Regarding your:Absolutly true ! The environment is a great change so are the faces in the early chapters.
Maybe its me but again the darker path would be something new in that regard. I agree that you said it has alot of more work to be done for that so i understand if the author has to scrap it ( a shame tho) For the still dark options i hope that we will get
1) the haircutter (forgott his name) will lead us to the underworld in some way
2) I hope the streetraces may have something to do with the vic accident (maybe it forced the teacherto dodge the cars and hit vic)
3) more manupulative shit with and without bella but ofc to protect his new little family
4) nami mentioned that the mc might be overloaded from social contact and will get a hard setback
1) the haircutter (forgott his name) will lead us to the underworld in some way. MC is set to meet Emilio in the next update to enquire about Summer. Emilio also has his assistant digging into MC's background, which could yield some surprises.
2) I hope the streetraces may have something to do with the vic accident (maybe it forced the teacherto dodge the cars and hit vic) There's nothing obvious in the rework, since there was no indication of other vehicles besides Marla's. However, who knows? There is potential for a street racing crash though...
3) more manupulative shit with and without bella but ofc to protect his new little family The addition of Vanessa may add spice to that plot, 'cause we don't know her intentions. MC/Bella also have to frame someone for the robbery (if carried out), which Amber likely now knows about. MC has also agreed with Zara in a plot against arch bitch Melanie Ceril.
There's a lot of room for darkish shit and machinations in the basketball sub-plot. Ditto, if the MC pursues/dates Vic and/or Mila and also Bella at the same time. Both Mila and Vic have warned the MC on this.
...and, of course, Ocean has said he's introducing/reintroducing something dark with Bella (who knows if it's something she does or something that's done to her)