This! Some people doesnt realize that cliff is also a character that was manipulated by author/fake rhyse. Edith never got the chance to help deviate him away from the plot line. True I never got to read through the novel but I do think he deserves to know that he was just tied down by the system and making him act like that
while i agree to an extent, there was a point in the story where it made me realize what author wants to convey. i think it was during Killian reflecting on his and the others' choices and attitudes in general... while yes, they were affected and heavily restricted by a plot, they are still real people with real thoughts and emotions. Their response to the plot was still influenced by their real selves. For example, is the real Rhyse. In her first conscious life, she questioned everything to the point that the system intervened to guide or 'help' her. The same for Killian who fought hard against the voice's influence on him.
I do still wonder what could have happened if Cliff wasn't inflluenced at all but i think he'd still be the same obsessive character who would neglect his duties over his lover. He just didn't have a reason to in the OG plot because well, everything was under the author's wants.
He's obviously a shitty character but he was heavily manipulated by the fake Rhyse. And his demise was only because of his love and devotion to her, he was just following the plot of the story. The author should have given him a different path, he kinda doesn't deserve such a bad ending