Taylor vs Reid (GxG)

Part 18 - {Drew! Give me the details!}

The twenty minutes passed in a flash and with each passing minute, my anxiety worsened. "You got this," Reilly turned to me to say just before we stepped back into court.

I nodded and leaned in to kiss her cheek. "Thank you. Tell Mathieu not to hold back."

"I will tell him to if it gets too heavy for you," She assured me with a small smile. "I don't want you crying up there. I can't see that...because then I'm going to cry too."

"I won't cry then." I gave her another reassuring smile before we finally went back in.

I went back to the spectators while Reilly continued to the prosecutor's table. Judge Wilson was already there and seated and most of the spectators returned. I sat with my parents for the whole two minutes we had left until the court was reconvened.

"The prosecution may call their next witness to the stand."

The moment arrived with a weight that settled heavily on my shoulders and worsened as Mathieu got up from his seat. "I call Drew Taylor to the stands."

There was a shift in the air as my name was called. All the eyes of the jurors turned to me. David's eyes turned to me, a look of confusion and surprise on his face. "You're okay, Sweetheart," my Mom told me.

I nodded and rose, my legs carrying me towards the stand with a steadiness I didn't feel inside. The watchful eyes of the spectators, jurors, and the legal teams, seems to contract, focusing its collective attention on me. Then I heard his voice. "Drewy! Hey, Baby!" He said in the most cheerful voice, as if we were good friends reuniting. I spared him a hard glance as I went, flashing him a tight smile because I know I'm going to sink his ass today. I want him to remember it. To remember the monster he made that came back and ended him.

As I took my place, swearing to tell the truth, the magnitude of what I was about to do hit me fully. This wasn't just my story; it was Ava's too.

Reilly's gaze met mine as I settled into the stand, offering a silent thread of support. Across the room, David sat with his defence team, his eyes gleaming as if he had just been told he got a new toy. I could feel his eyes on me, attempting to wield the same power over me as he once did. I pushed away the fear, anchoring myself in the present, in the strength I've found since those dark days.

Mathieu began gently, allowing me to introduce myself to the court. "Can you please state your name and occupation for the records?"

"Assistant District Attorney, Drew Estelle Taylor." My voice, when I spoke, carried a steadiness that surprised even me.

"Tell us a little bit about your background, Ms Taylor. Where did you grow up and with whom?"

"I grew up near Sunrise Harbour in South Miami with both my parents, my older sister and a few children my parents fostered over the years."

"What do your parents do, Ms Taylor?"

"My parents are both Civil Litigation Lawyers at their own firm, Taylor & associates."

"Do you know how many children it was?"

"In total, five including David Gribben."

Mathieu nodded. "Can you describe your relationship with David Gribben?" Mathieu asked, setting the stage for what was to come.

I took a deep breath, the memories pressing in. "David was a nightmare disguised as a foster brother after my parents took him in. He preyed on my sister and me, using manipulation and fear to control us."

"And how old were you when David came to live with your family?"

"I was eight and Ava was twelve."

"Were there any other foster children living with you at the time?"