He should've not been hanging outnwith those shits in the first place but he still did, the ex was already shitty and was mingling with shitty guys. He definetly knew those shitty higher ups would do some fcked up shit someday, which could be directed at him or the others around him, but he still mingled with them and that just shows how he little to no care he has for mc. And he had other options like informinng the mc about it, running away/hiding with mc or getting help with other people, which is what he wouldve done if he actually cared for the mc even a little, but he didnt cuz he didnt wanna excert some effort in saving the mc and just went with whatever was less troublesome
i lowkey get where the ex was coming from when he was talking ab it being the lesser of two evils- like. neither option was a good one. something like breaking up with the mc probably would've just been seen as an invitation from the higher-up. i think he was right about it being the better option, bc i'm willing to bet that the person who was targeting the mc would've tried to break him on the most basic level possible, esp since it was specifically mentioned that he'd use drugs & props. obviously rape is never justified but i do think he cared for the mc in his own fucked up way.