Steven's POV
The hot water poured over my skin, scalding yet grounding. Each drop seemed to strip away the blood and the night’s chaos, but not the weight I carried. Steam curled around me, suffocating, as if trying to trap the metallic tang of blood still clinging to me. My hands scrubbed harder, raw and desperate. No matter how much I cleaned, the stains weren’t just on my skin—they were inside me.
When I finally stepped out, a towel secured around my waist, I found Ashley pacing the room. Her movements were restless, her bare feet sinking soundlessly into the thick carpet. Her fingers fidgeted with her shirt, her gaze darting to me and away like she was caught in a storm of nerves.
“Aren’t you supposed to be in bed?” My voice was calm, yet commanding. The tension in the room thic
