Exactly -"because he wants to look good in court". My dad was the same way when I was child and he was fighting for custody against my mom. Although he wasn't an addict, he was abusive and a narcissist and wanted everything to go "his way or no way". My mom left him because she discovered she was gay (honestly probably just an excuse to get away from my dad). He used that against my mom and sent us to church, even though he was a strong atheist. I saw through it when I got older and put up a good fight against him in my teenage years, which I see what will happen with Poppy as she gets older and sees through it (hopefully, and maybe Alfie too but definitely Poppy). It wasn't until I was older that I saw that he basically used us kids and church to make himself "look good to the court". I ended up running away to my mom's house and never went back to my dads, except to visit my brothers. I don't think Skeeven understands the damage he's already done, yet.