Not necessarily. If you're cheated on and broke up, then you might want to stay the heck away from your ex-gf's social media, instead of checking it for her new guy. Similarly, unless you have a cucking fetish then you don't necessarily care all that much about who the current/previous partner of your new gf/bf was. Consider how Lena never asks to see any picture of Mike's gf he's cheating on with her or even for her name, much less about her social media. She just isn't all that interested in knowing her identity. So it's not out of the question that Gillian's new guy similarly didn't care to learn about Ian.
(alternatively, there's a possibility Mike actually knows about Ian, and that's why he avoided interacting with him at Ivy's party, even though he had opportunities to do so. Admittedly this would be a bit more of a stretch)
To be fair I think Ian mentions that he's deleted all of her social media. Either way that was just an example of one way to find out the basics about that other person, by choice or not. I agree some would want to know as little as possible in that situation. But with how much Ian is struggling to cope with it, wouldn’t this be something he’d likely want to know at some point? Not because he’s a cuck or because he wants to wallow in his misery, but simply to get a picture of exactly what it is he’s processing? (Note to self: Consider having some messy, dysfunctional relationships and be betrayed in the worst possible ways to get a better understanding of the different aspects of it.)
And Lena doesn’t care who Mike’s girlfriend is, but that’s also because she, to Lena, is basically just an ingredient that makes the affair extra spicy. For that version of Lena, “This guy wants to fuck me rather than his girlfriend, and wants it so much that he doesn’t care that he cheats on her” is simply hotter than “This guy wants to fuck me”. If Mike was to break up with her, begin a relationship with Lena and even move in with her, I don’t think it would be possible for Lena to continue to pretend that said girlfriend is just a plot device in her sexual fantasy.
Anyway, I still think it’s a bit far-fetched, but probably not out of the question. We’ll see.
Right now, both Gillian and Mike's GF are a mystery. We don't know too much about them and because of that we try to form some connections based on what we know.
Gillian:
- not as tall as Allison
- cheated on Ian, but it looks like only Ian knows what really happened
- it's been a year since Ian last saw her
- dream - we don't know if anything is real, but it's probably based on a real discussion
- moved outside of town
- wants to pursue a job abroad, she might move back in town if she finds something good
Mike's GF:
- small breast
- she's into anal sex
- one year old relationship, but they live in the same place for about a 3 months - the place is situated outside town
- busy with a new job
Some details match - the one year gap and the fact that they don't live inside the city. It is also possible that Gillian cheated with someone else and that is why Ian has no knowledge about Mike. But I think there is also another possibility. Why not subvert expectations and find out that Nat is Mike's GF. We already know from GGGB that she likes anal and we just find out that she is coordinating a department inside Hierofant. An entire department is not an easy task, hence she's busy.
Anyway, based on the chapter 11 title, I assume that we'll find out what happened. Wounds - could cover a lot of things
- the wounds of the heart
- what caused them: the entire chapter could be a flash back.
- what will heal them: Ian discussing with Gillian, Lena having a cup of coffee with Axel
- how to move on: Ian discussing with Lena
- physical wounds
- Lena's parents, if we get to see them
- Ian and Jeremy during the boxing tournament
- Ian after Wade kicks his ass for sleeping with Cindy
- Ian after Perry kicks his ass for sleeping with Emma
- Axel after Ivy kicks his ass for choosing Cindy or Lena over her ... maybe I went too far
That’s a good overview, and I agree apart from a few points: The part about small breasts doesn’t fit with Nat, if my Tit Memory from GGGB is correct. And while Gillian could’ve cheated with someone else and then later met Mike, I think it would be a weird choice from Eva: It would be just as big a coincidence, but it would leave Gillian with a very short time frame to cheat on Ian, break up with him and then meet someone completely new. It would simply have made that part of the story unnecessarily complex.
And if Gillian turns out to be Mike’s girlfriend, it would be strange not to take advantage of the obvious opportunity to make his presence an additional reason for intrigue.
Also, about the chapter 11 title: You forgot to add the stabbing incident when Alison’s jealousy soon spirals out of control. Or maybe that’s not until the chapter’s epilogue, “Life Threatening Wounds”, which also includes a shocking incel shooting massacre by … you know.
