Sadly, I'm agree with you. And I say sadly because Ogawa Sensei is one of my top five, and it was a good story with interesting development. I was all in for a "happy ending" but not like this AT ALL! I just don't understand why she decided to ended it like that, especially when psychological drama plots are her best ones, twisted and all, she gave them a proper happy ending. But ok, since I love her I still give 4 stars because the expectations created and her exquisite and exclusive art. (￣∇￣")
I feel the same way it was like yeah yuriy was used and abused for the sake of the brand by Adam and his uncle. But that ok because Adam finally feel in love with him and all is now forgiven wtf. And why did the story had to go that route like Adam had to be drugged for him to even sleep with yurih not on his own accord. It didn't feel real and I felt like it was a lazy ending an after thought.
It's based on a tragic fairy tale, and Ogawa likely decided to use the "magic kiss of love" trope to change it from tragedy to happy ending.
I read the whole thing again and the ending felt like a cop out. I want to like it, I want to feel happy, but I couldn't. All these broken characters were built pretty consistently through the first 3 chapters but then the "power of love" trumps all the rape, abuse, torture, gaslighting, corruption and inmorality?
That doesn't feel like character development, that's character REWRITE. I wanted a different kind of happy ending where both could be free from each other and slowly start licking their wounds. Shoes for orphans.. come on.. COME ON!!!!!