This plays an important role later in the film, as lies and jealousy make it difficult for the truth to stand out.
But the hurt was too deep, and the lies were not making it any better.
In her experience, even well-intentioned lies usually made things worse.
It is a mechanism similar to that indicated by the popular saying, "One lie makes a hundred."
"Not even when a lie would have made things easier between us."
Or was that just a lie to make her more malleable?
That was not true, and the lie made him a little uncomfortable.
A lie, after all, made in the service of his son.
A lie will make matters worse for you than anything you've actually done.
He wanted to believe, but the lies her mother had set in motion made that impossible.