"Free from a puppet string" is the worst ending, surprisingly.

[Cookie]

If you don't give the heart and don't save(let live) the girl. You get the shortest scene and basically called useless. Bruh.

[Ant Ra]

I found the worst thing in the game to be not fulfilling Sophia's wish to let her live in her terror and horror. It was terrible to do that to her.

But this ending at least shows the true face of Gepetto, the most evil and dishonest alchemist of all. The contempt for the awakened doll compared to the blissful joy of another ending, when Carlo is brought back to life with a new heart and becomes a joyful serial killer. Well... Gepetto, Mr. Unworthy. And being free of these strings is a good thing, I'd say.

[Elsuya]

At least everyone in the hotel is still alive...