Summary

In Chapter 17, “Cecily, Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, 1937, Eight years earlier, British-occupied Malaya,” Cecily and Lina grew closer. They spent their afternoons talking and confiding in one another.

One afternoon, Cecily and Lina discussed Lina’s first marriage. Lina’s positivity about her past moved Cecily. Then Lina read their palms, telling Cecily her lifeline split into two and a big disturbance was coming (202).

Meanwhile, Cecily and Fujiwara “resumed their meetings at Oriental Horizons” (203). At first, they only discussed business, but they soon began sleeping together. Cecily felt guilty because of Lina, but she could not stop seeing Fujiwara. Fujiwara did not feel guilty, as he had been using Lina for her connections since the start of their relationship.

Cecily and Lina “became pregnant together” (207). Lina was thrilled, but Cecily was anxious. Either Gordon or Fujiwara could be her baby’s father. Over time, the...