Jeremy is the novel’s primary antagonist, a round and dynamic character whose true nature is revealed in calculated layers. Initially, he presents himself as a charismatic, hardworking husband and a doting father who’s regretfully ending his marriage. This persona, however, is a carefully constructed facade for a deeply manipulative and ruthless man, a reality that is quickly established by his initial actions, such as orchestrating the “renovation” to trick Naomi out of her home and preemptively retaining all the best divorce lawyers on Long Island, early indicators of his strategic cruelty. He’s a master of gaslighting, consistently creating situations where he can accuse Naomi of being forgetful or unreliable, thereby undermining her credibility and mental well-being. This psychological warfare is designed to both win a divorce settlement and utterly dismantle Naomi as a person.

Jeremy’s defining trait is his ruthlessness, which he deploys to maintain absolute control over his family and his public image, and his actions underscore the theme of Preserving Social Power Through Deception. He weaponizes his wealth and social standing to isolate Naomi, cutting off her access to their joint bank accounts and using the nanny, Rosita, to support his narrative of Naomi’s incompetence. His offer in mediation to pay Naomi half a million dollars to relinquish custody of Teddy isn’t an act of a desperate father; it is a cold business transaction aimed at securing his objective: complete control over his son and the elimination of Naomi from his life. He manipulates the legal system and the people around him with efficiency, viewing them as mere instruments in his overarching plan.

The Epilogue provides the final revelation of the extent of Jeremy’s villainy, recasting all his previous actions. It discloses that Jeremy has known since Teddy was two years old that he isn’t his biological son and that Naomi stole him. His entire divorce plot, including his affair with Veronica, was a long-meditated scheme to get rid of Naomi while securing custody of the child he views as his own. His manipulation extends to murdering Teddy’s biological father, Clay Barkley, to ensure his silence. Jeremy is a man who will commit any crime to protect the perfect image he has manufactured.

Veronica is the deuteragonist of the novel and is a foil to Naomi. A round and dynamic character, she’s initially presented through Naomi’s perspective as young, beautiful, and manipulative. However, her own narrative reveals her true motivation: She is Dominic Barkley’s biological mother, and her actions are part of a desperate, years-long quest to reclaim her stolen son. Her determination drives her to infiltrate Jeremy’s life, using her beauty and a fabricated romantic interest as a calculated strategy to get close to the child she lost. Her relationship with Jeremy is a means to an end, showing her willingness to compromise her own ethics to achieve her primary goal.

Veronica’s character is also defined by her position as a social and economic outsider in the affluent Long Island suburb. Her history of substance addiction and her working-class status stand in contrast to the Roths’ world of immense wealth and privilege, a disparity represented by her modest beige Jetta. This socioeconomic gap makes her an easy target for dismissal and underestimation. Naomi views her as “eye candy,” while Jeremy believes he can control her. This perception allows Veronica to operate under the radar, as her true intelligence and resolve are consistently misjudged. She navigates the treacherous social landscape of Long Island suburbia as an infiltrator, acutely aware of how her background is perceived and using that perception to her advantage.

Like Naomi, Veronica is pushed to a point of moral compromise. While her cause is righteous, the methods she employs are deceptive. She engages in a long-term affair, manipulates Jeremy’s emotions, and lies about her identity. Her morally questionable actions complicate her portrayal as a purely heroic figure, demonstrating that, like Naomi, her intense instinct to protect her child can lead to horrific actions, illustrating the novel’s contention that the line between victim and perpetrator can become blurred when maternal love is pushed to its absolute limit.

Ezra is Naomi’s mentor and ally, a round but static character who shows a form of authentic, albeit unconventional, justice. His outward presentation contrasts with the polished, high-powered world of Jeremy’s legal team. Ezra’s office is chaotic, and his appearance is disheveled, yet these external details belie a sharp and deeply empathetic legal mind. He’s the only lawyer in the area not already retained by Jeremy, positioning him as an underdog who’s undeterred by Jeremy’s wealth and power. Ezra provides Naomi with the validation and strategic guidance she desperately needs, recognizing Jeremy’s gaslighting tactics and fighting aggressively to protect her rights.

Unlike other characters, who are driven by obsession or deceit, Ezra is motivated by a genuine desire to help. He takes Naomi’s case despite her inability to pay him upfront and displays a personal investment in her well-being that transcends a typical client-lawyer relationship. He offers both legal counsel and emotional support, becoming a grounding force in Naomi’s increasingly chaotic world. His ultimate sacrifice in the cellar, where he gives his life to save Veronica and ensure Teddy’s safety, cements his status as the story’s most morally upright character.

Cora is a minor character who is an ally and advisor to Naomi, fulfilling the mentor archetype. Having navigated her own difficult and public divorce, she’s socially ostracized by the other school mothers, which allows her to form a bond with Naomi when she, too, becomes an outcast. Cora offers cynical but practical advice, urging Naomi to secure a “shark” for a lawyer and to fight for her financial and parental rights. She shows a voice of reason and common sense in the face of Naomi’s emotional turmoil. Her decision to attend Teddy’s birthday party despite her friendship with Naomi highlights the intense social pressures that govern their affluent community, where inclusion at such events is a powerful form of social currency.

Clay, Teddy’s biological father, is a flat, static character who appears only in Veronica’s flashbacks and the Epilogue. His heroin addiction and resulting negligence are the catalysts for the novel’s inciting incident, as he passes out in his car, leaving his infant son vulnerable to being kidnapped by Naomi. Despite his flaws, Clay’s later attempt to find and reclaim Dominic demonstrates a degree of conscience. His search ultimately leads him to Jeremy, and his subsequent murder at Jeremy’s hands transforms him from a troubled figure into a tragic victim whose death is an important part of the novel’s final, dark revelation.

Appearing only through phone calls, Naomi’s mother, Lorraine, is a minor, flat character who exerts a significant influence on her daughter’s psyche. Jaded by her own three divorces, she projects a cynical and paranoid worldview onto Naomi’s situation, immediately assuming that Jeremy is having an affair and encouraging a ruthless response. Her advice to “get rid of this other woman” subtly sanctions extreme measures and fuels Naomi’s escalating aggression (206). She shows a history of failed relationships and bitterness, providing a psychological backdrop for Naomi’s deep-seated fear of losing her own family. Lorraine also helps Naomi with her plan to abduct Dominic, providing a faked birth certificate through her work at the local records department.