
I'll say this and it might be a hot take, but if she actually accepts the proposal among witnesses, it won't make me sympathize with her, it'll make me dislike her. She seems really clever and strong, but difficult decisions are define a character.
Author can pick between a more dramatic development and a more fateful reflection of her character and I hope they pick the second option.

Gonna read this, because the art is great and I LOOOOOOOOOOOVE actually masochistic mcs, but I really hate the storytelling of the first chapter!! Flashback on a flashback??!?! Introducing Eli three times over???? It just feels confusing!!
I understand that they have to put smut in the first chapter, but starting the episode on it, only to do a flashback, only for it to go back to smut on the last minute feels so pointless.
And I understand that the rest of the story will be 100% better and that most BL manhwas these days have to start this way, but it suuuuuuuuck. IT SUCKS ASSSSSSSS!! Give me time to feel the tension between them, give me a moment to wonder if they recognize each other. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. AND I KNOW! I KNOW NO ONE CARES. I know no one goes on nhentai and critiques the pacing of the fucking-my-friend's-mum storyline. But I do...!!! I care....!! I know that if in the mid-point the story slowed down, then the tension would make the climax (in your friend's mum) more satisfying!!!!!! I care....!!!!!!

You're so real for this! I care and I agree! Not all smut material is Porn without Plot, so it's fine to have standards for storytelling even in erotica.
And even if it wasn't, you're still allowed to have a preference
But yeah, I'm so tired of the "in-the-middle-of-sex" hooks, because it just makes people more impatient and care less about the plot cause all they want is for the story to catch up to the sex scene.
(It's the equivalent of a movie opening with "*Record scratch* I bet you're wondering how I got here."
Like is this meant to be Corny or Porny? Pick ONE. /J)
And some stories that open up that way tend to grind to a halt because they didn't plan anything past The scene.
ASURA SCANS YIPEEEEE
Also Veronica is literally doing fine, I don't see what people could possibly have issue with. She blushes sometimes, but it's not like she's clingy or jealous.
Her motivation isn't to follow Ray, she wants to become a better mage for her grandfather. There's literally nothing about this tween girl to inspire dislike bffr