The ending to my novel has good emotional impact for the reader in relation to the two protagonists (man and woman), but I felt it needed something else going on externally in the plot to spice things up. I have decided to include a jealous ex-boyfriend of the woman who decides to be mischievous in the life of the male love interest.
My question is, do I need to have the male love interest get one over on the jealous ex by the end of the novel (for reader satisfaction), or is it fine to simply let him do things which are annoying to the male love interest and ultimately have him come to an end due to his own stupidity (i.e. in a car crash) which has nothing to do with the love interest "getting even"?
Basically, will the reader be satisfied if the character gets his comeuppance at the hands of his own actions, or do I need the person whom he is targeting to have some sense of retribution by doing something about it himself?
My question is, do I need to have the male love interest get one over on the jealous ex by the end of the novel (for reader satisfaction), or is it fine to simply let him do things which are annoying to the male love interest and ultimately have him come to an end due to his own stupidity (i.e. in a car crash) which has nothing to do with the love interest "getting even"?
Basically, will the reader be satisfied if the character gets his comeuppance at the hands of his own actions, or do I need the person whom he is targeting to have some sense of retribution by doing something about it himself?
