Page 51 of Oracle Returns: Time will Stop

At first, he believed that was actually reality, and the shit that had gone down was anything but. Seeing her like this gave him hope that she was still alive.

Because he felt guilty.

To him, in his mind, Ridge knew that his wife was dead because of him.

If only he’d protected her better, not leaving her alone to go home to their child.

If only he’d stuck by her side, instead of how he’d been with Lucian at work.

Maybe then, she’d be alive, and he wasn’t going to have to carry this horrible guilt.

Yeah, this was on him.

How was he going to tell Sophia when she was older that he’d dropped the ball?

How was he going to let her grow up without a mom, and with him shattered by guilt?

Hiding in sleep was for cowards, and he knew that. Only, it was far better to pretend, and for this brief moment, that was exactly what Ridge was going to do.

For survival.

“What are you doing?” he asked, as he sat at the island in their home.

Not far away, Wynter was making him a sandwich, much like she always did.

God.

She made the best sandwiches. He loved nothing more than coming home on Fridays after the customary Littlemoon meeting at five and finding his wife making him food.

It was always a sandwich, and it was always made with so much love. She’d sit near him, stare into his eyes, and tell him how much she loved him.

There would never be that again.

And he knew it.

“I’m feeding you,” she said. “Because you need to fuel up for what is coming. If it’s any consolation, I’m sorry about all of this,” she admitted. “I’m sorry how this is going to hurt you when you figure it all out. I’m sorry I’m dead, Ridge.”

His heart skipped.

While he should have been focused on all of that, it was the dead part that hit him hardest.

“You’re really dead, aren’t you?” he asked. “This is just a dream, and I’m going to have to raise our daughter alone.”

She put the knife down.

“Yes, Ridge, I’m really dead. I made some bad choices, and it led to here. Please don’t blame yourself. Taking my life…I had no choice,” she admitted. “I’m sorry.”

Tears filled his eyes.

“What happened?” he asked. “How did it happen? You were given protection. Why didn’t you use it, Wyn, Baby? Why?” he asked.

It wasn’t like he wanted to blame the victim, but her stubbornness…

It was a high price to pay.

“I should have come back to the office after interviewing the people in the shop again. I should have not done what I did, Ridge. It cost me…a lot. I’m sorry.”

He wiped his eyes as she slid the sandwich across the island to him.