What a pessimistic interpretation, the best possibility that could of happened is Ethan being the one to kill his brother. After all ethan is the one tormented by the guilt the most. He needed that shot to move on. Also vincent is not ‘useless’ did you not see him shoot his chest? Otherwise they would be dead. Lucas represents the afterlife, HE was the one to remind paula that she has a reason to continue living. Confirming that he always just wanted the best for everyone. And of course paula would show an expression like that! You just interpreted it as love- but its more complicated, love but also regret and sorrow and everything in between. If you cant understand complicated characters dont read complicated stories!
Actually, the manhwa is good, but I’m a little disappointed that the novel adaptation differs somewhat from the original novel. The part where Vincent was supposed to kill Lucas’s adoptive brother was cut and replaced with Ethan; in the novel, the scene where the blind Vincent protects Paula from the killer was also cut, as if Vincent, as the male lead, were completely useless and had nothing to offer but his good looks. And in Paula’s dream, she’s seen blushing around Lucas, as if she—as the female lead—didn’t truly choose Vincent as her true love (even though Paula only sees Lucas as a friend and family member she can’t forget). As a fan of Vincent x Paula, I’m a little disappointed that the novel adaptation doesn’t align with the manhwa. Oh, and the person in Paula’s dream wasn’t supposed to be Lucas—it was just a man passing by. Paula only encountered Lucas’s spirit after she regained consciousness from fainting and while Vincent was carrying her.