Before Hera closed her eyes, she caught a glimpse of Dave's face. A knowing smile spread across his lips as he lay on the bed, his gaze still fixed on her.
It was as if his expression was saying, 'I did great, didn't I? Saved you from having to explain yourself...' Hera couldn't help but smile faintly in return, silently acknowledging his unexpected help.
It was only then that Hera realized Dave's actions had been a calculated move, designed to help her avoid the awkwardness of an explanation or the guilt of offering a half-believable excuse.
It dawned on her that everyone had already picked up on the fact that she was hiding something, yet they all chose to turn a blind eye.
Instead, they played along with Dave's antics, shifting the focus and easing the tension in the air.
In a way, they were all complicit, working together to give Hera a way out without having to confront the truth.
