Who is Paul from Redeeming Love and what is their importance?

Paul is Michael's brother-in-law, having been married to Michael's late sister, Tessie. He is still grieving the loss of his wife when he returns to the valley from a gold-mining expedition. Paul loves Michael and wants the best for him, but is blinded by his own prejudices against Angel. He is sure that Angel will never change, but that she has fooled Michael into thinking that she can. In order to prove his theory and satisfy his lust, Paul demands payment from Angel for the ride he gives her. Paul spends the rest of the novel denying his own guilt about this experience and focusing all his energy on hating and blaming Angel for everything that is wrong with his life. Paul is a caring person at heart, but he cannot let go of his guilt and bitterness. It is not until the end of the novel that Paul is able to forgive himself and to see that he was always more selfish than Angel was. Because Paul is a good man making bad choices, he makes for a complex and interesting antagonist to Angel.