When The Puppet Falls For The Puppeteer

The Cruelest Cut

"I fucking asked you something" he bellowed making me jump.

"I—" I tried to explain, "I got a text... from your uncle. He asked me to bring—"

"To bring drinks?" he cut me off, voice like ice and I nodded "And you listened to him?"

My mouth opened, then closed. What was I suppose to say to his Uncle, no?

"You don't take orders from anyone else," he snapped, stepping forward, each word heavier than the last. "Not in this house. Not in this town. Not from him. You listen to me. You submit to me. Only me."

I flinched, and something flickered in his eyes—regret, maybe—but it didn't soften him.

"You knew she was here," Marcus turned to his uncle, fury simmering just under his skin. "You knew, and you brought her in here deliberately."

His uncle raised a brow, unbothered. "Well she's already in the middle of this mess, Marcus. Might as well know what she's costing you."

Marcus's voice dropped, dangerous now. "You need to leave."

"Oh, come on—"

"Leave," Marcus growled, eyes flashing. "From now on, if any papers need your signature, I will send them to Illinois."

"Marcus its just an advice"

"No. You don't play your games with me. I don't interfere in your business. I don't tell you how to run your business. You don't ever fucking dare to tell me how to run my town. Leave. Leave Now."

His uncle scoffed, muttered something under his breath, and walked out without another word.

The door shut with a click that felt like thunder.

Marcus turned back to me, but I couldn't look at him. I couldn't even stand to be in that room anymore.

"I fucking said something to you. Am I clear?" his voice was so harsh. I nodded. "Crystal" he asked me about taking orders from others, but I answered for what clarified right now. That I meant nothing to him. Nothing. 

He looked at me like he understood, he let out a sigh. "Its not-"

I turned back. Shocked. Stunned. Appalled. I don't know. Shattered. Devasted. Wreked. 

What should I feel right now?

"Red listen" he said, but all I could hear is "But you don't have to marry the toy. That redhead is a nobody. Keep her if she entertains you. You don't have to marry her to keep her."

"I know—"

"I know—"

"I know—"

I didn't stop. My heart was broken. Shattered. I kept moving. The cold night air hit me like a slap, but it didn't numb the sting in my chest. I didn't know where I was going—I just needed to get away. From the voices. From that study. From him. I didn't stop to grab my coat or shoes. 

From the sound of his silence.

Because when his uncle said he didn't have to marry the redhead to keep her... he agreed.

He didn't argue.

He didn't defend me.

He just said, "I know."

That was enough to break me.

I stumbled down the stone path, my breath catching in my throat. My heart pounded—not from running, but from shame, hurt, betrayal. Because I had hoped. Somewhere deep and stupid inside, I had hoped I meant something more.

Not a contract.

Not an obsession.

Not a toy he could keep on the side while he built a perfect, polished life with someone else.

"Myra!"

His voice rang out behind me.

I didn't stop.

He caught up, his hand circling my arm. "Stop. Please."

I yanked my hand back like it burned. "Don't. Don't touch me."

"Myra—"

"I am really nothing to you, right?" I said with my voice hollow.

"You didn't even flinch, Marcus," I said, my voice cracking. 

"You don't have to marry the toy. That redhead is a nobody. Keep her if she entertains you. You don't have to marry her to keep her." I echoed what his Uncle said.

"I know." 

"I know" I broke into tears. "Thats all you said. You agreed. Like I'm... like I'm some possession you can keep tucked away while you parade around with Jessica Hales on your arm."

"It wasn't like that." he said, his voice low and for the first time I could see some emotion.

"No? Then what was it like?" My voice was rising now, hot with pain. "Because from where I stood, I was just some... toy you got for your birthday. Something you own. And you didn't correct him. You didn't even hesitate." I held his collar and shook him

"I am a human being Marcus." I almost fell to the ground. The pain felt so heavy. He held me by wrist to stop me from sliding down. My teary eyes met his and I continued "A living , breathing, human being. I am not a toy. I tried to give you what you need. I tried to be the version you like. But am I so bad that I don't deserve to get a recognization of a human being, let alone your girlfriend or wife." 

"Myra, please listen to me-"

"No." I said stepping away from him "I don't want to see your face. I don't want to hear your voice. You might not think of me as a human, but I am. And I am done being your puppet" I kept stepping away from him and then I ran. 

I ran fast. I felt so angry, suffocated, sad.