Andy Sachs wakes from a nightmare in which she struggles through a New York blizzard while Miranda Priestly’s calls haunt her phone. In the dream, she ignores Miranda, steps into a filthy puddle, and is rescued by her fiancé, Max Harrison, on a white horse. Even as he whisks her away to safety, she continues to panic about defying Miranda.

She wakes in her bridal suite at Astor Courts Estate. Max is in bed with her, having sneaked in earlier despite his mother Barbara’s orders. She forces Max to sneak out, then walks their dog, Stanley, and reflects on the 10 years since quitting Runway. She is now the co-founder of The Plunge, a high-end wedding magazine. She is marrying Max, CEO of Harrison Media Holdings.

During preparations, Barbara calls about a family heirloom necklace in Max’s room. Ignoring Barbara’s warning not to see Max before the ceremony, Andy retrieves it herself. In Max’s bag, she discovers Barbara’s letter begging Max not to marry her, calling Andy’s family “broken” (11) and her career selfish. The letter mentions Max’s delighted reunion with ex-girlfriend Katherine von Herzog in Bermuda—an heiress Barbara openly prefers—something Max never told Andy. Shocked and sick, Andy vomits.