Niall encouraging Mona to go against Ruben so he can live vicariously through her, Niall microdosing defying Ruben by doing it with/through Mona, Niall relishing telling Mona to teach the dance classes because he knows Ruben will hate it because heās trying to wash the bitter taste of humiliation out of his mouth after Rubenās text message, telling Mona she deserves better because itās true but also because he wants to hurt Ruben and it isnāt really about her at all, Niall refusing Monaās kiss and then fucking her on the floor amidst the evidence of Rubenās violence while she cries, and not even really looking at her, Niall making Mona a pawn in his insane fucked up relationship with Ruben and getting angry with her when she displays agency, Niall and Ruben both expecting Monaās compliance with the rules of their game, and reacting to assertions of independence with rage, Niall putting Mona in mortal danger, Niall instinctively throwing her under the bus