Chapter 31: HEAR ME OUT

"I know you're hurt! I apologize. But please, hear me out. It never happened the way it is in your head. The way you are thinking it is..." Richie tried to coax her. Richie’s face had already turned red, and painful finger-like lines mapped out across his cheeks. He couldn't remember the last time anyone had hit him. He tried to hold her, but Leah kept fighting him. "What do you mean it didn't happen the way I thought? Are you telling me I don't know what I went through? You had your way exactly how you wanted it, and now you're spitting out these cock and bull stories. You are a fool, a rapist, and without conscience!" she yelled. "I lost everything because of you in just one night..." As she continued to yell, Richie let her speak and released his grip on her hands. He allowed her to say all the things that had hurt her. "I have carried the baggage of the past for seven years. I have tried to heal. Then, after I did heal, you reappeared out of nowhere. Where were you all this time? Y