Too naïve and full of illusions to see the hidden motives of Natalie Evangelista's mother, who wants Paul's wealth in order to procure for her daughter the lavish lifestyle she believes to be her birthright, or to recognize that his bride's loyalty is entirely with her mother and not with him, Paul gets himself stuck in a frigid and childless marriage. So strong are his illusions, that even at the end of the novel he remains unaware of his wife's infidelities.
Naively optimistic and blinded by unrealistic expectations, Paul is unaware of the true intentions of his mother-in-law, Natalie Evangelista, who seeks to secure wealth and luxury for her daughter, while also prioritizing her own relationship with her child over her husband. As a result, Paul becomes trapped in a loveless marriage, despite being oblivious to his wife's infidelity.