ML was certainly unlikeable but he was also quite pitiful at the same time. He grew up in unloving family and was often treated coldly by his own parent. He had a phycological trauma because of that and then he put up a facade as a cold and emotionless man. But still, deep inside, he was actually quite insecure and vulnerable.

MC wasn't perfect either. She knew clearly from the start that ML didn't marry her out of love but she still put her heart into their marriage and desperately hoped that ML would love her back. But when she realized that ML didn't reciprocate her feeling, she chose to lie to him and betray him. That's why I didn't blame ML much because of how the things turned out.

ML didn't marry FL for punishing his ex. It's just assumption of his ex and he just plays along, but no real affair happens.

keeps saying out-of-character things like “if only he’ll hold me i’ll forgive him for everything in the last two years” like she’s some desperate girl who falls for any guy bc he “treats me nice” or some bs

I utterly *love* the aspect of the story where the ML, driven by his typical macho attitude, built on the wrong conception of manliness, tries to 'domesticate' the FL and ultimately fails miserably.