first i wanna say that i agree with you, except for the part where she had to respect his feelings at the beginning.
I mean, she clearly didn't want to marry him back then, so why should she ignore her own feelings and be forced into a relationship she didn't want? Also the guy pretty much ignored her feelings and forced his on her, so I don't really see why she was wrong to not "respect" his feelings.
Sorry, what I mean is, after she decided she wanted a relationship with him, she should've come clean about her accident being a lie, especially once she realized he's worried for real. NOT that she should've married him when she didn't want to - the duke was being way too aggressive about it so I'm not blaming her for trying to find another way out, and in fact! That's another thing I'd like him to apologize for! What was going on with that "oh well I knew you didn't wanna marry me" line he dropped, like that's supposed to solve anything! Girl faked an accident bc he wouldn't respect her feelings back then either. There's just no respect anywhere in their relationship lmao. Somehow I'm still reading this though - I just hope it gets better later on.
Ahhh, I see now! Yes, she should have told him the whole accident was simply fake, also she should have probably told him the reason for it (even though he already knows, bc i mean, dude he said it himself, he knew she didn't want to marry him!) and make him realize how much off an a*s he was back then (and still is -> bc of recent events). Maybe him reflecting on his actions a little bit won't hurt, guess that would make me satisfied.
I just hope that maybe in the future they can talk about it and reflect on their actions - stuff like that. I would feel kinda betrayed if they just skip all the parts where they did wrong and forget it bc of love or bc they are happy now.
As you said, there is no respect in their relationship, hopefully this will change in the future too
glad it's solved but kinda wish the duke had like. not been a flaming dickhead. he knew about ripley's insecurities and then acted like that. what kind of game does he think he's playing?? ripley should just dump him if he's gonna be like that.
your partner's feelings aren't a game, she was wrong to not respect his, back when she was running away from him, but she KNOWS that now - so the answer isn't for him to do the same to her anyway. two wrongs do not make a right, it's just being a dick.
i know he most likely doesn't realize how much it hurt her to see that, but i really wish he'd gotten the chance to realize it. if he loves her, he should do his best to not hurt her, not prod at her insecurities just bc he's petty about her complimenting someone.