Better in Fiction Than In Real Life: The Ruthless Lover

The ruthless lover is a variation on the mean lover but far less obvious since the ruthless lover will often appear kindly and well-meaning and even relatively ordinary.

That is, the ruthless lover likes to play games behind the scenes--to manipulate events to force an outcome. 

The Duke of Avon from Heyer's These Old Shades falls into this category. With his ward and his younger siblings, he is courteous, acerbic, and demanding. Behind the scenes, he finds out information, sets up pawns, and forces his nemesis to self-destruct.

Gao

The ruthless lover, like the mean lover, can work if done well--and doing the ruthless lover well means (1) the ruthlessness actually plays a role in the problem and character development; (2) the ruthlessness doesn't hurt the relationship. 

Ruthlessness plays a role.

In the Taiwanese drama No. 1 For You (followed by Fighting Mr. 2nd), Gao Shi De (Sam Lin) is attracted to Zhou Shi Yi (Yu). He has followed him throughout their schooling, joining similar classes and clubs and becoming his rival. He has a chance, finally, to force Zhou to spend time with him when Zhou is turned down by a girl and Gao has video evidence of Zhao's distress (yep, blackmail!). He then manipulates various situations to keep Zhao with him. 

The ruthlessness becomes a function of the plot in part because Gao looks entirely innocent, a preppy who would never resort to something as insidious as blackmail. The edgy, impulsive Zhao comes across as more belligerent--he says ruthless things. Gao, however, presents an affable mien.

Only when the affability slips does he begin to get somewhere with Zhao. That is, his hidden agenda gets him so far but it can't close the distance. In fact, his mistakes with Zhao come back to his ruthlessness, specifically when Gao fails to anticipate how Zhao will react to information given to Zhao by Gao's entirely indifferent cousin, the same cousin who mocks Gao: "Where's your easy-going persona?" 

In terms of plot, Gao also sabotages his relationship with Zhao when he tries to take on Zhao's father before he is ready. His ruthless side pushes him to face off with someone he knows he can beat, but, again, he fails to anticipate a third-party's response. It isn't until five years later that he actually outmaneuvers the father, which game plan he carries out when Zhao isn't present.

Ruthlessness doesn't harm the relationship.

In the end, Gao falls into the category of ruthless guy who learns to be ruthless with everyone except the lover. Granted, yes, Zhao should have run off screaming the first time Gao attempted to blackmail him. But Gao learns--much like Elias in Person of Interest--to play better and be smarter. He saves his ruthlessness for people around his lover, not the lover himself. 

In comparison, the Duke of Avon's ruthlessness is entirely applauded by his ward/wife, Leonie. It doesn't harm the relationship because she is nearly as unscrupulous as he--and somewhat more bloodthirsty.  

In real life--the ruthless lover should raise all kinds of red flags! In fiction, it is loads of fun!