Dr. Lydia Shields

Dr. Lydia Shields is the antagonist of the novel. She is a research psychologist who uses her insight into her patients in order to manipulate them and get what she wants from them. In the end, it is Shields overwhelming love for her husband Thomas that is her undoing.

Shields became honestly attached to April, a subject in one of her studies on morality and ethics. Shields pushes April to commit suicide after April admits to Shields that she had an affair with Shields husband. Shields wanted April dead not only because she was angry with the girl and felt betrayed by her but also because she wanted to protect Thomas. She knew that Thomas would lose his license if anyone learned he’d had an affair with one of his clients.

When Shields meets Jessica and realizes that she is the type of woman whom...