In the novel, she believed Ethienne had died. So when they first met, she didn't recognize that the duke was Ethienne—especially since she didn’t know he had blonde hair or that he was a duke.
Every time she saw the duke, she was reminded of Ethienne because of his voice and eyes, but she couldn’t understand why he seemed so interested in her.
There was supposed to be more interaction between them before the truth came out. Eventually, they got married, and she agreed because by then, she already knew who he really was.
But in the adaptation, she knew the ML was alive and recognized him immediately.
In the novel, he didn’t leave on his own. They had a fight where she said some horrible things to him... then he was kidnapped and led to believe that she had sold him.
When he found her again, he believed the child was hers and Noah’s.
That’s why, in the novel, there was at least a reason for him to hate her—even though he still loved her.
The important realization for him later on was discovering the truth: that she never betrayed him, she didn’t cheat on him, and the child wasn’t hers. Ethienne would never hurt a child.
In the novel, she believed Ethienne had died. So when they first met, she didn't recognize that the duke was Ethienne—especially since she didn’t know he had blonde hair or that he was a duke.
Every time she saw the duke, she was reminded of Ethienne because of his voice and eyes, but she couldn’t understand why he seemed so interested in her.
There was supposed to be more interaction between them before the truth came out. Eventually, they got married, and she agreed because by then, she already knew who he really was.
But in the adaptation, she knew the ML was alive and recognized him immediately.
In the novel, he didn’t leave on his own. They had a fight where she said some horrible things to him... then he was kidnapped and led to believe that she had sold him.
When he found her again, he believed the child was hers and Noah’s.
That’s why, in the novel, there was at least a reason for him to hate her—even though he still loved her.
The important realization for him later on was discovering the truth: that she never betrayed him, she didn’t cheat on him, and the child wasn’t hers. Ethienne would never hurt a child.
Spoiler starts at very end of season 1