This was so good

For what it's worth, he got a pretty good ending in the novel.
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Spoiler alert:
In the novel, he marries Rhyse (the author) and inherits his father's title. Rhyse makes him absolutely miserable. She never actually learned how to be a duchess, and she no longer pretends to be kind. Her continuous attempts to get the story back on track backfire spectacularly, leaving him with no choice but to divorce her. The whole fiasco breaks Cliff's pride, and he actually asks his brother to take over as duke. Killian refuses. He and Edith had followed the original plan of ruling their own territory and had already put a lot of work into developing it. They weren't about to abandon the home they'd built. Cliff eventually picks himself up and remarries a woman who is pretty much the opposite of the author. She looks rather plain, but she is sensible and kind. She helps him find his happy ending.

Omg this is actually so much better
They did my man dirty in this

Oh my gosh I needed this tysm