Season 1 -> 10/10
Season 2 -> 8/10
Season 3 -> 6/10
As you can see the story started really great. Damien (ML) is a compelling male lead and way too often misunderstood. Let's be clear, he is a manipulative bstrd with toxic tendencies. But contrary to some other MLs from dark romance, he is not abusive, nor a tyrant.
I kept the story on my to read list for the longest. I was very hesitant to read it and nearly dropped it from my list because the comments described Damien as this ML who likes to torment and bully FL relentlessly.
That's not true. Damien is calculative yes, the author doesn’t hide that fact. He’s an assh*le through and through. Yet he is the only one who sees Chloe for what she really is, an intelligent, bright, wise, capable and graceful woman. He knows her value, he knows her potential he knows that she’s not just a poor, pitiful crippled woman who can’t do things on her own. He hates that people treat her like a wallflower and even more that she considers herself like one and lower herself. That's why he keeps pushing her, in his own twisted and harsh ways.
As for Chloe (FL), I wouldn't have been able to read this story without her. Way too often, authors write dark romance with red flag / dark flag ML paired up with a weak and defenseless FL. It's like watching a poor puppy getting kicked by a man over and over again. it's not enjoyable for me.
But in this case, Chloe knows how to defend herself and doesn’t fall too quickly for Damien.
Truly the only way for me to read this type of story is if FL can go toe to toe with ML. Chloe is an interesting FL, she’s wise, clever, assertive, dignified, she has strong principles and holds her head high despite her disability.
Here the power imbalance is not excessive and their game of cat & mouse is really entertaining. The tension is definitely present too, as well as their chemistry.
But then came season 3. I don't know what happened, maybe the artist was burn out or maybe she was over the story, or did they change some key staff ?
In any case, season 3 was rushed, we could tell they wanted to wrap everything as quickly as possible because Chloe caved in way too easily, she and Damien were acting out of character, and the whole issue with the antagonist was anti-climatic.
I still consider Betrayal of Dignity as my favorite OI / OI-adjacent manhwa. It's one of the best story with toxic / red flag ML for sure.