Chapter 10 The Marionette Wants to be Saved

"Alice!" Cesar's voice boomed through the garden, causing Alice to startle and rise from her seat. Dread washed over her as she laid eyes on her stepbrother. His presence could send a rattle on her body. His piercing gaze roamed over her, lingering on the box she held tightly in her hands. Though Cesar possessed a strikingly handsome face, it was merely a facade that concealed the ugliness within. And in that moment, as he looked at Marvin, his true colors were laid bare for all to see. "Good morning," Marvin greeted, attempting to break the tension. "Good?" Cesar scoffed. His voice was doused with malevolence. The exchange greeting between the two men was devoid of any trace of warmth. Abruptly, the room descended into an unsettling silence, its heaviness suffocating the air. It seemed like forever before Cesar's voice finally pierced through the stagnant stillness. "Well, I can't exactly say that my morning has been 'good' now, can I?" Marvin explained, "I simply asked Alice