Illusion of Control

He originally didn't believe it at all.

He understood her personality. A friend was just a friend, and a brother was just a brother. She wouldn't confuse them with love.

Initially, he had trailed them to validate his suspicion that her anger was directed at him for the dual transgressions of taking her child away and his act of betrayal, further fueled by Coraline's incessant provocations.

She had