When The Puppet Falls For The Puppeteer

New beginning or an end?

Myra

The house was alive with clinks of glassware and booming laughter, a soundtrack that hollowed me out from the inside. Charles and Thomas Hales lounged in the drawing room, glasses lifted like trophies as they toasted Marcus's yes—to a marriage that would stitch his power tighter into Riverbridge, to a future that made other people's eyes glow and my stomach twist.

I lingered in the doorway, wishing I could vanish.

Thomas raised his glass high. "To new beginnings. A marriage that will secure Riverbridge's future."

Charles clapped him on the shoulder, grinning wide. "And to Marcus, for finally seeing sense."

Marcus only smirked, his gaze drifting lazily until it landed on me. I was standing by the doorframe, trying to pretend I wasn't there, trying to shrink into the wallpaper. His eyes sharpened.

"Myra," he said, his tone smooth but cutting through the chatter. "Why don't you serve us another round?"

The way he said it wasn't a request. It wasn't even about the drinks. It was about me—about putting me in my place, reminding me I was here to orbit his world, not the other way around.

I swallowed the sting in my chest and obeyed. The tray shook faintly in my hands as I refilled their glasses one by one, their laughter swelling around me. Not one of them looked at me—except Marcus, who watched with that unreadable intensity, like he knew exactly how much this cost me.

When I turned to retreat, his voice cut through again. "Light my cigar."

I hesitated, my throat tightening. My fingers fumbled with the box, the flame of the lighter flickering too close to my skin as I lit it, passing it along to him while the room filled with smoke. Marcus's gaze never left me.

I thought I was done—until he added, "Sit."

I froze. He tapped the empty cushion beside him. "Right here. Don't make me repeat myself. It will be easier for you to refill the drinks"

The command lodged like a stone in my chest. My skin prickled under the weight of Charles's approving grin, Thomas's amused glance. I sat, stiff and silent, the laughter washing over me, my patience fraying at every second of being displayed like an obedient pet.

Seconds were pricking on my skin like hundred pins together. I hated Marcus in this moment. He wants to test me, to see how far I will go, he has no idea. I was playing with the beads of my braclet absentmindedly. 

"Red, stay here. " his voice barged my thoughts, "Yeah- I-I am sorry, were you saying soemthing?" I asked as I realized I might have been addressed more than once before this comment "Look the ice is melting. Refill" he said and I nodded. I changed the ice bucket and refilled their glasses as well. Charles and Thomas were ignorant and Marcus was toying with me ignoring them.

I heard Lillie coughing and I moved towards her "What are you doing here sweetheart?" I asked crouching down to her. I don't want her to witness the darkness here. Neither the darkness going inside me. "What are you doing here? I am getting bored. Come play with me" I turned to Marcus and he shook his head in a no.

"Bub, you go and play with your toys for sometime, I will come later, okay?" I said.

"No I am getting bored alone." she whined but Marcus was so adamant. "Um- Okay, wait. Let me check if Tom can take you to your friends." I said and called Tom. He took her and I returned back to only to witness his satisfactory smile which made me rolled my eyes. 

Their laughter was creeping inside me, Jessica's dad was talking all about how perfect they will be together and Charles was having all the plans for his Mayorship. 

I pulled out my phone and typed fast.

I'm going out.

He checked his phone, the reply came instantly.

No.

Another text buzzed through a moment later.

Stay where you are.

And then:

Don't test me.

My chest burned. My fingers tightened around the phone, but I didn't answer. I got up and  grabbed my coat and walked out. Every step felt heavier than the last, but I didn't stop.

The Marigold Café was warm, alive with chatter and the faint hiss of the espresso machine. A familiar voice broke through the noise.

"Myra?"

Cho stood at the corner table, his smile soft, boyish, untouched by the weight of Riverbridge's politics. A piece of my high school past, untainted, almost safe. 

"Hey, thanks for taking out time when I called" I said, I needed a distraction. "No worries, I was waiting for the second date anyways" he joked and we laughed. We sat, talked—about nothing and everything. He made me laugh, something I hadn't done in what felt like forever. For a moment, I almost forgot the storm waiting behind me.

Until my phone buzzed again. 

Where are you.
Answer me.
Now.

The texts stacked, one after another, calls vibrating in my hand. I silenced the phone, sliding it face-down on the table. Cho noticed the shadow that crossed my face, but I brushed it away with a smile.

And then—the café door slammed open.

Marcus.

His presence sucked the air from the room. Conversations faltered, heads turned. His eyes locked on me immediately, sharp and furious, and in that instant, my blood ran cold.

He crossed the café in long, deliberate strides. Cho rose halfway, uncertain. "Marcus—"

Marcus didn't even glance at him. His hand clamped around my wrist, his grip bruising.

"We're leaving," he said, low and venomous.

"Let her go!" Cho snapped, stepping between us.

Marcus's eyes finally flicked to him, cold and merciless. "This doesn't concern you." He yanked me to my feet, ignoring the scrape of the chair against the floor, ignoring the startled stares from nearby tables.

"Marcus—stop!" I hissed, tugging against his grip, heat rising in my eyes. But he didn't loosen. He dragged me through the café like I was weightless, like my protests didn't matter.

Cho's voice followed, sharp and angry. "She said stop!"

Marcus turned, his voice slicing through the café. "Sit down, boy, before you regret standing up."

The entire place went silent. My breath caught, the humiliation cutting deeper than the bruising grip on my wrist. 

"Cho, please let it be, its okay" I said trying to keep him out of trouble. "But Myra - " "Please I am okay" I said with a smile to keep him safe. Last thing I want is for anyone to become collatral damage between us.

I met Marcus's eyes, but there was no softness there. Only a silent fury, a promise of what was waiting once he got me out the door. And still, despite the fear clawing at my throat... I didn't look away.