Responses
Penelope comments multiple times even near the beginning that they’re using each other. I frankly was more confused when he turned out actually obsessed with her because she did almost nothing to make him that way?
Now that you said the last statement, I was wondering too why that happened? Didn't Eclis said something about the reason that bringing Yvonne home would like elevate his status? Not sure if that's correct
Others say that they feel bad for Eclis, in the first place Penelope chose him as an escape route, not use him. Even though her movements were calculated, she genuinely thought Eclis was the best choice. She gave him everything, even with her family members' do not want to because of his status. She cared and provided for him. Their relationship was not one sided at all. But I can't just get mad as Penelope. Remember that the Male Lead's affection has to reach 100% to trigger a proposal or something like that. Penelope realized that in Eclis' case it could never be 100% because the love he feels is the toxic one. He disregards his position as a slave bought by Penelope, does not respect Penelope as his master, he even sounds like someone pushy, does not set boundaries and the breaking point was him thinking that bringing Yvonne would mean they would runaway together. Things would have ended smoothly if he just had faith in Penelope but he went ahead and thought and did things and disrespected Penelope.
I think at one point, Penelope genuinely cared for him. Probably because of his past.
But everything went downhill when Eclis brought Yvonne back, Penelope was hurt and felt really betrayed because she did not expect that out of all people, that the one who'll bring Yvonne was Eclis. I can't blame Penelope for feeling that way but imagine yourself in Penelope's shoes, what would you feel if your partner doesn't love you completely? You'll either succumb to anxiety and being insecure.
But hey, please don't attack me it's just my opinion and this is fiction hehehe