Content Warning: This section of the guide describes and discusses the source text’s treatment of child abuse, child abduction, and child molestation.

William Wooler is a respected doctor at the Stanhope hospital. He is Avery’s father, and he is a static and round character. William falls in love with his neighbor, Nora Blanchard, after she volunteers at his hospital. Their affair drives the narrative because Marion, a nurse at the same hospital, lures Avery into her house to kill her out of jealousy to hurt William and Nora.

William’s internal conflict stems from his childhood abuse, which he uses to justify his abuse of Avery. Since William labels Avery as a difficult child, he rationalizes the way he treats her. William’s father was authoritarian and abusive, so William takes Avery’s disrespect as a direct attack against his authority and his role as her father. Since William did not have a good father figure in his life, he does not know how to parent a child with behavioral issues. He does, initially, internally understand that he should not strike her, but unthinkingly resorts to doing so anyway in a heated moment.

William hates that his wife, Erin, typically comes to Avery’s defense rather than his own.