It's revealed that the ML has ASPD, in a formation that leaves him unable to feel empathy. The author optimistically states he's able to feel love and fear after meeting the MC.... but to what capacity? It says directly he doesn't feel sad about the miscarriage, instead goes to a therapy to learn to fake the emotion for the MC. It's hinted his own mother is the same. It further states that the relationship the ML has with his own son is stilted/forced but the MC doesn't care since the son seems to be growing up fine. The family treats the ML very differently, and he refers to them as "those people." Because again, he cannot feel or develop full emotional bonds with people around him. It's also strange that as the older sibling he has almost no childhood photos or affection while the younger has all of it.

So what are we left with? We have someone who's desperate dream was to be loved and have a loving family. Instead, we have someone who in a way, has unknowingly been given a knock off. Maybe that's enough for some people, but to me it's just a tragedy.

If this was a psychological thriller, it would have been 4 stars. Instead it markets itself as a romance and I feel cheated : (

Some triggering things to note: Depression, suicidal ideation, suicidal thoughts - As someone with depression for almost 15 years, I cried A LOT while reading because I found I had echoed thoughts and sentiments. This may be triggering for those who have depression. Negative thought cycles - Please be fully aware that MC displays a lot of the negative thought cycles typically experienced by depressed folks (or folks with anxiety). This is a maladaptive method of thinking and can also be triggering. I once thought similarly but I always reframe my thoughts with learned/taught techniques. If you’ve had depression, trauma, or anxiety, you may have to constantly remind yourself to use adaptive coping strategies. (Thanks therapy lol). Previous abuse from exes - Another thing to consider. MC has a lot of thought patterns that were caused by his former relationships with abusive exes. His thoughts echo a lot of the abusive language directed at himself. PTSD - Self-explanatory. He also has a lot of grief related to the death of his family members. Anxiety/Anxiety Attacks - You see smidgeons of this.
Finally, what I want to say is this - if in the course of reading this novel, you find yourself relating to the protagonist, I would like to encourage you to seek professional help, whether from a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist. I give this advice from both a personal perspective (as someone who has suffered from depression, anxiety, trauma, suicidal thoughts, maladaptive thinking, etc. For more than 15 years) and from a professional point of view (I’m in a better place now AND I became a psychologist to help others.) Please take care of yourselves lovely readers.

One thing I think is interesting about the ML... The ML has an extreme lack of empathy (this is stated by everyone around him) and he cares only for the MC after they meet and ML falls in love. It starts out as a s*x relationship after a one night stand, but the ML starts to pine extremely hard and do whatever he can to make MC happy and comfortable (even as MC struggles with his depression). This novel starts off with sex/adult topics and then you get to see the relationship blossom from those moments. The MLs lack of empathy and how they touch on it is actually... really interesting? The MC does get pregnant (yes, there is mpreg in this novel, I was surprised at first lol) and there are complications w his first pregnancy and he miscarries. The ML starts going to counseling to try and learn how to empathize with the MC over losing their first child (ML only cares for MCs well-being first and foremost). It’s... interesting. But I think the fact that they even address it instead of leaving it as “stone-cold yandere overbearing possessive alpha who is borderline a psychopath” like so many other series do

What I mean by that is that Seo-yu has an extremely low self-esteem, to the point where he literally sees himself as absolutely worthless. He doesn't think he deserves happiness, he doesn't think he deserves anything good in the world, and he doesn't think anyone could ever love him. These thoughts are cemented by a slew of abusive ex-boyfriends who treated him horribly, his uncle who started pimping him out to business relations from the time he was sixteen (though I feel like this situation was never fully explained or properly talked about), his uncle also stole the money left to Seo-yu by his parents, Seo-yu's only friend tells him to never expect much, he is sexually harassed by his boss at work, one of the ML's bodyguards derates and degrades Seo-yu as well.

When Seo-yu meets the ML, nearly everyone Seo-yu knows tells him it won't last and that he doesn't deserve someone like the ML and that he will be used and dumped and he should remember his place. It's really, really awful. Seo-yu has faced constant emotional, mental, and sometimes physical abuse since his family died. Add on top of that his extreme guilt over his brother's death, and his isolation and loneliness, and it makes sense that he constantly misunderstands the ML's intentions.

The ML himself though is ALWAYS extremely sweet to Seo-yu and has genuinely loved him pretty soon after they meet, but his communication skills aren't great so he never thought to discuss with Seo-yu about their relationship (ML thought they were dating, Seo-yu thought he was just a s*x partner who the ML would someday abandon). But he never hurts, degrades, or treats Seo-yu poorly. He puts Seo-yu's well-being above pretty much everything, but poor Seo-yu has such a low self esteem that he can't even imagine that ML would ever actually be in love with him.

I saw some other comments speculating that the ML's younger brother was in love with Seo-yu, but I don't really see it like that. Sung-hyun (the younger brother), definitely has some complex feelings about Seo-yu, especially considering that it was him who drove past Seo-yu when he was about to take his own life by jumping off a bridge. Add on to that, in the extras Seo-yu nearly died saving Sung-hyun's life. He saw Seo-yu at some of the very lowest points in his life, and while I do think he loves Seo-yu, I wouldn't say that his love is romantic. I think he desperately wants Seo-yu to be happy, and constantly worries that he's not. Seo-yu's suicidal actions I think left a really deep psychological scar in Sung-hyun, and the ML for that matter. But I truly do not believe Sung-hyun has any romantic feelings towards Seo-yu.

Just some TWs—besides the mentioned su*cide attempts, the ML abuses over the counter drugs, gets drunk and has s*x with the ML (so lack of proper consent issue there), miscarries, and is emotionally and verbally abused by his friend and ex's. The issues aren't all resolved, apologies aren't given for most of the incidents, and there isn't a very clear and concise resolution to these problems.

MC didn't know, even if he is experiencing the symptoms of pregnancy. Why? Because he thought that it is his illness that's kicking in (if I remember it correctly). When he knew that he was pregnant, even if he has a vague idea that the child may not survive because he keeps on drinking alcohol, he still gave the baby a name and tried to be a good parent towards it, even if it's too late. For the ML not saying it to the MC... do you think that the doctor will call ML outside to talk to him if the doctor wants the MC to know it? If MC knows it, he may be depressed again. When the baby died... his POV looks like he moved on after a few minutes but... well, if you read the story, you know how MC's thought is like. When he talked about his brother, when he contemplates about his relationship with the ML, everything, he always fakes it. I can feel the sadness, even if he is "well" after the talk with ML. He is not, but he is trying to because he doesn't want others to worry about him.

I really think that ML's brother likes the MC. I have a vague feeling of this at first then BOOM! The extra appeared. When he was asked what kind of person does he likes, even if he said that "someone like my sister-in-law", he should not describe his appearance, right? RIIGGHHTT? IF THIS IS NOT HIM SUBTLY ADMITTING HIS FEELINGS, THEN WHAT IS THIIISS?!?!

Cough, cough, I lost my calmness.

Anyway, what do you guys think? I really think that he loves the MC, but he thinks he doesn't deserve him so he let him go and let his brother pursue MC because he thinks that they matched each other