You might as well stick the knife in and twist it. Newman's totally heartbroken when the Bellegarde family backstabs him in a big way. But should he be surprised? After all, it's not like Newman was exactly buddy-buddy with the Bellegarde clan.
See, Newman's a trusting kind of guy. He doesn't much care when Claire delays their marriage, but he likes to be dealt with as a businessman. In other words, Newman expects that when folks make a deal with him, they hold up their end of the bargain. Unfortunately, Newman gets a rude shock when he realizes that the world doesn't always play fair.
Questions About Betrayal
- What does Newman perceive as the biggest betrayal?
- Does Claire feel bad about betraying Newman?
- How does Valentin counteract his family's betrayal?
Chew on This
By the end of the book, Newman is much more careful about guarding his tender heart.
Betrayal is a completely natural part of life for the Bellegarde family. They don't have any qualms about backstabbing Newman.