Writer's Fallout Shelter

When writing an ending that could go a number of ways, who do you write for? Do you follow your writer voice and end a story the way you know is best, the one that's the most artistic or the one that makes sense, where the story wants to end.... Or, do you write for the readers? Making an ending the way you know they'd like it, ensuring that they'd come back for more?

And, if you do the latter, is it taking the easy way out?

I'm currently writing a novel that could end two ways, with the main character dying or with him living. The writer in me wants him to die, but the reader in me wants him to live. There's a good chance I won't actually know the answer til I get to the scene. But I'm sure you all can understand where I'm coming from and why I'm asking these questions.

Plus, I'm trying to get this forum back up and running instead of it just being a place for people to request reviews.