The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Monique wonders if Evelyn regrets not chasing after Celia and, annoyed, Evelyn describes how profound her grief is: “She’s gone forever […] I am kicking myself for every single second I chose [fame] over loving her proudly” (192). Monique receives a text from David, who wants to speak about things “happening too fast” (192). To distract herself from him, Monique asks Evelyn about her next husband, Rex North. Evelyn explains that both she and Harry needed Anna Karenina to do well because they were producing for the first time. So, Evelyn married her leading man.

Evelyn and Rex marry to boost excitement for the movie. They agree to have separate and private lives as long as they maintain the façade of a marriage. After Celia left, Evelyn hired a maid from El Salvador, Luisa. Evelyn took a liking to her after hearing Luisa speak Spanish to her mother on the phone. She’d called Evelyn crazy, to which Evelyn surprised her by replying. When Luisa tells Evelyn that she doesn’t look Cuban, Evelyn is offended: “How dare she try to take my own identity away from me” (198). Though, Evelyn soon realizes that she’d denied her heritage for stardom. Evelyn admires Luisa’s pride in being who she is and grows to cherish her.