You can't entirely blame the guy though. The FL NEVER said anything even when the mother-in-law was being a bitch, she kept quiet and even said that she was waiting for HIM to come and talk to her instead of making the initiative to speak up first. Both characters are idiots for not once using their words and just ran away from their problems like petulant children. Also she chose to stop working and stay at home waiting for him. She could have easily said "dude I'm gonna work kay thanks", but didn't and chose to turn to alcohol instead so... yeah she is just as much to blame.
Yes, I can.
1. She was insecure about her mother-in-law's lies but she didn't believe he'd cheat. What would he talk to him about then? Like "Could you pls discipline your mom while you're drowning in work because she keeps spouting lies even I don't believe"?
2. She quit her job because they were about to settle down and have kids. We don't know whether it was temporary or permanent, but it's a more convenient option. And that plan was prior to his job crisis. Heck, they had the third floor rerserved for it. Then all of a sudden, he did not want kids because he's busy. That original plan got shot down fast.
3. He's the main offender here. He neglected his wife. I mean, considering he's the busy one, deviating from the ideal married life, he should've been the one to talk with her first for reassurance before the divorce papers or first to contact the other for explanation after receiving the papers. But nooooooo. He didn't. Then, later on, he even showed enough strength emotionally to support that Gretchen through her problems but not the balls to own up to the wife he let go.
I believe the FL's only critical error was not being able to move on completely.
Well put!
She leaves the husband who was driving her into alcoholism, came home only to sleep, refused to let her have children, with a mother-in-law gaslighting her daily. Everyone in his company and social circle either believes that he abused her or that he's the greatest victim of all time (he seems to believe this as well). He never tried to meet with her after she leaves, so he has no idea what she's going through. After all, he's the biggest victim of them all. After they get tentatively back together (mainly through his machinations), he warns her about anything that could cause gossip and hurt his corporate reputation. When she starts her new catering service, he gets her her first job with his bfff (best female friend forever). The bfff (who has never met Renee before) immediately gives her the third degree about why she left uber-victim 7 years ago, and guilts her about his subsequent agony and loss of reputation.
At this point, any woman with an ounce of self-respect would have told bfff to blow it out her ass even though it would have meant pretty much the destruction of her new business, walked out, told uber-victim exactly why she couldn't fit into the twisted, wealthy "elite" that he existed in, and gone back to her catering service in Los Angeles. If she still desired a baby, either adopt one or get IVF through a reputable service that doesn't set up her ex to manipulate her.