Chapter Forty Six

Chapter Forty Six
Marcus strolled up the walkway to Lisa's parents' house, a charming smile plastered on his face. He knocked on the door, and when Mrs. Thompson, Lisa’s mother opened it, he extended his hand.

Mrs. Thompson, greeted him with a warm smile. "Can I help you?"

"Hi, Mrs. Thompson. I'm Marcus, Lisa's boyfriend," he said, his voice smooth. "She told me she was here, and I was in the neighborhood, so I thought I'd drop by."

Lisa's eyes widened in shock as she heard the introduction from the living room. Her mom, however, was beaming with joy.

"Oh, Marcus! Nice to meet you, how thoughtful of you." Mrs. Thompson said, her eyes sparkling. "Please, come in!"

As Marcus stepped inside, Lisa's heart sank. His eyes locking onto hers for a brief moment. Her parents were buying his act hook, line, and sinker, and she knew she had to act fast.
"Marcus, what are you doing here?" Lisa tried to keep her voice calm, but her anxiety was palpable.

Marcus ignored her, instead turning to her parents. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

Lisa's parents seemed to be pleased with Marcus's act. "Not at all, dear," Mrs. Thompson said. "We're happy to meet you."

Lisa's mind was racing. How did he find her? And what did he plan to do now?

"Marcus, can I talk to you outside for a minute?" Lisa asked, trying to keep her tone casual.

But Marcus had other plans. "Actually, I'd love to stay for dinner," he said, turning to Mrs. Thompson. "If that's okay with you, of course."

Mrs. Thompson's face lit up. "Oh, that's a wonderful idea! We're having a simple dinner, but there's plenty to go around."

Lisa's eyes pleaded with her parents, but they were too caught up in the excitement of meeting Marcus to notice her distress. Her father shook Marcus's hand, grinning.

"Nice to meet you, son. We're glad to have you join us."

As Marcus smiled and chatted with her parents, Lisa felt like she was trapped in a nightmare. She knew she had to get him out of there, but how?

"Do you mind to help set an extra plate?" Mrs. Thompson asked, bustling around the kitchen.

Marcus nodded, his eyes never leaving Lisa's face. "I'd be happy to help, Mrs. Thompson."

Lisa knew she was in trouble.


\### Chapter 21: The Dinner Trap
The dining room was filled with the aroma of roasted chicken and fresh vegetables. Lisa's parents were beaming with excitement, oblivious to the tension between Lisa and Marcus.

As they sat down to eat, Marcus effortlessly took charge of the conversation, charming Lisa's parents with stories of his business ventures and travels. Lisa's father, Mr. Thompson, was particularly impressed, asking Marcus questions about his career and interests.

Lisa, on the other hand, was struggling to keep up with the facade. She forced a smile, trying to appear like everything was normal, but her eyes kept darting to Marcus, hoping he'd take the hint and leave.

But Marcus was in his element. He laughed and joked with her parents, his eyes sparkling with amusement as he expertly steered the conversation away from any topics that might reveal his true nature.

Mrs. Thompson asked Marcus about his family, and he launched into a story about his "close-knit" family, his voice dripping with nostalgia.

Lisa's eyes narrowed. She knew it was all an act, but her parents were eating it up.

As the dinner drew to a close, Mr. Thompson leaned back in his chair, patting his stomach contentedly. "You're a wonderful cook, dear," he said to his wife.

Marcus smiled, his eyes meeting Lisa's. "The food was excellent, Mrs. Thompson. Thank you for having me."

Lisa felt a shiver run down her spine. She knew she had to get him out of there, before things escalated any further.

"Mom, Dad, I think Marcus has had a long day," Lisa said, trying to intervene. "Maybe he should get going?"

The evening air was thick with tension as Lisa finally managed to get Marcus out of the house and into the quiet street. The streetlights cast long shadows on the ground, and the distant hum of the city was a reminder that the world was moving on, oblivious to the drama unfolding between Lisa and Marcus. She spun around to face him, her eyes blazing with anger.

"What were you thinking, showing up at my parents' house?" she hissed, her voice low to avoid alerting her parents, who were still inside, unaware of the storm brewing outside.

Marcus smiled, his eyes glinning with amusement. "I had other plans for us tonight, but meeting your parents was far better. They're lovely, by the way. Your mom's cooking was amazing."

Lisa's anger boiled over. "Meeting my parents was never supposed to happen, Marcus! You can't just barge into my life like this! You can't just show up at my apartment, at my parents' house... what is wrong with you?"

Marcus's smile never wipped. "You're my girlfriend now, Lisa. That means I get to be a part of your life. And your parents are lovely, really. I think they like me."

Lisa's face twisted in disgust. "You're not listening, Marcus. I only agreed to be your girlfriend to satisfy your bruised ego. You're just... you're just manipulating me, and my parents shouldn’t be involved in your games."

Marcus's eyes narrowed, his voice taking on a cold edge. "You're what, Lisa? You think you're too good for me? 

Lisa took a step back, her heart racing. "That's not what I said, Marcus. I just... I want you to leave me alone. I want you to stop showing up everywhere I go. 

Marcus laughed, the sound sending a shiver down Lisa's spine. "Leave you alone? You're the one who's been leading me on, Lisa. You're the one who's been playing games with me. You agreed to be my girlfriend, remember?"

Lisa's eyes flashed with anger. "I did not agree to that! I just wanted you to leave me alone, and I thought if I played along, you'd get bored and go away."

Marcus's expression changed, his eyes filling with a calculating glinning. "You know, Lisa, I think I'll stay in touch with your parents. They seem to really like me. And I'll be seeing you soon, girlfriend."

Lisa's eyes widened in horror as Marcus turned and walked away, whistling a jaunty tune. She felt like she'd just been trapped, with no escape.

"Marcus, stop!" she called out, her voice desperate.

He turned back to her, a questioning look on his face. "Yes, Lisa?"

Lisa's mind was racing. She had to think of something, and fast. "If you don't leave me and my family alone, I'll... I'll go to the police."

Marcus's smile returned, his eyes glinning with amusement. "Go ahead, Lisa. I'll just tell them that you're my girlfriend, and we're having a lover's quarrel. Who do you think they'll believe?"

Lisa's heart sank as Marcus turned and walked away, leaving her standing alone in the darkness.

As she watched him disappear into the night, she knew she had to take action. She couldn't let Marcus continue to manipulate her and her family.