The Wrong Woman

Michaela suppressed her anger and stressed each word carefully. "Wanda, you've been away working in the frontier for so long that you might not realize how disturbing Elio's behavior is. He's Candice's uncle. They're related! Yet he's had an unhealthy fixation on Candice since her childhood.

"He collected her hair ties, cups, stuffed toys, and other random items. He hoarded her discarded pencil cases and even a used pen. Whenever he visited Morrison Residence, he secretly took things that belonged to Candice and stashed them away.

"What kind of man obsessively writes diary entries about a young woman? He stole her things, spied on her, stalked her, and filled his entire sketchbook with drawings of her. He...

"I was desperate and had to pressure him into finding a girlfriend. But then he and Josie deceived me. I had no option but to make him move abroad. I truly—"

Mila cut her off, her voice sharp with fury. "Mom, why did you read Elio's diary?"

did it for his own good," Michaela replied as

and muttered,

would I have known how serious this was if I hadn't read his diary?

was momentarily speechless. After a pause, she spoke sincerely, "Mom, Elio is not like other men. He's reserved and distant, and he struggles

because he wanted to protect her or just to be near her often. He never peeked at her in the shower or stole anything deeply personal like her underwear.

him uncle Doesn't he realize what that implies about his place in our family? If such behaviors aren't considered twisted, what would be? Does he need to engage

and their relationship was legally allowed, there was

importance on the family hierarchy She felt that pursuing such a relationship was not only morally wrong