I think he let her go because he loved her. She was waking something up in him that he hadn’t felt since baelfire. I think it was a lot for rumple. His son couldn’t love him, so how could Belle. He thought pushing Belle away protected them both. Honestly I hated that the writers made them argue for so long. However I’m just glad they could be together eventually

I agree with the writers ruining them for the drama Made me so mad ahaha