I felt like I was crazy with no one else mentioning it. I dropped this forever ago when I too frustrated to continue. I recently checked out these last handful of chapters and I’m really shocked with how brutal and blatantly abusive and nonconsensual the last chapters are, especially that it ends on such an overtly abusive note (Ash apologizing/claiming it wasn’t him and that he didn’t mean everything he said, to admitting he did mean everything, then giving Lyle a gift to make up for it/cover it up).
I can’t recall, did Ash ever apologize for the shit he said that Lyle overheard and left him because of?
I hated this character start to finish
Always smiling, always pretending to be caring but he's actually sadistic and manipulative.
He's always pushing Karlyle to do things that make him uncomfortable. Always making Karlyle cry and then love bombing him.
And because poor Karlyle has never loved or dated before he just goes with the flow.
But everything is just happening according to Ash's wishes. He just reframes everything and talks sweetly to make it seem like he's being kind and considerate of Karlyle's wants.
This was hard to read through. I kept hoping Ash would change. I wouldn't mind him if he was forthright about being sadistic, but he always hides behind an apologetic smile. Exactly the kind of character I hate.