When The Puppet Falls For The Puppeteer

"Trying to manipulate the manipulator?"

Myra

It's been a week since we started staying at his place. Thankfully, I don't have to share his room. He reluctantly gave me a separate one. I still remember our conversation that first night.

After he made it painfully clear that my obedience wouldn't earn his affection, I quietly turned to head toward the guest room—where Lillie was already asleep—when I heard his voice behind me.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Um... to the room. To sleep," I said.

"You're sleeping in my room," he said flatly, already turning, expecting me to follow—like always. I knew saying no would only escalate things. So I tried to reason with him instead.

"Sure," I replied, trailing behind. "It's just... I mean, won't it raise questions? Me staying in your room every night? It's not just one night, right? We'll be here for a while. And your uncle keeps dropping by. Dan's around too. It won't look right, don't you think?"

He stopped and turned, his eyes narrowing. "I know people don't usually question you, but they might talk. And your uncle already seems upset about the case..."

He didn't respond—just stared at me, like he was dissecting every word.

"But I'll do whatever you say," I added quickly. "If you want me to stay, I'll stay."

I moved past him into the room, trying to end it there, when he caught my elbow.

"You've gotten clever, huh?" he said, voice dipped in sarcasm.

"Wh–what?"

"You think I wouldn't notice?" His smirk grew. "Trying to manipulate the manipulator?"

I froze, my throat tightening. "I-I didn't mean—"

"Oh, you did," he said, circling me like a predator. "And I must say, you're good at it."

I fidgeted, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear just to do something with my hands.

"Come."

He walked me to the next room.

"You can stay here," he said.

"No, it's okay—you don't have to give me a whole room. I can share with Lillie—"

"Red," he cut in. "Be happy I'm giving you what you want. If you won't stay in my room, this is your only option."

That was final. I nodded.

Then he stepped inside the room, and for a second, I hesitated. Confused.

Did he not get that the issue was sharing a room with him, not that I have any problem staying in the biggest bedroom of this mansion?

"Don't worry," he said, catching the look on my face. "I'm going to my room."

With that infuriating smirk, he opened a connecting door—one that led straight into his room. My heart sank.

"You underestimate me, Red," he said, stepping over the threshold. "You're mine. I know how to keep my things close."

And then, with a soft click, he vanished into his room.

"Oh, and don't worry," his voice floated through the crack of the door."It only locks from my side."

I stared at the door. Pulled at my hair in frustration. Trapped—again. Like Always.

"Myra, kid what are you doing here, I would have brought the laundry anyways" I heard Mrs. Irene say from behind me as I was walking in the laundry room.