Why does is take me almost 10 outlines and 4 drafts before I finally find the right plot line?
I dunno , but I'm in a similar boat. This is like draft 4 of my novella and I finally have an ending I'm enjoying lol!!
Each book is birthed differently, and nothing worthwhile ever came without a struggle and other platitudes that mean I have no clue but it is what it is, so embrace it.