Content Warning: This section includes discussion of gender discrimination and emotional abuse.

“For the first time in my life, I’m choosing for myself […] I’d rather marry a friend than a stranger.”

Whit is caught between duty, expectation, and personal desire. His past forced him into a life in which his choices were never truly his own. Previously, he followed orders from the British military, his family, or societal norms. By proposing to Inez, Whit takes control of his fate, actively resisting the rigid structures that dictated his life until now.

“In the utter chaos of my life, you are the only thing that makes sense. You asked me what my reasons are, and I don’t know all of them yet, but I do know one important thing […] You’re the one I want, Inez.”

Whit’s words contrast Inez’s own doubts about their relationship. She has oscillated between trusting Whit and fearing abandonment. She has lost many people she loves, including her father and Elvira, and her mother betrayed her. She instinctively braces for Whit to do the same. His words erode that fear, showing her that perhaps, for once, someone will stay. The unfortunate irony is that he’s already planning to take her money once he’s legally able.

“There was so much about him I still didn’t know, didn’t understand. I hoped I hadn’t made the biggest mistake of my life. Then Whit tucked a strand of my curly hair behind my ear, and the tension seeped out of me. I remembered everything I loved about him. He made me laugh, and he was loyal. He would honor his promise to me. I was sure of it. I’d made the right decision.”

Marrying Whit isn’t just about securing her future in Egypt; it’s an act of faith, a leap into the unknown. The pivotal shift in Inez’s perspective happens in a single, small gesture. It isn’t a grand declaration or an elaborate promise; it’s quiet, intimate, and deeply personal. While the turmoil of their relationship arc is just beginning, the novel keeps returning to this space when the two central characters are at their best.