I do believe that Zig actually decided to make it this controversial as she wrote Grayson's story first before any other and then gave stories to other characters. Grayson was her first character for this universe. The problem was that she released Grayson's story in the last. If readers were to expose to Grayson's character first the impact of chase story would be a bit different.
Also the reason of Chase not forgiving Grayson didn't sit right with me. Chase already knew about Grayson's condition and how he only copy words(even before those incidents). When Grayson was apologising to him, he didn't forgive him because it was impossible for him forget wht he did to him. Chase clearly said to Grayson that you are still copying words that Dane taught you so there's no way that ur apology is sincere. That was the only reason he didn't forgive him.
Copying words is the only method Grayson knows to have conversations
As the other comment said, Grayson was the first written character. Every story was written with the dyanmics of Grayson, then Ashley & Koi, in mind.
However, I disgree entirely with the idea of a Chase vs. Grayson, and any sort of obligations for forgiveness or wrongdoing. I think ZIG did this intentionally, to show how things aren’t black and white, things don’t just become healed because you’ve repented. While Grayson is a much, much better person at the end of the novel, and he truly regrets his actions, it doesn’t negate the trauma he inflicted. It is just how many dislike Ashley for his poor parenting, even though the basis of it was from his truly shitty father, Dominic. The Miller family was going to be quite compromised from the start, it’s starting roots of Dominic and Juliet were horrid. Generational trauma can’t be rooted out that easily, even if Ashley was a little different traces remain.
Anyhow, if ZIG cared to make it be forgivable, she would have made Chase forgive him. But that is clearly not what she was going for, otherwise she could literally not even write the scene at all. I think there would be more outrage had she done so. That scene had a purpose, to show that it is unforgivable, but they still may possibly heal from those times.
I don’t think Chase is obligated to forgive Grayson, nor is Grayson the worst character in the world because of what he has done. People focus on the wrong things, it’s best to focus in the present. Both are happy with their partners, and their wounds individually are healing. There is a possibility in the upcoming DMIYC side stories they make up. As ZIG IYC series fans, instead of focusing on Chase vs Grayson, why can’t we focus on character development, Chase before he met Josh versus now, and Grayson before he met Dane versus now?
I think the fact these novels take place in far different times (Few years gap) there is severe mischaracterization among the fandom as well (not talking about you btw, just in general, that leads to a lot of debates)
I know Grayson and Dane were among the first that she created, and Grayson's novel was released later, but doesn't it mean that she could make changes in the main plot as well without the public knowing since it wasn't published? The version we know was after Chase's plot was published, therefore what I said still remains.
I'm gonna share my honest opinion here: the problem of all of this Chase vs Grayson fandom division is only one: ZIG, herself. Because, first she brought core moral trauma and unforgivable family issues: it's impossible for Chase to forgive Grayson. It doesn't matter how his thought process works, it was a trauma that in real life could cause someone to take their on life. Then, she decides to write Grayson's novel, showing how his mind works because of the fact that he was born sick for being a dominant alpha. Being a dominant in Zig's universe equals to having deep mental issues because the disease consumes your brain, your reasons etc. But, before showing all of this, MAYBE, she should have chosen some trauma that could actually be repaired, not something as morally devastating as the thing with the dog. Therefore, it will be very difficult for the fans who sympathize with Chase to go and forgive Grayson completely. Maybe Zig didn't even know she would expand the universe so much, but now, all the Miller's family relationships are compromised forever.