The Puppet Protagonist: Adriel's Life is Controlled by Everyone Around Him

Upon entering Anastasia’s office, Seda was greeted with an overwhelming sight – the walls were covered with photographs of her father, Paul. She couldn’t help but pause to examine them all. Some were taken during his military service, others in casual attire, and there were even a few with Seda and her sister as young children.

Anastasia was seated at her desk, lost in thought as she gazed at one of the photos. Seda cleared her throat, causing her mother to jump slightly.

“Sorry to startle you, Mom,” Seda said. “I just couldn’t help but notice all these pictures of Dad. You really loved him, didn’t you?”

Anastasia’s expression softened as she looked at the photos. “More than anything,” she said softly. “Your father was my soulmate, my rock. I don’t know what I would do without him.”

“That’s really touching, mom,” Seda said, gazing at the pictures of her father. She noticed that none of them had another woman in them and the few that did were digitally erased.

Anastasia raised an eyebrow and gave her daughter a scrutinizing look. “Why do you let so many women get close to your boyfriend?” she asked, her voice laced with a hint of possessiveness.

Seda felt a pang of annoyance at her mother’s questioning, but tried to hide it. “I trust him, mom,” she replied, trying to sound calm.

Anastasia did everything she could to prevent any other women from getting close to her own husband, Paul, and she succeeded in doing so. As a result, it didn’t occur to her that her daughter would allow her boyfriend to be around other women. In other words, Anastasia is possessive and protective of her loved ones, and she has taken measures to ensure their loyalty and fidelity. She is surprised and concerned to see her daughter seemingly being more lenient with her boyfriend in this regard.

Anastasia leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. “You shouldn’t be so trusting, Seda. Men can be easily swayed, especially when there are so many women vying for their attention.”

Seda frowned. “Adriel loves me, mom. And I trust him to make the right decisions.”

Anastasia shook her head. “You need to get rid of those other girls in his harem and make him yours alone. That’s the only way to ensure his loyalty.”

Seda sighed, knowing that her mother’s possessiveness was born out of love, but finding it frustrating nonetheless. “I don’t mind sharing him, mom,” she said. “As long as I’m his primary partner.”

Anastasia scowled. “That’s not good enough, Seda. You need to be his only partner. That’s the only way to make sure he stays faithful.”

Seda stood her ground. “I trust Adriel, mom,” she said firmly. “And I won’t force him to give up the other women in his harem. He loves them, and they love him.”

Anastasia huffed, clearly unhappy with her daughter’s response. “Well, just be careful, Seda. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“Now that I’ve done my part of the bargain, Mom, I need you to get rid of the VR news,” Seda said, shifting the conversation away from her boyfriend and the other girls in his life. She didn’t want her mother to continue criticizing her choices.

Anastasia raised an eyebrow, surprised by the sudden change of subject. “What do you mean, get rid of the VR news?” she asked.

Anastasia picked up the phone and dialed a number. Seda watched as her mother spoke in hushed tones, occasionally nodding her head in agreement. After a few minutes, Anastasia hung up and turned to her daughter.

“Don’t worry, Seda,” she said. “I took care of it. The journalists won’t be coming to town.”

Seda breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Mom,” she said gratefully. “I really appreciate it.”

Anastasia had a way of manipulating the media that most people could only dream of. As the queen of the underworld, she had connections in every industry, including the press. If she wanted to suppress a story, she could make it disappear with a snap of her fingers. And if she wanted to amplify a story, she could make it go viral in a matter of hours.

Seda had learned from a young age that her mother’s power extended far beyond the borders of the underworld. She had seen her mother control the narrative countless times, shaping public opinion to suit her own agenda. And now, with the VR news, Anastasia was using her influence once again to protect her daughter’s interests.

Seda couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt, knowing that her mother was using her power to manipulate the media on her behalf. But at the same time, she knew that she needed Anastasia’s help if she wanted to protect Adriel from unwanted attention.

As she left her mother’s office, Seda couldn’t shake the feeling that she was somehow indebted to Anastasia. She knew that her mother would expect something in return for her help, and that thought made her uneasy.

But for now, at least, Seda could breathe a little easier knowing that the journalists wouldn’t be coming to town. And as for her mother’s possessiveness, she would deal with that in her own time. For now, she had bigger things to worry about, who is this guy behind the sale of Adriel’s rights?

Seda stepped out of the house and immediately her eyes were drawn to a figure in the distance. She squinted, trying to make out the person’s features, and soon realized it was a young woman with long, blonde hair cascading down her back. The girl was wearing a tight-fitting tracksuit dress, the material hugging her curves in all the right places.

The girl approached, and Seda couldn’t help but notice how strikingly beautiful she was. Her hair was a shade of blonde that was almost white, and it shimmered in the sunlight. Her features were delicate and refined, with high cheekbones and a small, straight nose. But it was her eyes that truly captivated Seda. They were a bright, icy blue that seemed to glint with an otherworldly light.

The girl was none other than Elizabeth.