The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains a brief reference to a perceived suicide attempt.

In a meeting, the Department Head tells Pen that Julian has been officially given a long sabbatical so that he can be with his family and finish his book. In actuality, he has been fired and will not be allowed to return to the campus. Despite the university’s efforts to protect Pen’s reputation, the student rumor mill is moving quickly, and Pen soon becomes known as the girl who got Julian fired. People leave pornographic magazines at her door and gossip about her on a message board. She even recognizes that the author of one limerick left online must be Fergus, though she is not very offended.

Sasha continues to comfort her, telling her that he has had his own experiences with people making false assumptions about him and his family. This statement is proven to be true when Jo sends Pen a series of articles documenting Lady Lottie’s supposed engagement to the prince. Several of them drag up Lottie’s relationship with Sasha, and one contains an interview from an anonymous government official, who accuses Freddie Lennox of being dangerous and unstable. Pen sends the article to Sasha via message, and he thanks her for the information.