphne has rebuilt her life in California with her daughters, Tallulah and Bella, and with her mother.

However, Daphne’s hard-won peace is shattered when she receives a call from Tallulah’s teacher and learns that Tallulah ran away from her school trip and attempted to take a train to Connecticut to see Jackson. Daphne is worried about her daughter’s increasing depression and reckless behavior. Because Tallulah has declared that she hates Daphne for keeping her from Jackson, Daphne is torn between her desire to protect her daughters from Jackson’s toxic influence and her need to preserve her own relationship with them. She also fears that she will lose their love and trust if she reveals the full truth of the horrors she endured at Jackson’s hands.

Daphne’s therapist, Dr. Marshall, advises her to arrange a supervised visit with Jackson to address Tallulah’s distress. This suggestion fills Daphne with dread, given his manipulative and dangerous nature. The therapist also suggests allowing the girls to meet their half-brother, Jackson Junior (Amber’s son). Daphne knows that this would further complicate the situation, as Amber, Jackson’s new wife, is equally toxic. Daphne reluctantly prepares to reach out to Jackson, feeling tension and fear she feels as she considers the risks involved.

Amber attempts to convert the cache of diamonds into cash. She cautiously consults a jeweler named Stefan Becker, who was recommended by her acquaintance Bunny Nichols. Becker immediately recognizes the value of the gems but refuses to engage in the transaction due to their lack of provenance. He refers Amber to a mysterious man named Mr. Stones, a cold, intimidating person who expresses interest in purchasing them. However, he offers Amber only a fraction of their worth, justifying this by the diamonds’ lack of provenance. Irritated, Amber tries to negotiate a better deal and mentions that she also has highly valuable blue and yellow stones. Mr. Stones is intrigued and agrees to consider a higher percentage for her.

After the meeting, Amber leaves Mr. Stones’s office with a briefcase full of cash and reflects on the meticulous plans she has already completed, which include opening an offshore bank account in her son's name to avoid suspicion. She is determined to secure her future and keep this wealth out of Jackson's reach. She heads to a safe deposit box, reflecting on her hard-earned success and her determination to never let anyone control her life again.

Daphne agonizes over whether to allow her daughters to reconnect with their father. She also questions her earlier decision to keep the truth of Jackson’s abuse from her daughters. Daphne's mother opposes the reunion and advises Daphne to tell the girls the full truth about their father. However, Daphne fears that keeping her distance from Jackson might push Tallulah into running away entirely.

When Daphne checks on Tallulah, the girl lashes out and reveals that Amber has already put her in contact with Jackson. Horrified, Daphne returns to the kitchen and shares the news with her mother, who is unsurprised at Amber’s interference. Daphne feels trapped by the situation and decides to take the girls to visit Jackson under controlled circumstances. Worried, Daphne’s mother offers to cancel her long-planned trip to South America to accompany them, but Daphne declines, stating that her friend Meredith, who lives near Bishops Harbor, will help her keep the situation under control. Despite Tallulah’s joy over this development, Daphne fears that she may regret her decision.

This chapter is told from the third-person perspective of Daisy Ann Briscoe, a dedicated mother and wife who lives in a luxurious home in Highland Park, Texas with her husband, Mason, and their two sons, Tucker and Greyson. Despite her life of luxury, Daisy Ann is deeply connected to her roots in rural Denton County, where she grew up on a vast ranch. She cherishes the rare visits to her childhood home, where her sons can explore the land as she once did. The ranch also holds sentimental value for Daisy Ann because it reminds her of her late father, Jake Crawford. Her son Tucker is also very fond of her father's old hunting dogs, Buck and Shot.

Now, Daisy Ann prepares for the 75th birthday party of her mother-in-law, Birdie Briscoe. Birdie is a traditional, old-money matriarch with strict social expectations, and while Daisy Ann respects and loves her, she sometimes struggles to conform to Birdie’s standards. Daisy Ann’s relationship with Mason remains passionate and strong even after years of marriage, and they still banter playfully with one another. However, Daisy Ann’s outwardly perfect life is overshadowed by a secret. As the family is about to head to the party, Daisy Ann receives a text message from a man named Wade Ashford. He asks her to transfer more money and urges her to make a new plan. Daisy Ann deletes Wade's text and turns off her phone as she heads to the party.

Amber continues to implement her plan for stealing Jackson’s money and ending her marriage. Aware of the limited time she has before Jackson's release from prison, She dismisses Marcus, her latest young lover, after one final tryst. She reflects on her life, appreciating the luxurious Connecticut estate that she shares with Jackson but acknowledging that she no longer needs him. Over the past seven months, she has managed to accumulate $14 million; this wealth is now stashed in an offshore account under the name of her son, Jackson Junior. She plans to leave Jackson and her hollow marriage behind.

Amber briefly checks on her young son, inwardly admitting that she feels nothing for her baby. Jackson pressured her to give birth to a son, and she did so to secure their marriage; now, Amber sees her child as nothing more than a tool and feels no remorse over the prospect of abandoning him.

However, her plans are disrupted when she returns home to find Jackson waiting for her. Released early for good behavior, Jackson has discovered her note and the travel documents that she intended to use for her escape. He threatens Amber and accuses her of betraying him by selling his valuable stash of diamonds for over $14 million. He demands that she return the money, but Amber uses her knowledge of Jackson's past crimes as leverage and refuses to yield.

As the confrontation escalates, Jackson becomes physically violent, but Amber manages to assert control by proposing a deal. She suggests that they split the money and go their separate ways, but Jackson, who is not yet ready to let go of her completely, insists that she host a welcome-home party for him. Amber is shocked when he reveals his desire to reconnect with his ex-wife Daphne at the party. Amber and Jackson both realize that they are locked in a high-stakes game of manipulation and survival.

Amber prepares for Jackson's welcome-home party, reflecting on her current situation with a mix of smug satisfaction and irritation. She wishes that she was enjoying a luxurious life in Paris, but instead, she's stuck in Bishops Harbor, playing along with Jackson's scheme. Soaking in her freestanding spa tub, she anticipates the reactions of the party guests with relish. They would love to see her fail, but they would never miss her party. She smirks at the thought, especially enjoying the idea of annoying Meredith Stanton, a loyal supporter of Daphne who detests Amber’s rise in local society.

Amber dons a daring Versace dress and inspects the party preparations. She spots Jackson at the bar and notices the bartender, with whom she had a tryst earlier; the two briefly exchange glances before Amber greets Jackson. They exchange sharp banter, maintaining the façade of a loving couple. As the guests arrive, Amber notices Remi Whitlock, a woman she admires. Remi’s necklace catches Amber’s eye, and Amber learns about an exclusive jewelry designer named White Orchid. Remi invites Amber to a trunk show in New York, and Amber eagerly accepts.

Amber reflects on her journey; although she had to learn to navigate high society, she has since amassed knowledge that makes her a force to be reckoned with. Her thoughts are interrupted by Bunny, another party guest, who shares the gossip that Daphne, Jackson's ex-wife, has rented a house in Bishops Harbor for the summer. Amber pretends to be surprised, but she is aware of Daphne’s return.

Daisy Ann and her family arrive early at the Briscoes’ grand mansion. Daisy Ann takes in the sight of the lavish home, which is significantly larger and more formal than her own. Birdie greets them warmly, and Daisy Ann admires the celebration and reflects on her complicated relationship with Birdie. Initially, Daisy Ann felt overwhelmed by Birdie’s forceful involvement in her and Mason’s wedding planning, but she has come to appreciate her mother-in-law’s support.

Now, as Daisy Ann heads outside to check on her children, her sister-in-law, Rose, confronts her with passive-aggressive remarks about Daisy Ann’s supposed lack of commitment to the Briscoe family, implying that she prioritizes her career over family obligations. The exchange escalates until Daisy Ann finally tells Rose to stop meddling. Frustrated, Daisy Ann returns to the party and grabs another margarita, preparing herself mentally for the rest of the evening.

Daphne returns to Westchester County with Bella and Tallulah and reflects on the phone call she made to Jackson a few weeks earlier, during which he surprised her with his friendly and remorseful demeanor. Although she doesn’t trust his change of heart, Daphne laid down strict boundaries, warning Jackson that if he overstepped, they would leave immediately. Upon arriving at the cottage that her friend Meredith has arranged, Daphne is impressed by its size and beauty but feels uneasy. The lavish house is a far cry from the simpler life Daphne has been trying to maintain since leaving Jackson. Meredith, who knows about Daphne's past, offers her support and insists that the house is a perfect fit.

As Daphne and Meredith settle in, Daphne admits that her life in California has been a sanctuary, although Tallulah hasn’t adjusted as well as Bella. Meredith reassures Daphne that she was a victim of an abusive marriage and should be proud of the courage it took to start over. The conversation shifts to a new man in Daphne's life, Sebastian. Despite Meredith’s encouragement, Daphne is hesitant to think about a long-term future with Sebastian, although he has shown her that not all men have hidden agendas. Suddenly, Jackson unexpectedly shows up at the cottage, despite Daphne's clear instructions that he must wait until the next day to see them. His early arrival and refusal to respect Daphne’s boundaries leaves her unsettled and wary of the summer ahead.

Daisy Ann reflects on the journey that led to the creation of White Orchid Designs, a jewelry company inspired by her late mother, Marylou. As Daisy Ann waits for Wade Ashford to arrive for a meeting, she reminisces about watching her mother work with various metals and stones, appreciating the knowledge she has gained about jewelry-making.

Wade arrives and expresses his frustration that his investment in the company isn’t yielding the returns he expects. Daisy Ann resists Wade’s pressure to cut costs by automating labor or using cheaper materials and refuses to compromise the integrity of the brand. Wade, however, suggests that Daisy Ann reconsider a purchase offer from Valene Mart, a company that would likely mass-produce and cheapen White Orchid’s products. Daisy Ann adamantly rejects this idea, seeing it as a betrayal of her mother’s legacy.

After Wade leaves, Daisy Ann reviews the company’s financial situation and realizes that the shortfall in profits is more significant than she knew. The cost of materials has nearly doubled, and although sales have increased, they do not offset the new costs. Daisy Ann can either invest more of her own money into the company to keep it afloat, or she can consider other options. In her mind, selling to Valene Mart remains out of the question.

Daphne grapples with Jackson’s unexpected arrival as Tallulah eagerly runs to her father. Bella is more reserved, watching warily before eventually joining her sister and father in an embrace. Daphne feels a mixture of pain, concern, and protectiveness for her daughters. She understands the emotional toll that Jackson's absence has taken on them, but she also knows the danger of reestablishing contact.

When Jackson suggests taking the girls for a swim, Daphne reluctantly agrees and watches uneasily as Tallulah and Bella quickly warm up to their father. Daphne’s anxiety grows as she realizes how easily Jackson can influence their emotions. Later, Daphne and Jackson have a private conversation. Jackson appears to be humbled by his time in prison, but Daphne remains guarded, not trusting his apparent transformation. She makes it clear that he is not to undermine her authority; she also states that he will not have unsupervised visits with the girls. Daphne insists that they attend family therapy together, emphasizing that any misstep on his part will force her to cut off his access to the children and reveal the full extent of his past cruelty.

Jackson ostensibly accepts these terms without protest. Daphne is tempted to push him further to see if his infamous temper will resurface, but he remains composed. Jackson would like their daughters to get to know their half-brother, little Jax, during the summer. Daphne agrees but is immediately concerned over Amber’s reaction to this development. After Jackson leaves, Daphne realizes that Tallulah has overheard the entire conversation. Tallulah gives her mother a dirty look, leaving Daphne to grapple with the complexities of balancing her daughters' emotional needs with the necessity of protecting them from Jackson.

Amber and Remi attend a trunk show for White Orchid Designs. Amber is impressed by the artistry of the jewelry and wishes to acquire a particularly intricate silver necklace. When Amber encounters Daisy Ann, she recognizes her as the daughter of Jake Crawford, Amber’s late first husband. Daisy Ann is furious to see Amber and publicly accuses her of being a gold-digger and a murderer who tricked her father into marriage and then killed him. Daisy Ann’s loud accusations cause a scene, humiliating Amber. As Daisy Ann continues to berate her, the encounter reveals the details of Amber’s calculated marriage to Jake Crawford, a much older man whose wealth she unsuccessfully tried to secure. (Daisy Ann’s intervention thwarted Amber’s plans, leaving her with far less than she hoped to gain.)

Now, Remi and Amber beat a hasty retreat, and Remi suspiciously questions Amber about the accusations. Amber fumes at the thought that her past is now threatening to unravel the life she has worked so hard to rebuild. Her thoughts quickly turn to revenge, and she resolves to acquire the necklace and find a way to own all of Daisy Ann’s designs.