Rereading this about a decade or so later, I had completely forgotten all the details.

Our male protagonist is a total piece of s•••. He was practically emotionally cheating on his wife, but left her because she had a tumultuous past that ended well before she ever met him. He is selfish, self-centred and emotionally immature.

I felt bad for Alia. She had her whole future planned out for her and then the rug got pulled from under her.

Houda is a victim and deserved better.