Chapter 51 - Richard Ashford

Richard POV

“Darling, go home and have a shower,” I hear my mother’s voice behind me. I raise my head from my hands and turn around on the chair to see her resting her back against the closed door. I don’t know how long she’s been here, hell I don’t know how long I have been here, in this position, without moving a muscle. All I keep thinking is that this is all my fault.

If I didn’t force her to go change, if I allowed her to go out wearing what she wanted to, we wouldn’t be here. She would be safe at home, in her bed asleep, or studying for some test. Or using her phone to hide from me to chat with her boyfriend.

“I’m okay,” I reply, and she nods slightly, walking towards me and resting one hand on my shoulder. I feel like I have been living in a nightmare, and I can’t wake up. I feel like I am stuck here. I can’t move, I can’t sleep or eat, I can’t breathe. Mi