the least he can experience is to drown in guilt and regret for a long time, and while he may carry that forever, him knowing nevaeh's in safe hands and is happy GIVES HIM A PEACE OF MIND. i don't think he deserves even that. it almost feels like everything that happened over those 10 years gets pushed aside now that nevaeh's happy, like somehow her being okay makes it easier for him to move on from what he did to her. yes it doesn't matter to nevaeh anymore, good FOR HER, but i wanted the duke to really sit with the weight of it, to digest the fact that he hurt her for TEN YEARS. i just don't think he had to live with that realization long enough before reaching a point of acceptance. he got to that phase way too early, is all.
the least he can experience is to drown in guilt and regret for a long time, and while he may carry that forever, him knowing nevaeh's in safe hands and is happy GIVES HIM A PEACE OF MIND. i don't think he deserves even that. it almost feels like everything that happened over those 10 years gets pushed aside now that nevaeh's happy, like somehow her being okay makes it easier for him to move on from what he did to her. yes it doesn't matter to nevaeh anymore, good FOR HER, but i wanted the duke to really sit with the weight of it, to digest the fact that he hurt her for TEN YEARS. i just don't think he had to live with that realization long enough before reaching a point of acceptance. he got to that phase way too early, is all.