Nathan Wilford realized that although he had never liked Alex Ross, he had been too kind to him. On the surface, the senior lawyer's self-image is that of a man who is lonely and grief-stricken at the loss of his wife and aunt. People out there thought of him as a poor man who spent the rest of his life devoted to justice and helping those unfortunate people in conflict with the law. To the public, Alex Ross is a defender of the weak, someone who is sensitive and compassionate, and does not hesitate to help anyone indiscriminately.