Chapter 21: Responsible for the Night
David leaned back in his chair, his face cold and unreadable as he processed everything that was being said. The room was tense, the air thick with anxiety as the Brooks family put on their performance.
Elizabeth, with fake tears streaming down her face, had just told the story of how an unfamiliar man had taken her virginity that night, and now the family was pleading for David’s understanding.
Her story was well rehearsed. Samantha, her mother, played the role of the supportive, heartbroken parent, while Matthew, her father, seemed as though he were sweating bullets, anxious about what was coming next.
David didn’t react immediately. He was calculating, absorbing everything, and his thoughts were far from the act being performed in front of him. He had seen through their facade, but he played along—at least for the moment.
Elizabeth’s voice quivered as she spoke again, “Mr. David, we’re just not destined. You’ve married my sister, and now you’re my brother-in-law. I wouldn’t dare think otherwise. Let’s just act as if nothing happened.”
Samantha added, her tone heartbroken, “Oh, Elizabeth, how are you going to live on like this?”
The family’s performance was flawless—too flawless. David had dealt with manipulators and liars long enough to see through the thin veneer of their drama.
Elizabeth stood up, wiping her tears as she gave David a soft, lingering look, her gaze full of something much deeper than just sorrow.
“I don’t want to make it difficult for Mr. David,” she said, her voice shaking as though she were trying to appear even more fragile. “Nor do I want to steal my sister’s man. Let me bear all this myself.”
Then, as if on cue, she ran out of the room, her sobs echoing in the air. The parents followed her, calling after her in exaggerated distress.
“Oh, my Elizabeth…” Samantha wailed, her voice trailing off.
Elizabeth’s act had ended, and the room fell silent for a moment before David spoke.
With a calm but commanding voice, he said, “I’ll be responsible for the night.”
The room went still, all eyes turning to him as his words settled like a heavy weight in the air.
David’s face remained stoic, but his words sent shockwaves through the Brooks family. What did he mean by this? Responsibility for the night—the night that had been shrouded in mystery and confusion. They hadn’t expected this response. They had hoped for sympathy or maybe even guilt, but responsibility?
Matthew’s face contorted with a mix of confusion and concern. He had hoped that the situation would be resolved with a bit of distance and deception, but David’s declaration was something else entirely.
Elizabeth’s parents, who had orchestrated the entire charade, exchanged glances, unsure of what to do next. Had they miscalculated?
David stood up, his tall figure imposing as he surveyed the room. His eyes were icy, his demeanor far from what they had expected from someone supposedly responsible for their daughter’s tragic fate.
“Don’t worry,” he said, his voice low, every word carrying authority. “I’m not here to make anyone’s life harder. But the truth of that night… it will come to light, and everything that happened will be addressed. That’s the only way forward.”
The air grew thick with tension. This wasn’t just about who had spent the night with whom—it was about power, control, and the consequences of their actions. David had put the family in a precarious situation, and now they had to deal with it, or face the fallout.
David wasn’t just claiming responsibility for a single night. He was setting the stage for a much larger reckoning.
