Some stories do not need to be told, especially when rounding off such a nice story with this sidestory.
Hmmm, i believe toxique romance will find its audience, and just because it irks us doesn't mean it shouldn't be created, it's fiction after all, but yeah, it was a painful read (as in "since i don't like this genre i found it boring")
I agree but I mean in this specific context. The author saying she couldn't redeem him is fine, and the story by itself may also be fine, but I don't think it needs to be told as part of this story, and definitly not to end a story that was actually quite nice.
I didn't like the side story because i'm not into toxic relationships (but that's very personal)
BUT as a fellow writer, I SO UNDERSTAND HER PAIN???? when you want the story to go one way, but the characters just would not go down that road.
So props to her for staying true to her characters!