Responses
You could have not explained it any better tbh
I've never agreed more with a comment in my life. (▰˘◡˘▰)
Thissss, like i hate horseface but why do i want them to get together （/TДT)/
The problem with plots like this is the fact the first part relies on invoking emotion from the readers, so the author will always make the abuse horrible and draw so much attention towards the fear the MC feels. But then you have to redeem the ML and the only way to do that is trauma dump and gaslight the readers into thinking it wasn't as bad as it was.
Even then, if you do manage to redeem the ML in the eyes of the readers, it still won't qualify the two characters getting back together as the MC has gone through a load of emotional and physical trauma. But we all know they're getting back together :)