Edward Barnes: A Character Analysis

Overview

Edward Barnes is the ex‑husband of Soledad Barnes and the central antagonist of Kennedy Ryan’s This Could Be Us. A charismatic but deeply flawed man, Edward embezzles six million dollars from his employer CalPot, conducts a long‑term affair with his assistant Amber, fathers a child with her, and eventually flees the country to avoid prosecution. His actions shatter Soledad’s world and catalyze her journey toward self‑partnering and self‑love. Edward functions as both a cautionary figure and the primary obstacle Soledad must overcome to reclaim her identity.

Plot Role

Edward’s plot role is that of the catalyst and the antagonist. His arrest in Chapter Two (after the FBI raids the family home) sets the entire narrative in motion. The investigation into his theft forces Soledad to confront the reality of their marriage. Edward’s continued presence—through prison visits, legal threats, and the lingering fallout of his betrayal—keeps tension high. His eventual flight in the epilogue provides a resolution of sorts: relief for Soledad, but also a reminder of the lasting damage he has done.

The book’s ending explained clarifies that Edward’s disappearance is the final act of selfishness, leaving Soledad free yet burdened with explaining his absence to their daughters.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Edward’s primary motivation appears to be self‑gratification and self‑preservation. He steals to maintain a lavish lifestyle (including a summer house and a man cave filled with Celtics paraphernalia). He gaslights Soledad, insulting her body and claiming she needs “vaginal rejuvenation” to deflect from his infidelity. When confronted with the STI he gave her, he threatens to divorce her and take custody of the girls on weekends if she does not shield their daughters from his crimes. This reveals a man who will use any leverage to protect his own interests.

Traits consistently shown: dishonesty (hiding accounts and the affair), manipulation (blaming Judah Cross for the embezzlement), cruelty (physical grabbing, emotional abuse), and cowardice (fleeing rather than facing consequences). His actions also suggest a deep need for control, both over Soledad and over his financial schemes.

Chronological Arc

Edward’s arc is largely off‑page but reconstructed through Soledad’s memories and present‑day events.

• Before the novel: Edward and Soledad marry young. He earns his MBA while she works to support them. At some point, he begins embezzling and enters an affair with Amber.
• Christmas party (Chapter One): Edward is distant, insulting, and physically rough (bruising Soledad’s wrist). He leaves her alone to speak privately with Amber.
• Family dinner (Chapter Two): He explodes in rage when Soledad defends Judah Cross, then grabs her arms. The FBI arrests him that night.
• Prison (Chapter Nine): Soledad confronts him about the affair and the STI. He admits the affair, threatens divorce and custody, and refuses to take responsibility.
• Post‑probation (Epilogue): Edward fails to check in with his probation officer and flees the country with Amber and their baby, taking the remaining unrecovered money to a jurisdiction without extradition.

Relationships

With Soledad

Edward’s relationship with Soledad is defined by deception and control. He withholds intimacy, criticizes her appearance, and physically intimidates her. When she learns of his betrayal, she transforms her hurt into rage, ultimately severing all emotional ties. By the end, she describes feeling “rid of him like venom.”

With His Daughters

Edward’s relationship with Inez, Lupe, and Lottie is complicated. He is a doting father when present, but his actions—embezzlement, imprisonment, flight—inflict lasting trauma. Inez initially defends him as “classic daddy’s girl,” but Soledad vows not to shield the girls from his lies, prioritizing honesty over protection.

With Amber

Amber is both his mistress and accomplice. They share a child and flee together. Edward appears to treat her as an extension of his schemes rather than a true partner.

With Judah Cross

Edward and Judah are professional rivals. Edward blames Judah for the investigation and tries to paint him as a vindictive stalker. In reality, Judah is the forensic accountant who uncovers the embezzlement and later protects Soledad from corporate retaliation.

With His Parents

Little is shown directly, but his mother Oneida sends a tuition check and blames Soledad for Edward’s imprisonment, suggesting a family pattern of enabling.

Key Decisions and Consequences

Edward’s choice to flee rather than face justice is his final abandonment. Judah deliberately withholds evidence of the hidden accounts, prioritizing Soledad’s peace over legal closure.

Theme/Symbol Connections

Edward’s character intersects with several themes:

• Betrayal and Trust: Edward embodies the ultimate betrayal—financial, marital, and physical. His actions force Soledad to question her own judgment.
• Self‑Partnering and Self‑Love: Edward’s absence creates the vacuum Soledad fills with her Me List and the #datingmyselfchallenge. His toxicity is the catalyst for her self‑rediscovery.
• Healing and Second Chances: Edward never seeks redemption; his flight signals refusal to change. Soledad’s healing comes from letting him go.
• Motherhood and Family: Edward’s failures as a husband and father amplify Soledad’s role as a protective mother. She must navigate the fallout for her daughters.
• Neurodiversity and Parenting: Edward’s absence contrasts with Judah’s deep involvement in his autistic sons’ lives. Edward is never shown engaging with neurodiversity.

Symbolically, Edward’s man‑cave demolition by Soledad represents the destruction of his control and the rebuilding of her own space. The machete heirloom becomes a tool of reclamation.

5 Book‑Specific Questions and Answers

1. Why did Edward embezzle when he already had a good salary?
The text does not give a direct motive beyond greed. Evidence suggests he wanted more: a summer house, a secret life with Amber, and a sense of invincibility. His actions imply a belief he would never be caught.

2. Did Edward ever love Soledad?
This is left ambiguous. Soledad recalls good years early in their marriage. His later cruelty—insulting her, cheating, giving her an STI—suggests his capacity for love was compromised by selfishness. The author leaves interpretation open.

3. Why did Edward threaten custody of the girls if he was about to flee?
The threat was likely a negotiation tactic to pressure Soledad into silence. His subsequent flight shows he was never serious about custody; he wanted to escape consequences.

4. How does Edward’s character reflect the epigraph from Zora Neale Hurston?
The epigraph says “There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” Edward embodies the question years for Soledad—his betrayal forces her to ask who she is. His eventual disappearance is part of the answer: she no longer needs him.

5. What is Edward’s role in Judah and Soledad’s relationship?
Edward is the obstacle that initially separates them (he is Soledad’s husband) and the source of her wounds. Judah’s protection of Soledad from Edward’s assets and threats helps build trust. Edward’s flight clears the way for their future.

For further reading, see the book’s main page, the themes overview, and the questions and answers.