In Part 4, Claude finds himself on the morning of January 1 waking up in Julie’s bed, already regretting what’s happened the night before. Julie’s been reading his essay in the Times, and is moved by what he says about beauty, goodness, and desire.
In the next part, they both resume their regular lives, but things are different. Also, Isabel meets Andel, the new president of the University…
Claude’s distraction just became a complication…
The complication deepens in Part 6.