ML was a misogynistic, childish, and completely mannerless jerk from the word go. He was also a control freak and stupid, too. I felt really bad for the FL. She worked her butt off to be independent, was victimized by her greedy aunt (and the aunt's boyfriends), constantly insulted by the filth ML, and yet was longing to be loved and protected. She deserved waaaay better than the rotten hand dealt to her.
