The paradox of Matthew
Peter and Anne bring Matthew to live with the family because he is a morally upright young boy looking forward to becoming a priest soon. According to Peter, Matthew is a focused and well-behaved boy and can get along well with their daughter Lia. With time, Peter and Anne become more proud of Matthew and love him. Paradoxically, Matthew and Lia have a different kind of love, and they regularly engage in sex. Matthew, a conscientious boy headed for ordination, is busy having sex with Lia, which emerges as the main paradox in the entire text.
The return of breast cancer
Initially, Lia recovered completely from cancer, and doctors advised her not to give birth to a second child. Lia does not mind having only one child as long as her health remains stable for the rest of her life. Ironically, the cancer returns after several years, making Lia’s health worse than the first time. This time around, Lia does not recover, and she succumbs.
The satire of the past
When Harry meets Lia, they fall in love, and he believes she is the most open-minded person he has ever met. Harry lived believing that Lia had not hidden anything from him for many years. Ironically, the harsh truth about Lia’s past secrets starts resurfacing. Harry learns that Lia and Matthew were lovers in the early days, but Lia tries to deny it. Disturbingly, Harry learns that Lia and Matthew have always been on in constant communication all these years.
