When The Puppet Falls For The Puppeteer

Borrowed Vows

"You try your dress" Lillie twirled around in the living room, clutching a length of tulle. "Look, Myra! I'm going to wear this to the wedding! It's so pretty!" Her laughter rang like bells, and I forced a smile, kneeling to fix the bow in her hair.

"Yes, you'll look perfect, angel." My voice cracked on the last word, but she didn't notice. She kissed my cheek and went back to her game, her innocence slicing me deeper than any cruelty Marcus could conjure.

"Red" I turn to find him with some papers. "yeah?"

"I got a bill for cake?" he asked confused. His confusion, confused me. Offcourse he got the bill, "Yeah I need to close the advance for the booking." I said like stating the obvious.

"I am not paying for the dessert. You are going to make the dessert." he said and my eyes buldged out of sockets, "Wh-what, Marcus, I-can't-" I said with a hesitant laugh

"Why you love baking, right?" 

"Yeah but I am not a professional. I-I can't bake a wedding cake" I said, what nonsense is this

"Then don't do the cake, bake the cupcakes, you like making them. I like them. Keep that as the dessert" he said flatly returning me the invoice.

"But Marcus, there will be hundreds of people, how will I bake that much" I tried to reason with him. He stepped closer and lifted my chin "You won't do it for me?" he asked whats this new, he knows I can't say no to him, why is he playing like this with me. I nodded and gave me his victorous smirk

"That's ridiculous Marcus" We heard Ash from behind as she came inside with Dan. Of course it's ridiculous.

"It's my wedding right Ashley, how about we take your views at yours" he said flat moving out of the living room.

Ash cornered me as he left. "Myra, what the hell are you even doing? He's marrying someone else, and you're running his wedding?"

I pressed my lips together, fingers knotting in the hem of my cardigan. "Because he told me to."

"That's your reason?" Ash snapped, her eyes sharp with fury. "He told you to? Myra, this is insane—"

"Don't." My voice came out weaker than I wanted. "Don't make it harder. Please."

I started working on the centerpiece, flowers, glass bowl, cylindrical glasses, candles, ribbons and bouquets spread across the table. She stared at me, incredulous.

Dan, who had been listening quietly, touched my arm gently. "At least take a break. You look like you'll collapse."

I shook my head. "I can't. He asked me to do this. It's only two days. I have to." My throat closed around the words. I have to, because if I don't, he'll slip away from me.

Dan's eyes softened, but he said nothing more. His silence was both mercy and torture. "I will talk about the dessert, its sheer stupidity that you are going to do it"

"Let it be -" "Myra -" "Myra what Dan!" I said putting the flowers on the table with an irritated sigh "You and I both know, what he wants will happen eventually. What's the point" I said frustrated.

I called out for a house help handing her over the glass bowl I added peonies and lavender with pearls and scented candles "The centerpieces, get them like these" I told and she nodded taking it to the staff planning the wedding. 

"Myra dear, the parcel came" Mrs. Irene came in and I nodded reaching her "Must be his cufflinks. " I said taking the box 

I took the tuxedo bag and went upstairs "Marcus" I entered the room. "Your tux and cufflinks are here. Try them once, so no last minute surprises come" I said as mechanically as he is acting.

"Hang it in the closet I will wear it later" he said being busy on her laptop and I nodded.  I tried to be mechanical, I really did but I can't take it anymore. I sighed, timid, desperate. "Marcus... do you really want this wedding?"

He didn't answer right away. He just looked at me, sharp and unreadable, before brushing shutting down his laptop. He strolled towards me,  "Want has nothing to do with it, Red. You do as I say."

"But—"

His eyes narrowed, silencing me. "No questions. No doubts. You'll make this wedding happen. And you'll smile through it." His thumb pressed against my lips as if sealing them shut. "Do you understand?"

My chest caved in under the weight of him. "Yes, Marcus."

His smirk returned, satisfied, as he kissed me hard. "Good girl." His phone rang and I saw William's name. I stepped out of the room "Red William will join for dinner, so remember that while cooking" he said as I was in the door way and I nodded "Okay" I said with a soft smile.

Dinner had ended, everyone drifting to their corners of the house. I was in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up, clearing dishes when he walked in. He leaned against the counter, arms folded, watching me too long before he spoke.

"How are you holding up, Myra?" William's voice was gentle, but there was weight in it, a kind of knowing.

"I'm fine," I lied, stacking plates.

"You're not." He moved closer, lowering his voice. "I've known Marcus my whole life. And I've never seen him like this—with anyone. I don't know what's going on between you two, but... you don't look okay. You look like you're drowning." The plate slipped from my hands into the sink with a dull clatter. My throat locked. "I can't—" I started, then shook my head, covering my face with my hands.

William's hand rested on my shoulder, steady. "Hey," he murmured. "You don't have to hold it together with me."

That was all it took. My body shook with silent sobs as he pulled me into his chest. I buried my face in his shirt, clutching at the fabric as though it might anchor me. He didn't push for explanations. He just held me, safe, solid, in a way I hadn't felt in so long.

"Tell me how to help," he whispered.

"Why is he doing this?," I choked out. "I don't know, he is not telling me either. But why are you letting it happen, you have his signed agreement." He reminded me of our agreement that our mothers signed when we were kids. "Whats the point when he doesn't want it only. Please tell Mom also to not do anything -" " Your Mom is surprisingly calm about this" he said 

"Well Marcus has done so much for us. I don't know whether we could have survived without Marcus, how can she ask him" I said lowering my voice. 

"I just - I don't know how to stop this pain. It hurts so much William" I said and he hugged me.

"I am here you know, always. Whenever you need a shoulder" he said and I nodded.

Later that night, I reached his room with his everyday decaf. "Here" I said keeping down his mug next to him at his desk. His fingers gripped my wrist, forcing me to meet his eyes.

"I don't like you crying in front of others, Red."

My breath hitched. "I—I wasn't—"

"You were." His voice was low, dangerous. 

"In two days you will have someone too, to share your feelings with, you will get it then why I broke down in front of William" I said with a sad smile. His grip tightened.

"Remember what I said. You belong to me. You obey me. And you don't fall apart unless it's here—in my arms. Understood?"

"Yes, Marcus," I whispered, a tremble came to me with the change in his tone

He kissed me then, hard, punishing, until my knees buckled and I clung to him. When he finally pulled back, he rested his forehead against mine, his breath hot.

"Good girl. Now go to bed."

And I did. Because that's what he had told me to do.