So I completed S1, the plot and the motive of the FL is simple and easy to follow. We know what she wants, why she wants it and how desperate she is to get it. We get all that shown to us in the first few chapters. The biggest issue with the story for me is believe it or not, the romance, it feels forced.
Lets start with Cesare (ML): It is believable that he lust after the FL's beauty b.c he is a womanizer. He is the person with all the power in the relationship which puts him in a position to catch feelings, be confused about them and fall in love. The issue with him is how the author chooses to show this, its ok to be confused, frustrated and experience a wide range of emotions when falling in love, but this man just seems to catch amnesia and is always surprised when the FL obeys him perfectly as if he forgot he picked her up off the street and she HAS to obey him.
He forgets how terrible he was to her, he forgets they are in a contract, he may as well forget what story he is in. Towards the ending of S1 his amnesia about what story he is in leaves and he starts to reflect a little on his actions. I hope the author will dedicate a little more time in S2 to exploring his remorse and offer him some character growth so he can become more than a jerk who only feels bad b.c he cocked blocked himself.
Adele(FL): The issue with her is that she is catching feelings for him in S1 which is way too soon. In all of S1 he has done nothing but treat her just as badly as the old man in the slums did. For all she knows the only reason he doesn't beat her is b.c he can't use her if she is bruised. However he does choose to abuse her mentally, and when he isn't doing that he pretends she doesn't exist or is coming on to her like every other man in the story has, the only thing going for the ML is his looks, but when you have the ML start out as an abusive jerk, you then have to make him work harder to attract the FL.
Adele is desperate to survive and she will do anything to never return to the slums, her time at the ML's home has been better than the slums, but it is still a hell that the ML made for her. She simply isn't in any position to feel love since no one in S1 is on her side, even if some may pity her. My hope is that S2 won't force her to love the ML, slow the romance down a little and just let her heal a little before she falls in love.