I really think Lusamine was just as desperate as Guzma was and she didn't (purposefully, anyway) manipulate or groom him. I feel as if they simply fed into each other's issues. Guzma needed an adult (Lusamine also happens to be his boss and as such, an authority figure) in his life to recognize his strength, praise him, and show him he's worth something.
On the other hand, Lusamine needed someone who was loyal to her and someone who wasn't going to leave her. Mohn disappeared in a tragic manner that left her with no way to properly end the grieving process - Lusamine doesn't know if he is alive or dead (this messes with people - think Johnny Gosch's mom). Depending on when our boi and Lusamine met, too, it very well could've been after Gladion had ran away, further amplifying Lusamine's abandonment problems. Everyone she loved - regardless of how she treated them - disappeared on her in some way... except Guzma. If Guzma was around after Lillie ran away, too, I can guarantee Lusamine clung to him worse than ever before. Lusamine's idea of love is weird, it's unhealthy, it's changing people to suit what she thinks is ideal - would she have tried to dress up Lillie and Guzma like UBs if she didn't love them? It was likely her projecting her love for the UBs onto the people in her life she loved, in some sort of weird display of her affection. Unhealthy and peculiar? Yea, but this lady is messed up. She sees her kids running away from her as some sort of ultimate betrayal against her rather than her failing as a parent. I think that implies some heavy abandonment issues, among everything else. She clings to Guzma who is likely also the first person to really appreciate her clinging.
It was likely a very unhealthy relationship based off of give-and-take ass-patting - Lusamine praising Guzma and showering him in affection, Guzma in turn promises he won't leave her and enables her lunacy in response to the praise. It was an endless circle.
idk man shitsux
