Especially when his ex not only trapped him, kept him away from the outside world, he also made him codepend on him financially for 10 years straight.
Getting the money is more of a symbol of getting his autonomy back, it'll help him escape the shitty job and gain more freedom for himself (the reason he even gets a shitty job is because he's forced to be trapped in his ex's place, exclude from society for years with 0 work experience)

Does MC want to win so he can stand toe to toe or with equal footing with the ML? Like he doesn’t wanna feel less or wanting to prove himself? Am I right or ?