Vanessa is a recent divorcee dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic relationship by obsessing over her ex-husband’s new fiancée. From a young age, beginning with her parents’ divorce and the subsequent absence of her father, Vanessa has craved safety and stability. This desire intensifies after a pledge for her sorority, Maggie, drowns during an event she planned. Vanessa blames herself, and so does Maggie’s brother, Jason. In his grief, Jason vandalizes the sorority house; Vanessa begins to believe that he will always blame her for his sister’s death and that he will always be after her. Vanessa’s anxiety becomes powerful and constant, so she becomes obsessed with avoiding becoming prey to Jason’s vengeance. Even after fleeing to New York, Vanessa is haunted be her past, frequently looking over her shoulder for the lurking danger. This focus on her past keeps her from seeing the danger before her.

When Vanessa first meets Richard, she is a 27-year-old preschool teacher with good friends and a general optimism towards life. She is attracted to Richard’s ability to take charge, and she throws herself into their relationship wholeheartedly, dismissing the early signs of Richard’s temper and control. In the beginning of her relationship, Vanessa loses bits of herself to keep Richard happy; by seeing her friends less and giving up jobs she enjoys, Vanessa becomes Nellie, the wife Richard wants.