Chapter 277: Let Me Take Responsibility

Holly’s POV

David’s eyes flicked to Tyler the second he and Seraphina got closer, and something dark flashed across his face…pure, unfiltered jealousy that made the air feel thicker, heavier.

He stepped forward, voice low and edged with something dangerous. “You want to eat your cake and have it too, huh? Why the hell are you still up in my business with my woman when you’re clearly holding yours?”

I snapped between clenched teeth, sharp enough to cut glass. “I’m not your woman, David. And if you don’t have anything to actually say, I’m leaving.”

I turned on my heel, heart hammering, but before I could take two steps, his hand closed around my upper arm…not hard, but firm enough to stop me dead.

“Wait,” he said, quieter now, almost pleading.

Tyler moved like lightning. He grabbed David’s wrist and flung his hand off me in one clean motion. “Hands off her. Didn’t you hear her say that she’s leaving?”

David groaned low in his throat, stepping right up into Tyler’s space, fists curling at his sides. “You got a problem with me, man? You really wanna test me right now?”

I shoved myself between them before it could turn into fists. “Enough! Both of you…enough.” I turned to David, breathing hard. “Just say why you’re here so we can all carry on with our evening. It’s getting late.”

David’s gaze softened the instant it landed back on me. He reached for my hand instead this time, gentle, thumb brushing over my knuckles like I was made of glass. “I want to apologize. For earlier. In private. I didn’t mean to act like a brute. I swear.”

Seraphina stepped up beside Tyler, still clutching his arm like an anchor. She tilted her head, studying David with narrowed eyes. “Hmmm. You look so familiar. Have we met? Do I know you from anywhere? Maybe a gala or an official event?”

David didn’t even glance her way. “I don’t know you. And I don’t care.” His focus stayed locked on me. “I didn’t act like a gentleman at the office, Holly. Give me a chance to properly apologize. Please.”

I sighed, shoulders dropping. “Fine. I’ve heard you. I’ll… think about it. But I need to go now.”

“No.” His voice was soft but unyielding. “I want you to come with me. Let me take responsibility for how I treated you earlier. Please.”

I shook my head. “Just leave me alone, David. I’m not in the mood right now. I’ve had the longest day of my life and all I want is a nice, hot shower and to forget everything that happened today.”

He stepped closer, close enough that I could smell his cologne…woodsy, familiar, maddening. His hands came up slow, cupping my cheeks so gently it almost hurt.

“I know. Just look at me.” His thumbs brushed under my eyes like he could wipe away the exhaustion. “Let me take responsibility. Let me apologize properly for my actions. Please.”

Tyler’s voice cut in from behind me. “Holly, get in the car. Let’s go home.”

I looked back at David and my resolve melted instantly.

Oh yes.

I’m a weak, pathetic woman when it comes to him.

I exhaled. “I’ll call you guys later. I’m… going with David. I should hear what he has to say.”

Tyler’s jaw dropped. “Unbelievable. You really want to go with this asshole?”

“I need to sort things out with him,” I said quietly. “I’ll call you later. Promise.”

By the time I finished the sentence, David was already leading me around to the passenger side of his car. He opened the door like I was something precious, guided me in with a hand on the small of my back, handled me like I might break if he wasn’t careful. He didn’t waste time…slid into the driver’s seat, reached over, and leaned across me to clip my seatbelt.

His mouth grazed the shell of my ear as he did it and I flinched hard, scooting back against the door. Not out of excitement. Maybe fear? What if he decides to choke me again?

He noticed it and froze. Then exhaled slowly, like he was forcing himself to stay calm. “What happened earlier… it wasn’t intentional. I’m not usually like that. I lost control and acted in a horrible manner. It’s on me.”

My voice cracked. “You were choking me, David. I nearly died. And you’re saying this like it’s an excuse.”

He closed his eyes for a second, pain etched into every line of his face. “I know. Nothing I say will explain it away. When I’m stressed, I… lose my mind sometimes. I didn’t mean it. I’m so fucking sorry. Just give me a chance to make it right.”

I sniffed, turned my head, and rested my forehead against the cool window as he started the engine and pulled out.

The rest of the ride was silent. I didn’t say a word. Didn’t even understand why I was here…why I’d chosen this instead of the safe, easy ride home with Tyler and his fiancée.

One would think after everything today I’d just quietly crawl into my own bed and lick my wounds. But no. That’s not how I operate. I’m still out here hunting for more ways to hurt myself, like I have a personal fetish for red flags.

I thought back to Tyler and his surprise girlfriend…how neatly that chapter slammed shut.

I’d been so worried about how to end things without breaking his heart, and then boom…fate did it for me. Everything happens for a reason, right? At least he has someone who actually wants him back.

David’s hand brushed my thigh lightly…just enough to pull me out of my head. “We’re here.”

I jumped like he’d electrocuted me, hands flying to my chest. “Jesus. Don’t creep up on me like that.”

He frowned. “What had you so stuck? I’ve been calling your name for the last minute.”

I managed an awkward laugh that sounded more like a choke.

His tone dropped, serious now. “Are you scared of me, Holly?”

The question hit like ice water. Everyone’s warnings echoed in my skull…be careful, be careful, Justin calling him a murderer, the way his hand had closed around my throat earlier.

Suddenly the car felt too small. What if he tried something? What if he drove me out here to some quiet spot and—

No. He wouldn’t. Tyler saw me get in the car. All fingers would point straight to him. For now… I was safe.

“Holly?” he called again.

I jumped again…only to realize he was already on my side, door wide open, hand extended.

When the hell did he even get out?

“I’m just tired,” I mumbled. “I want to sleep. Why did you bring me to your house?”

“Because I want to take responsibility.” He helped me down, careful, like I was fragile. Then he grabbed my bag and laptop from the back seat and started leading me toward the front porch.

He unlocked the door, flicked on the light.

I blinked as my eyes adjusted…and suddenly I was right back in that moment. The awful things he’d said. The way I’d run out of this exact house like my life depended on it.

He must’ve seen it on my face because he stepped closer, voice soft. “Don’t think about anything else right now. Just let me take care of you.”

I lifted my chin. “And how exactly do you plan to do that? You think I’m going to make any of this easy for you?”

He smiled…slow, real, a little crooked. “Good. Make it very hard for me. I deserve every second of it.”

He reached past me to close the door behind us with a quiet click, shutting out the night.

Then he turned back, eyes locked on mine, and took one deliberate step closer…close enough that I could feel the heat rolling off him.

His hand lifted, fingers brushing the hair back from my face, lingering at the nape of my neck.

“Tell me to stop,” he whispered, voice rough with everything he wasn’t saying. “And I will. But if you don’t… I’m going to spend the rest of the night proving I can be the man you deserve.”

My breath caught.

I didn’t tell him to stop.

And the way he was looking at me…like I was the only thing in the world that mattered…made me wonder if maybe, just maybe, I was about to let him try.