Guilty Game

The silence that followed Eratz's declaration was deafening. It was as if the entire world had frozen, every sound swallowed by the weight of his words.

In the shadows, Lisa's smile vanished, replaced by a look of genuine shock. She appeared stunned, her eyes searching Eratz's face as if she couldn't quite believe what she was hearing.

Gabriel, standing a few steps behind, raised an eyebrow, his expression a mixture of disbelief and curiosity.

Crystal, who had been staring directly at Eratz, frowned deeply. She blinked several times, as if trying to make sense of a puzzle that had suddenly become unsolvable.

"What..." Crystal finally managed, her voice tinged with disbelief. "What are you saying, Eratz?"

Eratz didn't flinch. He held her gaze, unyielding.

"You heard me," he said, his voice calm. "There's no need to look for a culprit, because it's me."