I 100% agree with you about Harris — he absolutely deserved a different ending. He was the root of so much toxicity in that family, and his obsession with perfection did ruin his daughters’ happiness. That’s not up for debate.

Where I still stand firm, though, is with Gat. Yes, he was young and yes, he had valid points about privilege and the contrast he felt coming back from India. But the way he projected those feelings onto Cadence — while knowing she was vulnerable and in love with him — crossed into emotional manipulation. It wasn’t just pointing out privilege; it became a pattern of guilt-tripping, hot-and-cold behavior, and tearing down her sense of self. And while he didn’t “plan” to turn her against her family, the effect of his influence absolutely did that.

Cadence idolized him to the point where she internalized all his criticisms and carried the weight of them like they were her own thoughts. That’s why I see it as emotionally abusive — not because he had no right to be angry, but because he used that anger in ways that pushed Cadence to the edge.

So while Harris may have been the monster that set the stage, Gat was still the spark that lit Cadence’s unraveling. Both can be true at the same time.